(no subject)

[felis_ultharus]

Today I rattled off a letter to the Sunday Edition -- the CBC's morning show. It was because they managed to have a half-hour about this new novel about the Greek gods must be getting along without worshippers after all this time.

It was quite clear from the discussion that neither the author nor Michael Enright's replacement for the day had any realization at all that the Greek gods still do have followers, and an increasing number at that.

I made my letter as polite as possible -- well, with one snarky comment at the end -- and mentioned both eclectic Wicca and Greek reconstructionism. I mentioned the case before the European court, where Hellenic Neo-Pagans are fighting the Greek Orthodox Church (which has veto power over such things) for the right to build a temple to Zeus.

It was a bit of a strange experience for me, because I've always tried to distance myself from those among my fellow Wiccans who take offence even at the Christmas decorations at malls. Yet at the same time, there's only just so many time you can hear gods you feel close to described as dead before you can take offence.

I'm trying not to turn into the sort who's so easily offended. But I can't help but think that if it had been the god of Abraham described that same way, they would've been flooded with letters, and possibly threats.

I'll listen next Sunday morning to see if they read it. They usually read readers' responses in the first or second hour.

Comments

[helenseidolon.livejournal.com]

It's definitely weird for me to see the Greek and Roman gods used so commercially - I swear, someone ought to be hit by a lightning-bolt for the Venus razor commercials. And I'm not even religious!

[helenseidolon.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I read a review maybe of the same novel - Aphrodite is a stripper and Dionysus a DJ or something - and I was horrified. I know I have a perspective on this stuff that most people don't, but that's just not funny or respectful.

[em-fish.livejournal.com]

Actually, Aphrodite is a phone sex operator.

[helenseidolon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sorry. It was a short review. Um. See, that makes me deeply uncomfortable and not at all entertained.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

I can't fault that too much. As a kid I was obsessed with Clash of the Titans -- and, being a kid of course, had no idea how much of a meat-grinder the myths had been through. I also have a guilty pleasure in God of War.

I didn't even mention the book in my letter. Clueless authors using myths are pretty common -- even Neil Gaiman gave Bast the same treatment, and I'd met a Bast devotee before I read The Sandman.

I was more disappointed with the journalist. Maybe it was because Kevin Sylvester is new, but I kind of expect more from CBC journalists.

The "but did you know there still are worshippers of the Greek gods" question would've been a nice question to throw at said clueless author.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Well, given the rate of growth of Hellenic Neo-Paganism -- and the rapid shrinking of Christianity*, maybe Venus-brand razors will one day be replaced by Jesus-brand ones.

*in Canada, 91% in 1981, 82% in 1991, and 73% in 2001. Next census -- 2011.