Post by Senbecc on May 18, 2007 16:34:02 GMT -5
I was on a myspace group lately where everyone on the group could speak of nothing but the evils of Christianity and how terrible they were. I asked three questions. Most of the answers were very good and offered up my own views of the answers to the questions as well. I will post them here as well as invite anyone else who might like to answer to do so as well.
Question #1 Why are you Pagan?
I am Pagan, because I am a very proud man. I am Pagan because while I believe in the ever-living, I refuse to bow to them, or live in fear of them, or even worship them. Which is why I chose the path of Irish ways as a trail to follow on my journey and quest for Draíocht. An Irishman would no more worship his "gods" than he would worship his own Grandmother, or best friend. Love and respect yes, worship no. I as well as most reputable scholars simply don't see the Celts of any culture separating themselves from nature that way. I see the gods in more of an abstract nature. If one is to understand the Irish gods IMO they must first be prepared to redefine what a god means to them. I have read that Brenius, the Celtic leader during the attack on the Temple at Delphi laughed when he saw the statues and other such things which adorned them. It is said that the Gods could take any form when visiting the realm of the living, they could be a Bull, a stag, a bird, a fish, and old woman, or any form they chose. They are on another realm, different from us yes, but by Brehon Law always equal. I have been around 17 yrs in seeking of Irish ways. Another reason I am Pagan is that I don't need to disbelieve another religion to validate my own. I have said before and maintain that there are at least 9 ways of looking at life and the qualities of being. Even my own "gods" can be looked at as little more than a figment of my imagination in so far that they become examples of creation. A type of symbolism which roots it's self within the aspects of spirit and self. As a Pagan I am one with all creation, every thought, prayer, or action is of my own process. As a Pagan, I do not require gods to blame for my failures, short comings, or my victories and happiness, for I have created each myself. As a pagan I know that those who tell me magic is a lie created by the devil or myself (depending on the path they're on) are not to be gotten angry at, but are to be pitied for their own self imposed exile and blindness in a world of color and light. These are some of my reasons for being Pagan, as much as they are my reasons for being Draoi.
Question # 2 Are you Pagan Just to get away/Rebel against Christianity?
Well, I think I've made my position on that pretty clear, but I will answer anyway. My reasons for being Pagan are quite the opposite. All religion down through history has flowed one from the other in a great spirit river, and for me being Pagan means I can search for the truths in all religion and not be demonized for being a product of the devil. While I do see truths in the philosophy of the Devil, the strict Christian idealism sometimes teaches that knowledge of spirit is to be frowned upon, while that may work for some, I see it as willful ignorance. So my answer to the question would be No, I am Pagan because I want to understand the symbolism in Christianity, and their Bible. To me knowledge is like water in many of it's aspects. Given enough time it can crack even the hardest of Kernels, it is both a crashing waterfall that nourishes minds, and a smooth sheet for the beds of Poets.
Question # 3 What does being Pagan Mean to you.
"While I was held prisoner,
sweet inspiration filled me,
and the laws were imparted,
in a language which had no words."
-Taliesin (a Welsh Bard)
I believe that in the construction of one's personal "creation" that we are each are held prisoner by our own set limitations, self imposed blindness, and our need to seek others of like mind as well as spirit. Like all things we gradually flow from one source to another into outward evolution through the inert into many-skilled assimilation of everything. Some have said that Paganism is an Earth based "religion", that isn't so, it is the paths we flow into once we have become Pagan which are Earth based, or based around Civilization like the Roma religions, or perhaps the Greeks as well. "Paganism" is the starting line for this new outward evolution, just as a new convert to Christianity would be. One's spirit is as a seed, they have chosen a direction of study and personal growth. For me it becomes the knowledge that all things are connected to the next, every action, being, thought, science, "magic"....Religion. As I touched upon in question two, Paganism is a journey from ignorance which everyone takes whether they know it or not. It is a construction of the triads of the self. It is being filled by the sweet inspiration of Imbas, it is the knowledge that illuminates all things between land, sea, and sky.
Paganism is a building time, in which one chooses which path is most suited to them. Just as a convert to Christianity chooses which denomination will most suit them. For my that path was Irish Druidism, I have become Draoi! I am a teacher of truths, my accomplishments in this Unplace have been many and varied, as they have with the world of substance. We are those who see without seeing and know without blemish. A walking repository for seeking minds. I am the hawk of time perched on the ledge, I am the Bull of war and plenty, I am the Salmon of three wells. I am a faint impulse of the original impulse. I am Druid.
"Athert an Daogdae, 'An cumang arba/gaid-si/, doge/n-sou ule am a/onur.' "
Senbecc, The Salmon in the pool!
Question #1 Why are you Pagan?
I am Pagan, because I am a very proud man. I am Pagan because while I believe in the ever-living, I refuse to bow to them, or live in fear of them, or even worship them. Which is why I chose the path of Irish ways as a trail to follow on my journey and quest for Draíocht. An Irishman would no more worship his "gods" than he would worship his own Grandmother, or best friend. Love and respect yes, worship no. I as well as most reputable scholars simply don't see the Celts of any culture separating themselves from nature that way. I see the gods in more of an abstract nature. If one is to understand the Irish gods IMO they must first be prepared to redefine what a god means to them. I have read that Brenius, the Celtic leader during the attack on the Temple at Delphi laughed when he saw the statues and other such things which adorned them. It is said that the Gods could take any form when visiting the realm of the living, they could be a Bull, a stag, a bird, a fish, and old woman, or any form they chose. They are on another realm, different from us yes, but by Brehon Law always equal. I have been around 17 yrs in seeking of Irish ways. Another reason I am Pagan is that I don't need to disbelieve another religion to validate my own. I have said before and maintain that there are at least 9 ways of looking at life and the qualities of being. Even my own "gods" can be looked at as little more than a figment of my imagination in so far that they become examples of creation. A type of symbolism which roots it's self within the aspects of spirit and self. As a Pagan I am one with all creation, every thought, prayer, or action is of my own process. As a Pagan, I do not require gods to blame for my failures, short comings, or my victories and happiness, for I have created each myself. As a pagan I know that those who tell me magic is a lie created by the devil or myself (depending on the path they're on) are not to be gotten angry at, but are to be pitied for their own self imposed exile and blindness in a world of color and light. These are some of my reasons for being Pagan, as much as they are my reasons for being Draoi.
Question # 2 Are you Pagan Just to get away/Rebel against Christianity?
Well, I think I've made my position on that pretty clear, but I will answer anyway. My reasons for being Pagan are quite the opposite. All religion down through history has flowed one from the other in a great spirit river, and for me being Pagan means I can search for the truths in all religion and not be demonized for being a product of the devil. While I do see truths in the philosophy of the Devil, the strict Christian idealism sometimes teaches that knowledge of spirit is to be frowned upon, while that may work for some, I see it as willful ignorance. So my answer to the question would be No, I am Pagan because I want to understand the symbolism in Christianity, and their Bible. To me knowledge is like water in many of it's aspects. Given enough time it can crack even the hardest of Kernels, it is both a crashing waterfall that nourishes minds, and a smooth sheet for the beds of Poets.
Question # 3 What does being Pagan Mean to you.
"While I was held prisoner,
sweet inspiration filled me,
and the laws were imparted,
in a language which had no words."
-Taliesin (a Welsh Bard)
I believe that in the construction of one's personal "creation" that we are each are held prisoner by our own set limitations, self imposed blindness, and our need to seek others of like mind as well as spirit. Like all things we gradually flow from one source to another into outward evolution through the inert into many-skilled assimilation of everything. Some have said that Paganism is an Earth based "religion", that isn't so, it is the paths we flow into once we have become Pagan which are Earth based, or based around Civilization like the Roma religions, or perhaps the Greeks as well. "Paganism" is the starting line for this new outward evolution, just as a new convert to Christianity would be. One's spirit is as a seed, they have chosen a direction of study and personal growth. For me it becomes the knowledge that all things are connected to the next, every action, being, thought, science, "magic"....Religion. As I touched upon in question two, Paganism is a journey from ignorance which everyone takes whether they know it or not. It is a construction of the triads of the self. It is being filled by the sweet inspiration of Imbas, it is the knowledge that illuminates all things between land, sea, and sky.
Paganism is a building time, in which one chooses which path is most suited to them. Just as a convert to Christianity chooses which denomination will most suit them. For my that path was Irish Druidism, I have become Draoi! I am a teacher of truths, my accomplishments in this Unplace have been many and varied, as they have with the world of substance. We are those who see without seeing and know without blemish. A walking repository for seeking minds. I am the hawk of time perched on the ledge, I am the Bull of war and plenty, I am the Salmon of three wells. I am a faint impulse of the original impulse. I am Druid.
"Athert an Daogdae, 'An cumang arba/gaid-si/, doge/n-sou ule am a/onur.' "
Senbecc, The Salmon in the pool!