The Wild Hunt has the story about Greek Pagans who have been fighting for the right to worship at ancient Greek temples. (The story has recieved a fair amount of attention, but the reporting suffers from some of the usual flaws. For example, one widely-quoted AP story says that: A woman who called herself the high priestess said, "We are Greeks and we demand from the government the right to use our temples." Yes. And every xmas, a man who calls himself the pope gives a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's.)
The situation raises some interesting questions that remind me a bit of the squabbles that Virginia's Episcopalians are going through: Who "owns" church property? Who owns sacred sites throughout the world? And who gets to control what goes on there?
Many Pagans claim that we are the heirs to various ancient Pagan traditions. To what extent do the places of worship attached to those traditions belong to modern Pagans? And, even if ownership isn't in question, to what extent can the government deny Pagans access to such sites? What if I want to do ritual at Lascaux? Perhaps more interesting, what if i want to do ritual at many of the sites that were originally sacred places of Pagan worship that were stolen by the xians? Can I make them take down their church so that the sacred spring of my foremothers can once more bubble free, surrounded by a grove of trees? I imagine Native American readers can provide plenty of examples of losing control over their sacred sites and their fights with the American government for the right to worship where their ancestors worshipped.
England has allowed Druidic and other Pagan groups limited access to Stonehenge for some time now. But my understanding is that British Druids and other Pagans would like much more access than they have, while the government worries that the site will be damaged by continued use.
Xians have skated around some of the more difficult questions that face Greece and the Greek Pagans. Notre Dame de Paris, an important French tourist and cultural site, for example, is open to tourists (and the catholicchurch profits from that - perhaps Greek Pagans are entitled to the entrance fees to their temples, as well?) but also used for religious ceremonies.
To make clear: my sympathies here are with the Pagans. And there can be tremendous power in worshiping the old Gods and Goddesses at the old sites. Governments are going to have to adjust. We're here and we're not going away. It would be wonderful to see a world where sites sacred to various religions were shared and enjoyed by all. (Seems as if there are one or two places in the ME sacred to several Abrahamic cults that could be better shared, as well.)
On another note, not everyone is adjusting well at all. I admit that I take the most perverse pleasure from this quote over at the Wild Hunt:
Obviously, officials from the Greek Orthodox Church were apoplectic.
"They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past" - Father Efstathios Kollas, the President of Greek Clergymen.
Father Kollas can bite me.
7 comments:
Stonehenge was old when the Druids arrived in the British Isles. Curiously, there's no direct proof that they used it for worship. However, if it is a sacred site to a new generation of Druids, then it should be available for rituals, even if it falls apart at the seams. Production for use. Same with the Greek temples. Those bored gods want their praise and worship teams back!
From Anne at "The Gods Are Bored."
Hecate, I know some mean people.
But you take the cake.
who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past"
Because my slightly more modern delusion is better than your somewhat older delusion.
With regard to Stone Henge I fully support it being available for fully for Druid/Pagan rituals (and bare in mind I seem to be the token Christian that opos up on here now and then!) however I disagree that this should be at the expense of it falling apart.
The government of the UK has a duty to protect historic sites for future generations to see, study and that applies to all historic site, regardless of their origin or current use.
Listed building status means that many churces have to be preserved often at the expense of them actually being used as a place of worship, so this is not a specific anti Pagan issue. (Atleast not in the UK.)
Finally, "Abrahamic cults"? Bit harsh don't you think? (Although if that is just a case of a joke failing to translate trans Atlantic please accept my appologies!)
Dear Graham,
Thanks for the info on listed building status and protection of British churches; I didn't know that.
I'll quit calling them Abrahamic cults when they quit referring to my religion as a "fertility cult." It is a bit harsh, and deliberately so. Sometimes, it's not until you realize how it feels to be referred to in that manner that you realize why you shouldn't be doing it to others. I hope it has that effect. ;)
I perfectly understand your frustration. I hope you understand that I am one Christian who would not refer to other religions as cults. While I may have different views to others I do make it a point of principle to show respect to them.
Sadly I often seem to be in the minority although I am by no means alone. There are lot of pretty liberal and surprisingly tolerant Christians (and indeed Jews, Muslims and those from non Abrahamic religions) out there, the trouble is that by their nature they are often hesitant to speak up.
At the end of the day any religious view, even antheism, takes a leap of faith. Its something we all hold in common and something we should all aknowledge.
On the listed building status it is actually quite complicated with different grades and responsibility varying between owners and levels of government. But lets note get started on that now........
Finally, I must apologise for my appauling spelling and typing ability in my various posts on here (and my own blog). One day I'll remember to use a spell checker :)
Orthodox church, oh, the church of my childhood the ones who produced the Elders of Zion a piece of literature matched only in viciousness by the Malleus Malifucarum. These literary masterpieces of christian piety only explain and underlined succintly the nature of modern religous thought and beauty. Unfortunately many died but then sometimes the patient must die to release the delusion.
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