Gauging Interest

[Zoness]

Hi community. I'm pretty bored by the current selection of topics on the sub so I was wondering what the interest would be if I posted some materials relating to paganism. I want to cover a variety of traditions, the "witch cult" theory and its debunking, syncreticism vs. reconstructionism, nationalist trends in paganism among other things. Would anyone read and talk about these things? I'm not going to go to all of the work if not.

Okay thanks!

 

[awitch]

Posilutely.

Perhaps we should start by defining a witch cult?

 

[gord44]

Go for it! Love me a little pagan learnin.

 

[Zoness]

Posilutely.

Perhaps we should start by defining a witch cult?

Good idea! That will be my first one.

 

[Jane_Doe]

I'd be interested. And the forums have been to quiet lately.

Zoness, the stage is yours.

 

[ananda]

Sure, witch subject will you address first?

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Yes, very much so! Just fire away!

 

[ViaCrucis]

More than happy to learn new things about other religious and traditions. Can't promise I'll be very active in the thread but I'd certainly be happy learning from the discussion that goes on.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Zoness]

Sure, witch subject will you address first?

I think I'll start with defining a witch cult and describe how they came to prominence. Looks like there is sufficient interest so stay tuned!

 

[MehGuy]

You already know my answer, lol.

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Hi community. I'm pretty bored by the current selection of topics on the sub so I was wondering what the interest would be if I posted some materials relating to paganism. I want to cover a variety of traditions, the "witch cult" theory and its debunking, syncreticism vs. reconstructionism, nationalist trends in paganism among other things. Would anyone read and talk about these things? I'm not going to go to all of the work if not.

Okay thanks!

Yes, I enjoy looking at different religions. I'm particularly interested in how paganism relates to nationalism, my impression is that various nativist and nationalist tendencies in Europe tend to try to position themselves within the neo-pagan traditions as opposed to the Christian tradition.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Yes, I enjoy looking at different religions. I'm particularly interested in how paganism relates to nationalism, my impression is that various nativist and nationalist tendencies in Europe tend to try to position themselves within the neo-pagan traditions as opposed to the Christian tradition.

Those particular strains of Neo-Paganism tend, at least as it seems to me, to be more ethnicist than nationalist. About ethnic identity rather than national identity. This without intending a value judgment, as for example practictioners of Asatru can include a highly diverse range of ideas, from liberal tolerance to far right wing racist ideology. Asatru itself isn't problematic, though it is possible for those who lean toward ideas of nordic/germanic supremacy to find in Asatru a means to a problematic end--much in the same way as it happens in every other religious tradition throughout human history.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Those particular strains of Neo-Paganism tend, at least as it seems to me, to be more ethnicist than nationalist. About ethnic identity rather than national identity. This without intending a value judgment, as for example practictioners of Asatru can include a highly diverse range of ideas, from liberal tolerance to far right wing racist ideology. Asatru itself isn't problematic, though it is possible for those who lean toward ideas of nordic/germanic supremacy to find in Asatru a means to a problematic end--much in the same way as it happens in every other religious tradition throughout human history.

-CryptoLutheran

Yeah, this is true, but it can lead towards and inform various far-right tendencies in Europe. Dominique Venner, for instance, it's not widely known but he was very much attracted to paganism. He committed suicide at the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris in 2013 because of the legalisation of gay marriage in an act of protest.

 

[MehGuy]

Yeah, this is true, but it can lead towards and inform various far-right tendencies in Europe. Dominique Venner, for instance, it's not widely known but he was very much attracted to paganism. He committed suicide at the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris in 2013 because of the legalisation of gay marriage in an act of protest.

That's insane, lol.

 

[Zoness]

Apparently making these threads is illegal on the board (which I think is a misrepresentation of the SOP presented to us) so I won't waste time on future ones.

Sorry guys. Any questions or pagan topics you want to discuss should be directed to my inbox and I would love to talk about them.

 

[MehGuy]

I'll post pagan threads if it would help. Just give me the suggestions.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I'll post pagan threads if it would help. Just give me the suggestions.

Well, it might be interesting to learn whether pagan members are "hard" polytheists, "soft" polytheists, or something else entirely.
Since the term is so far-reaching, asking where they come from in terms of their spiritual tradition or religious background might also be worthwhile.
And then of course, there's the option of talking some more about the roots of modern day neo-paganism.

 

[Zoness]

Well, it might be interesting to learn whether pagan members are "hard" polytheists, "soft" polytheists, or something else entirely.
Since the term is so far-reaching, asking where they come from in terms of their spiritual tradition or religious background might also be worthwhile.
And then of course, there's the option of talking some more about the roots of modern day neo-paganism.

I think these are great discussion topics. Especially the polytheism question which I'd both like to answer and hear the answers of others.