Paganism Surviving In Christianity

Book: Paganism Surviving In Christianity by Abram Herbert Lewis

This book presents a suggestive rather than an exhaustive treatment of these influences, and of their effect on historic Christianity. The author has aimed to make a volume which busy men may read, rather than one whose bulk would relegate it to the comparative silence of library shelves. The following pages treat four practical points in Christianity, without attempting to enter the field of speculative theology, leaving that to a future time, or to the pen of another F viz.: The influence of pagan thought upon the Bible, and its interpretation; upon the organized Church, through the pagan water-worship cult; upon the practices and spiritual life of the Church by substituting pagan holidayism for Christian Sabbathism, through the sun-worship cult; and upon the spiritual life and subsequent character of the Church, by the union of Church and State, and the subjugation of Christianity to the civil power, according to the pagan model. Facts do not cease to be facts, though denied and ignored. They do not withdraw from the field of history, though men grow restive under their condemnation. I have dealt mainly with facts, giving but brief space to "conclusions." I have written for those who are thoughtful and earnest; who are anxious to know what the past has been, that they may the better understand the duties of the present and the unfolding issues of the future. Such will not read the following pages with languid interest nor careless eyes.

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Odinism

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The term Odinism was coined by Orestes Brownson in his 1848 Letter to Protestants. The term was re-introduced in the late 1930s by Alexander Rud Mills in Australia with his First Anglecyn Church of Odin and his book The Call of Our Ancient Nordic Religion. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Else Christensen's Odinist Study Group and later the Odinist Fellowship brought the term into usage in North America. In the UK, Odinic Rite has specifically identified themselves as "Odinists" since the 1970s, and is the longest running group to do so.

The term "Odinism" tends to be associated with racialist Nordic ideology, as opposed to "Asatru" which may or may not refer to racialist or "folkish" ideals. As defined by Goodrick-Clarke (2002), Nordic racial paganism is synonymous with the Odinist movement (including some who identify as Wotanist). He describes it as a "spiritual rediscovery of the Aryan ancestral gods...intended to embed the white races in a sacred worldview that supports their tribal feeling", and expressed in "imaginative forms of ritual magic and ceremonial forms of fraternal fellowship".

The term Wotanism is used in a somewhat different sense from Odinism. It is the name of a racialist Neopagan current initiated by David Lane.

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Fire And Ice Magical Order The Brotherhood Of Saturn

Book: Fire And Ice Magical Order The Brotherhood Of Saturn by Stephen Flowers

Since 1972, Edred Thorsson has been dedicated to the esoteric and esoteric study of the Indo-European, Celtic and Teutonic Traditions. He studied Old Irish, Middle Welsh and Indo-European religion and culture at major universities in Germany and in the United States.

The Fraternitas Saturni is a Thelemite order which has shaped the modern occult scene in Germany since its foundation in 1928. This volume presents the history and doctrines of that order. Appendices include the texts of many actual rites performed by the FS as well as historical documents relating to aleister crowley's relations with the FS. This order is especially well-known for its use of sexual magic. This book was originally published in the early 1990s by Llewellyn under the title Fire and Ice. xii

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Odinism In White Supremacist Tattoos

Tattoos are an increasingly popular way to express beliefs and identity—and those within the Odinic white supremacist movement are no exception to this trend. White supremacy message boards and websites over flow with advice about where and what kinds of tattoos to get to express belief in the supremacy of white people. Advice ranges from the more conservative end of the spectrum—warnings to get the tattoos in places easy to hide in case one is pulled over or simply wants to lay low in his supremacist beliefs—to people encouraging others to be loud and proud about their heritage. Many of their designs combine traditional Norse images (such as Thor’s hammer or Odin’s ravens, even runes) with more modern white supremacist themes (swastikas or even the symbols of various white supremacist groups). Some recommend simply Norse-themed tattoos without any other obvious symbols as a way to fly under radar—other white supremacists will recognize the message, while people not in the loop will simply see a cool design.

The following tattoos were all Pictures posted on vairous white supremacist message boards or websites as examples of tattoos that would show racial pride and a belief in the inherent supremacy of white people. They all contain Elements of Norse Mythology and belief in a warrior culture.

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Ancestor Veneration Of Neodruids

Respect for the Ancestors is another core belief for some Druids. This idea of great ancestor respect or ancestor worship is common in pagan folk religions. Revivalists and reconstructionist alike agree that knowing as much as possible about the lives of our Ancestors and preserving national or tribal heritage is important and good. Archaeological evidence does suggest that the ancient peoples of Britain, Ireland, and other parts of Europe practiced burial customs that we assume imply particular respect for ancestors and probably a belief in life after death in some form.

This veneration of the ancestors primarily emphasises the Iron Age “Celtic” peoples of western Europe, because these were the peoples amongst whom the ancient druids lived. This connection to the Celtic peoples can be through both a “blood link to a modern Celtic land or merely a soul allegiance”. However some Druids, particularly those with no ethnic connection, do not emphasise such a Celtic link, instead focusing on other historical cultures, such as that of the Anglo-Saxons or the Norse.

It is largely because of the fact that Druids venerate the ancestors that many object to the archaeological excavation of human remains and their subsequent display in museums, and in many cases have organised campaigns for their reburial. For instance, in 2006, the Council of British Druid Orders’ reburial officer Paul Davies requested that the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury, Wiltshire rebury their human remains, and that storing and displaying them was “immoral and disrespectful”. Criticism has come of this view from the archaeological community, with statements like “no single modern ethnic group or cult should be allowed to appropriate our ancestors for their own agendas. It is for the international scientific community to curate such remains.”

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The Complete Idiots Guide To Paganism

Book: The Complete Idiots Guide To Paganism by Carl Mccolman

You-re no idiot, of course. But finding the perfect expression of your Spirituality can prove long and challenging. You might already be attracted to paganism, but considering the variety of traditions and paths that fall in this category, you-ll need a spiritual guide.Seek no further! Whether you-re interested in following the pagan path or just curious to know more, The Complete Idiot-s Guide- to Paganism will enlighten you on this fascinating array of nature-based beliefs and practices. In this Complete Idiot-s Guide-, you-ll learn about: * The Basic Principles of shamanism, druidism, Wicca, and more. * How to deepen your connection to the Goddess, the God, and nature. * The fundamentals of meditation, magic, divination, and spiritual healing. * Tips on incorporating pagan rituals into your modern lifestyle.

A lot of the Idiot's Guides that I have read are really misnamed, because they contain a lot of valuable information about the subject and presented in terms that anyone can understand. I loved this book because it explains virtually every aspect of Paganism. The explanations and descriptions of various Pagan practices, ideals, Sabbats, rituals are kept brief as befits an introductory book. And yet, even after having a handful of other intoductory Pagan books, I found myself learning facts here that I hadn't known about before. The author sticks to the "Pagan philosophy" of "Harm no one" in describing Paganism.

Among topics discussed? Besides the various Pagan Sabbats and pagan ideals, there are chapters devoted to Shamans, Druids, Wicca, the "Spirit World" and the Pagan elements of fire, air, water, and earth. There are four chapters that discuss Pagan rituals and I found the author's claim that we already do rituals in our lives (high school and college graduation, marriage and funerals, for example) very true. I never would have thought about that. There's also several chapters devoted to "Pagan magic," which help to demystify it. The book's last few chapters offer advice on "living the Pagan lifestyle," and there's an extensive list of Recommended Reading at the book's end. One could spend months reading through the list of books alone if one wanted to.

The more I read about Paganism, the more I realize other religions over the centuries have liberally borrowed its customs and holidays. For anyone wishing to join this path or those already on it seeking to learn more, this book is a wonderful introduction.

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December 13 Feast Of St Lucia

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THE "FIRST FEAST OF SAINT LUCIA" IS HELD ON THIS DATE EACH YEAR IN ITALY. BEFORE BEING CHRISTIANIZED INTO A SAINT, SHE WAS ORIGINALLY A ROMAN GODDESS WHO REPRESENTED LIGHT, LABOR, AND CHILDBIRTH, "LUCINA (SHE WHO BRINGS CHILDREN INTO THE LIGHT) "MERGED WITH "JUNO" BECOMING "JUNO LUCINA". SHE SAFEGUARDED THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN LABOR. LUCINA" WAS CHIEF AMONG A NUMBER OF DEITIES WHO INFLUENCED OR GUIDED EVERY ASPECT OF BIRTH AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. HER EMBLEMS WERE THE LADYBUG AND THE CUCKOO. HER SYMBOLS WERE A LAMP, A RITUAL OFFERING DISH, AND SHE BESTOWED THE GIFTS OF LIGHT, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND EYESIGHT." LUCINA " WAS HONORED IN BOTH SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER. ANOTHER FESTIVAL WAS CELEBRATED ON MARCH 1 AND ALLOWED MATRONS TO ASSEMBLE AND IMPLORE FOR A HAPPY POSTERITY. CANDLES WERE SACRED TO THIS" MOTHER OF LIGHT."

IN LATER YEARS, SHE EVOLVED INTO " ST. LUCIA", THE PATRON SAINT OF SYRACUSE. INDEED, MANY OF HER EARLY CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED THE" FIRES OF ST. LUCIA", AND IS STILL CELEBRATED IN SCANDINAVIA ON DECEMBER 13TH WHERE SHE IS IMMENSELY POPULAR. THE CHURCH'S ASSIGNATION OF THIS DATE BEARS INADVERTENT HOMAGE TO THE PAGAN MIDWIFE, LUCINA. INDEED, IN A SWEDISH RITUAL, THE OLDEST DAUGHTER IN THE FAMILY WEARS A WHITE GOWN AND A CROWN OF LIGHTED CANDLES....SYMBOLIZING THE RETURN OF THE SUN. AN OLD RHYME SAYS: "LUCY LIGHT, LUCY LIGHT, THE SHORTEST DAY AND THE SHORTEST NIGHT. "BECAUSE THE NUMBER 13 IS CONNECTED WITH THE FEMININE, MANY PRACTITIONERS OF WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY HAVE HAVE ADOPTED HER AS A PATRON OF WOMEN.

THERE IS A CHRISTIAN MYTH ABOUT HER WHICH TELLS HOW SHE CUT OUT HER EYES BECAUSE A SUITOR PRAISED THEM FOR THEIR BEAUTY, AND THEN SENT THEM TO HIM. THIS HARKENS BACK TO THE ANCIENT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LIGHT AND EYES.

The Feast of St Lucy: Luciadagen

And I will stay awake throughout the longest winter night
And dress up in a red silk sash and flowing gown of white
And serve my parents with warm sweets and sing for their delight.
And I will wear upon my head a crown of fragrant green
Ablaze with tall white candles, with golden candle-gleam,
And I will be a Lussibrud as in some wondrous dream.
And as the night begins to fade I'll greet December sun
And knock on all the neighbors' doors and sing to everyone
And offer all the friends I greet a golden saffron bun.
Lucia maidens will come too, with silver in their hair
And star boys with their studded wands and pointed caps to wear,
And elfin boys will follow us as we walk everywhere.
And I will stay awake throughout the longest winter night
And dress up in my silken sash, my crown, my robe of white
And I will be, for one brief day, Lucia of the Light.

by Myra Cohn Livingston

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