On that we definitely agree. I've often wondered what catacomb-dwelling Christians, or the Galilean Jews before them would make of a Southern Baptist barbecue fundraiser.
And ditto on the reconstructionist religions. I do respect their scholarship - it opens up so much that's lost. But any attempt to police the borders of the faith and ensure its authenticity looks more Abrahamic religions than the richly syncretic traditions of old Europe.
Ultimately, my stake in this is mostly historical curiosity. If the Goddess chose to reveal herself now with no historical precedent, that's fine by me.
The most personal stake I have is probably my discomfort at how self-righteous I've been in the past to the Burning Times-ers. Back in the 1990s, we were all so scared for our credibility as a religion that we were pretty cruel to anyone who's interpreted things differently. Now I'm finding out that there's room for their interpretation too, in the primary sources.
no subject
And ditto on the reconstructionist religions. I do respect their scholarship - it opens up so much that's lost. But any attempt to police the borders of the faith and ensure its authenticity looks more Abrahamic religions than the richly syncretic traditions of old Europe.
Ultimately, my stake in this is mostly historical curiosity. If the Goddess chose to reveal herself now with no historical precedent, that's fine by me.
The most personal stake I have is probably my discomfort at how self-righteous I've been in the past to the Burning Times-ers. Back in the 1990s, we were all so scared for our credibility as a religion that we were pretty cruel to anyone who's interpreted things differently. Now I'm finding out that there's room for their interpretation too, in the primary sources.