"Take what you like and leave the rest" paganism

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[Thorn]

Randall can tell you about a group he happened to visit when they were doing some sabbat and they pulled deities out of a hat...Kali and Zeus.

Wait...  Were the literally pulling deity names out of an actual hat?    

[LyricFox]

Wait...  Were the literally pulling deity names out of an actual hat?    

As far as I know they were. Course, it might have been a bowl, but the effect would be the same.

[Star]

As far as I know they were. Course, it might have been a bowl, but the effect would be the same.

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

[Thorn]

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

*SPEW*

Cauldronites always have the best comics!  That one's going out to everyone on my mailing lists...

 

[LyricFox]

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

ROFL...oh that's good.

[Dania]

I know that people have issues with "take it and leave it" paganism.  I understand and agree that in doing this, we are stealing and disrespecting a culture. Absolutely, no argument there.

I hate when people take ONLY the parts they like and pretend that the rest doesn't exist. I see this a lot with deities. They only acknowledge the "good bits". These are the same people who tend to claim that the ancient Celts were a peaceful people who worshiped Mother Earth until they were oppressed by the Evil Violent Christians. It's VERY disrespectful, IMO.

Personally speaking (since I tend to be a "take it and leave it" pagan), I think that if you give proper respect to the culture, then it shouldn't be a problem. 

I take bits and pieces of my practice and belief from various ancient cultures (mostly Celtic and Roman). I personally see no problem with this. But then again, I do it with full awareness of where it came from, and of the fact that I changed it quite a bit to suit my own personal path. I will never claim that "this is how the ancients did it" because I *know* that it isn't. It was inspired by ancient practices. I use some ancient elements of worship (such as the offering of incense...but I'm pretty sure the ancients didn't have swiftlite charcoal )

[Darkhawk]

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

And I don't have to look, 'cause I was thinking the same thing.

[Star]

And I don't have to look, 'cause I was thinking the same thing.

I knew someone had to be. 

[Dania]

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

Oh wow LOL. That one has to go somewhere for easy reference.

[Thorn]

And yes, I do get them together sometimes; I don't know why. If Athena and Kali both come down during a ritual and kick my ass, am I on crack?

I think these are two very different situations:  having a deity show up on their own vs. inviting deities from different pantheons to the same ritual. 

The former is out of our control.  While the latter can be done successfully, I certainly wouldn't recommend it unless you had a very strong existing relationship with each deity and could feel fairly sure that they'd be happy with the situtaion.

I tend to be very ecclectic myself, and I would never pretend to be otherwise.  I do try to keep everything cohesive, i.e. working within a single pantheon.  (Which was really easy - until recently I was only working with one goddess.)  However, the gods have their own agendas.  I've recently had someone show up out of the blue, and not go away.  Seems to have brought his whole family with him.  (Figuratively speaking.  No, I don't think I'm being "thwapped" by an entire pantheon.  Or "thwapped" at all, actually, though I do believe I've found a patron, and have become rather obsessed with learning about not only him but his kith and kin as well.) 

So, do I stop worshipping Brighid because she doesn't fit in with the new crowd?  I find that idea heartbreaking...

"Ecclectic" is a dirty word in some circles.  But I honestly don't think it is any more fluffy by nature than other paths/religions.  Any religion takes a lot of work to make it more than just superficial.

[Celtee]

I hate when people take ONLY the parts they like and pretend that the rest doesn't exist. I see this a lot with deities. They only acknowledge the "good bits". These are the same people who tend to claim that the ancient Celts were a peaceful people who worshiped Mother Earth until they were oppressed by the Evil Violent Christians. It's VERY disrespectful, IMO.

If the ancient Celts were so peaceful, why did Boudicca go on the warpath when her daughters were raped by the Romans?  Why did the Romans never conquer the area north of Hadrian's Wall in what is now modern Scotland? Why is the Celtic goddess the Morrighan a goddess of war?

Yep, sounds to me like they were real peaceful. NOT! 

[Nyktipolos]

When something like this comes up, I always feel obliged to reference this comic strip:
http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002

Have to say after that one, my favourite one is this one: http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=022

 

Sorry, I'll stop de-railing the conversation now.

[RandallS]

Wait...  Were the literally pulling deity names out of an actual hat?    

Yes. Literally.  Out of a hat which has little slips of paper with deities name on them.  Twice.  Once for the God for the ritual and once for the Goddess.  Note that this was done right before the start of the ritual and very little customizing of the ritual was done to fit the deities drawn into it. I was not at all impressed.

[Celtee]

Yes. Literally.  Out of a hat which has little slips of paper with deities name on them.  Twice.  Once for the God for the ritual and once for the Goddess.  Note that this was done right before the start of the ritual and very little customizing of the ritual was done to fit the deities drawn into it. I was not at all impressed.

Gods. Sounds like a total nightmare!

[Dania]

Yes. Literally.  Out of a hat which has little slips of paper with deities name on them.  Twice.  Once for the God for the ritual and once for the Goddess.  Note that this was done right before the start of the ritual and very little customizing of the ritual was done to fit the deities drawn into it. I was not at all impressed.

ROTFL I would love to be a fly on the wall if they called Morrigan into ritual that way!!!

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