Struggles with Unrecognition and Views of Beliefs.

[Deukal]

Ok, so recently ive had a teacher of an English class, and we were heading into Greek Mythology. My beliefs what they are, you can figure i was excited about studying and delving into the subject in my class. Unfortunately, it started rather off-track for me.

The teacher started the lesson by describing that the people who came up with the Greek religion were likely on crack. And it did hurt. Now my beliefs are inspired by a people on drugs?

Im sure the teacher meant no harm- in fact, im sure most people would never say that about a religion or a person's beliefs. But apparently, The teacher was assuming that no one believed the "wacky" ancient greek religion anymore. Not recognizing it, and burying it as part of the "past". As if it was something inferior now to the "future"

Dont get me wrong, id agree some of the Greek Mythology texts are rather wacky and strange, and i dont agree with them all. But the action of not having the decency to think of the insulting comment before speaking well, it just hurt.

And unfortunately, its similar to some other people i know. I have people around my neighboorhood that would chastise my believes as purely evil and barbaric cult, simply because it involves things like Sacrifice,Astrology,Mystiscism and the use of Altars with Statues.

And then we come to the act of a few members getting personal experiences with The Gods, and im seen as a person who is crazy. Why am i and my fellow Hellenic Polytheists (and im sure quite a few other pagans) compared to crazies when nearly every religion has personal claims of spiritual experiences that can only be truly validated personally?

I just find it odd and hurtful. And i think it qualifies as a struggle, and id really appreciate advice.

I will step off my soap box now.

 

[seashale76]

I believe you when you say that you have had spiritual experiences. Past that very general statement on my part, I doubt we'd both agree as to their source.

 

[Deukal]

I believe you when you say that you have had spiritual experiences. Past that very general statement on my part, I doubt we'd both agree as to their source.

Most likely not

 

[seashale76]

If it is any consolation, I once took a university class wherein the professor bashed my religion frequently. I felt very uncomfortable as it wasn't a welcoming environment. The course was Women in Religion. However, we studied neither women nor their roles in various world religions. The entire class was a soap-box for the professor to rant against Christianity. It upset even an atheist friend of mine who was in the class with me.

 

[Deukal]

I understand, and I really cant grasp why people think they must strike at,bash and insult other's religions, it only leads to uncomfortable intolerance, and on a high level, full out cultural disagreements.

 

[Lithp]

To be fair, the Oracle of Delphi pretty much was on crack. She didn't come up with it, but still.

Anywho, I've actually read theories that Greek Mythology began as a series of metaphors, for things like the changing seasons.

As far as weird stuff goes, Greek mythology is actually fairly tame, especially when you compare it to, say, Shinto mythology, where rock slides are basically caused by the rock spirit's evil twin.

I don't think any one religion is more or less "valid" or "wacky" than another.

More to the point, we seem to have this idea that it's "okay" to bash older religions. I'd say ignore it unless it becomes a frequent thing, or try to casually slip in the fact that you're a--what would you call that? Greek Mythologist?

 

[salida]

Professors should just teach. Sometimes their opinions isn't wanted.

 

[ellie'sforjesus]

I am sorry for your experience. Know one should ever be bashed or feel that way in a class. I would almost believe that this is unethical. I hope you made it through the class and definately said something about the teacher to someone higher up. I am a christian but some of my dearest friends and my son's best friend is muslim. We each have our own beliefs and none of them should be bashed upon. In fact, we went to a baseball game with a group of families a couple weeks ago where our family is christian, another family is muslim and the other family is jewish. We had a wonderful time at the event. The kids all love each other no matter what they believe and that's the way it should be everywhere we are or go. Hang in there, I know it's hard to be mocked...

 

[Van]

What is wrong with the view that anyone should be able to believe whatever they want and never have to confront alternate views? If a person thinks everything is ok, they believe in nothing. Mass murder is fine, racism is fine, slavery is fine, and so forth.

If I did not believe in God, would I object to others who believe in false gods? Nope.
If I believe in God, would I object to others who believe in false gods? Yep

Thus a member of the godless left might argue for multiculturalism, because of its inherent polytheism, publically worshiping at the alter of tolerance and diversity, while privately seeking to savage the existing cultural Christianity.

 

[razeontherock]

I am sorry for your experience. Know one should ever be bashed or feel that way in a class. I would almost believe that this is unethical.

Much of education has crossed the line into being unethical! I do think individual teachers need to be given latitude to teach, with some relationship to their competence, intellect, passion and even style. Some teach in an adversarial style, to provoke your deepest thoughts via emotion. Some people learn well via this method, and gain profound experience that changes their lives forever, for the better.

I doubt any of us here are in the position to be able to tell where this Prof fits into all that, though. I will say for myself, that scrutinizing my beliefs has ALWAYS been a good thing, and that my God is NOT afraid of being scrutinized Himself! I'd be curious to hear about your spiritual experiences.

 

[heron]

It sounds like an opportunity to meet with the teacher outside of the group setting. Just explain it quickly -- he might not have ever met a professing Hellenic Polytheist.

Everyone gets oppressed or intimidated for something -- stay tough.

As for the crack comment, there is evidence that many spiritual activities over the centuries were induced by substances. Mentioned above, the oracle at Delphi used the fumes from an opening in the earth's crust. There were other "wise" consultants around the world who used magma fumes. And there were people who died from them (Lake Nyos).

Other psychoactive substances used to trigger spiritual experiences: rye ergot, opium, peyote, fly agaric, cannabis, kava, coca, jimsonweed, salvia.

I guess I am not helping... but people who used these honestly felt they were seeing something real in the supernatural realm. Every country and culture trhough history has hosted beliefs in supernatural spirits that involve themselves in the lives of humans.

 

[DoctorJosh]

Ok, so recently ive had a teacher of an English class, and we were heading into Greek Mythology. My beliefs what they are, you can figure i was excited about studying and delving into the subject in my class. Unfortunately, it started rather off-track for me.

The teacher started the lesson by describing that the people who came up with the Greek religion were likely on crack. And it did hurt. Now my beliefs are inspired by a people on drugs?

Im sure the teacher meant no harm- in fact, im sure most people would never say that about a religion or a person's beliefs. But apparently, The teacher was assuming that no one believed the "wacky" ancient greek religion anymore. Not recognizing it, and burying it as part of the "past". As if it was something inferior now to the "future"

Dont get me wrong, id agree some of the Greek Mythology texts are rather wacky and strange, and i dont agree with them all. But the action of not having the decency to think of the insulting comment before speaking well, it just hurt.

And unfortunately, its similar to some other people i know. I have people around my neighboorhood that would chastise my believes as purely evil and barbaric cult, simply because it involves things like Sacrifice,Astrology,Mystiscism and the use of Altars with Statues.

And then we come to the act of a few members getting personal experiences with The Gods, and im seen as a person who is crazy. Why am i and my fellow Hellenic Polytheists (and im sure quite a few other pagans) compared to crazies when nearly every religion has personal claims of spiritual experiences that can only be truly validated personally?

I just find it odd and hurtful. And i think it qualifies as a struggle, and id really appreciate advice.

I will step off my soap box now.

Well I know some people just like pagan religions because there is so much involved in it, the rituals and the comrade spirit of it all. However, as you mentioned, you got offended when it was brought that that "Some people" invented the religion and your teacher said they were on crack. Well, as with any other pagan religion it usually is just an idea that catches on, someone says out of the blue that there is a god of the sky, but the god of the sun does what ever to keep the sky lit up. So then it becomes a religion, they sacrifice something or somebody (some poor victim) and usually it was something they saw as sacred to them (like a virgin).

Anyway, so now after a thousand years as people added different rituals to these pagan religions they seem like real religions. Easy to fall into if you were around it all the time or grew up with pagan parents. However, God the Creator (one God) has allowed everyone that Freedom of choice to choose whom you will follow. In Alaska I met some that worship rocks and plants and they think they are gods.
In Indonesia I know of a man who calls himself god and people actually follow him and will even die for him. In Asia, Buddha is some fat dude who ruled over the land and made himself a god by force, now he is seen as a cute fat fellow god that is all great and everything.
So each person can believe what they want. God the Creator allows that. He wants volunteers, not slaves to follow Him.

Now if you never read the Bible, I can understand why you are stuck with no proof of concept of Christianity. However, Christianity is the oldest religion on this planet. Thus is backed up by solid proof that what the Bible says did happen (including the flood and many other events) which archeologists are still finding more proof that is exactly as it is written in the Christian Bible (Old and New Testament). Yet, any other religion has no proof, no scientific backing, no evidence to even point to the fact their religion was ever "real" by bonified proof.

So if you get upset for people saying something about our religion that is because mythology (hence the term myth is now in the dictionary as it is today) that there was no proof backing it up. So I wouldn't be offended if someone pointed that out for you to think about.

The Christian Bible has over 100,000 pieces of evidence backing it up, and it grows even more every year. Worth checking it out.

I know sometimes it is hard to even think about other religions, but researching them and seeing who made them, what backs it up, what proof it has, and why the religion came about are all things to look up in every religion. I have done just that. Christianity is the only religion that I can find solid proof backing it up. So therefore, I am a Christian today.

A person should be willing to research, to ask questions, to find the facts behind any religion. Don't be offended to hear many talk about mythology since it was studied many times, nothing was found to back it up. It is well documented about the entire religion and yet no solid proof any of the gods existed or did anything for the people nor did any great feats, etc. So now it is pretty much extinct, but except for the few who find it a religion to fit the gap they seek. Even Hindu has many gods, a god of war, a god of good, a god for this or that, but even it has no proof backing it up. So again, it is still the Freedom to believe what you want, but I wanted to make sure I was believing in the right religion and the right God. Christianity was the final choice for me.

Anyway, aren't you just a bit curious which religion is right? Which has some backing and proof? Which has been around the longest? Which answers all your questions?

I am just pointing some things out, but I truly hope you are not offended. I Pray you will seek the Truth.