Vox Day:
You may recall that a pan-European pagan revival was something I predicted a few years ago ago. Secularism is not an option because it has nothing to offer philosophically or spiritually; that's precisely why the humanists are always producing manifestos as well as books attempting to explain why it is possible for someone to square a circle even though no one has managed it yet. Thispetty Greek paganism is insignificant today, but if they are successful in marrying it to the powerful nationalist revival represented by Golden Dawn, it could prove surprisingly popular.
In the last few years, though, some have come to distrust that prism, and to say so in public. While Church membership is still extremely high (more than 95% of all Greeks are at least nominally Orthodox) and the leadership is still highly involved in state affairs, there has been a resurgence of popular interest in the pre-Christian past. With it has come a small explosion of pagan groups, philosophical societies, Spartan schools, "Hellenist" magazines and performances of classical theater....
One of the most visible facets of the revivalist movement has been the campaign for recognition for the Dodecatheon, or "Religion of the Twelve Gods." The campaign has hardly been successful: polytheists have twice applied to the Greek religion ministry for official status, and twice they have been ignored. Coverage of the movement in the popular press has not been flattering. (The word many Greeks use when asked about the pagans is "funny.") But the movement has been attracting attention.
Paganism looks funny from the perspective of the post-Christian, who has the benefit of more than a thousand years of Christian civilization. It's not quite so funny if you happen to be sufficiently well-educated about historical paganism; there is a reason why "the Dark Ages" historically refers to the time before the coming of Jesus Christ, The Light of the World.
(The so-called "Enlightenment", like all Satanic inspirations, is nothing more than a cheap and perverted knock-off of the original concept.)
In any event, the history of the 20th century should demonstrate that pagan nationalists, particularly those with pan-European ambitions, are no laughing matter.It's a mistake to see atheism as the future of the West. Atheism is a cultural dead letter-- a sort of societal autism. Atheism is horrendously deadly (it snuffed one hundred million lives in the 20th century), but it has no staying power. Atheism is sterile, and inspires no one outside of a mental institution.
Paganism is a different matter entirely. Paganism is Christianity's and Judaism's historic enemy, and it is the enemy we will fight for the next few centuries. It is much better ensconced in our culture today than we realize-- radical environmentalism and the sexual revolution are overtly pagan movements, abortion is a pagan sacrament, and Nazism was armed pagan nationalism (worship of race and soil).
Paganism, unlike atheism, has deep emotional appeal, can motivate entire civilizations, and has enormous staying power. It is the perennial human spiritual default. We worship nature, ourselves, power, blood, money, sex or soil.
The worship of God is learned and revealed. Idol worship is in many ways more natural to man.
The worship of God is learned and revealed. Idol worship is in many ways more natural to man.
We have the blessing to live in the Christian era, in which paganism is still somewhat weak, but that is changing. Vox is right to remind us that paganism is not the least bit funny, especially when aligned with nationalism.
The amalgam of paganism and nationalism burst out in Germany a little less than a century ago, and we are still trying to come to grips with its evil. Yet today paganism is not dead or dying. It is rising, as is nationalism.
It's worth noting that Christianity is the only thing that has ever crushed paganism. Islam is a Christian heresy. Judaism fought paganism valiantly, but never had the political strength and means to vanquished it.
Will Christian civilization again have the strength to beat back paganism in the West?
Remind me again why Christianity, in particular Catholicism, isn't paganism? There's the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The Catholic Church has at least 10,000 saints, all of whom are potentially the targets of intecessory prayers. And Pope John Paul II may become the latest saint if a second miracle can be invented. Perhaps he might become the patron saint of Parkinson's disease - if it doesn't already have one.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to pray to God or Jesus, you can always pray to Mary.
Agreed. Islam is a Christian heresy. I'd go further and assert that it was Christianity from the very beginning. 'There is but one God' (not 2 or 3 - it started off more monotheistic than orthodox Christianity) 'and Mohammed' (meaning 'he who is to be praised' ie Jesus) 'is his messenger' was just a slogan used by Arab Christians to distinguish them from Greek Christians.
Atheism isn't an ideology. It's just a worldview - that there's no god(s). Atheists can also subscribe to an ideology. As too can Christians.
The danger is that conservative Christians can use their bizarre interpretation of Christianity (eg God promised Noah he'd not destroy humanity with another Flood) to justify what they want to do (or rather not do) based on their political ideology (ie global warming isn't happening, because if it was, sea levels could rise 50 or a 100 metres, inundating and drowning coastal cities - which God promised not to do - ignoring that during the Mesozoic, the Earth was a hothouse with sea levels much higher than today; however with dry continents still present).
Heh. It looks like freedom of religion is a foreign concept in these parts.
ReplyDeleteHoo
Christianity IS paganism, dumbass. Resurrection myths were a dime a dozen when Christianity was fabricated and would have been long forgotten if it hadn't been for a psychopathic Roman emperor (who had murdered his mother and brother) who liked the idea of a forgiving god. Christmas and Easter have pagan origins and were co-opted by the scum that ruled the church at the time.
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeletePaganism is indeed on the rise and is by far a more attractive worldview than the sterile secularism offered up in the ingsoc cups. The worship of Angels (fallen), men, and the forces and presence of nature is old as the hills.
Personally, I do not think Christianity will prevent this movement from reaching critical mass within elite, trendy, and economically powerful circles.
In fact, it already has. Take a trip to Sonoma in late July or Early August (depending on the moon) for further proof of this rot.
As for Paganism being funny and cute, Vox has hit the nail on the head.
Regarding the atheistic arguments presented heretofor: Childish or off the mark.
Troy, par for the course high school type objections. Silly semantic arguments based on half truths.
Bach? I am surprised at you! The Triune as a pagan god? Can you tell the difference between dogs and cats? Pigeons and Albatross? What a superficial treatment! Perhaps this is what happens to retired people who read to much nihilistic garbage. Maybe it is the mind reacting to all that 'nothing', 'meaninglessness', 'randomness', and 'emergence' stuff.
You know? The whole, 'don't worry' - 'shit happens and you die' meme.
Hoo,
Tolerance and the freedom to practice do not equal pluralism. Allowing for the freedom to practice one's faith does not instantly equate to BELIEF in that faith or acceptance of it's canon or tenets.
crus, we're not taking about accepting another religion as one's own faith. We're talking about "crushing" and "beating it back."
DeleteEgnor is a militant Catholic zealot.
Hoo
Troy, par for the course high school type objections. Silly semantic arguments based on half truths.
DeleteIn other words, you can't refute it.
Matthew 27:52-53:
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
How come this bizarre invasion of zombies that was allegedly witnessed by many people was never recorded by independent sources, or if it was recorded why didn't it survive? Answer me that.
@troi:
DeleteMaybe CNN didn't have a reporter on the scene.
Michael,
Delete'Maybe CNN didn't have a reporter on the scene'.
Spoken like the dishonest creationist you are. We know CNN didn't have reporters there. But there were historians in Palestine in the first century, including Josephus, whose writings have survived, including later Christian additions, to give the false impression that Christianity was a runaway success in the first century.
Not even Rodney Stark (as in 'the Triumph of Christianity') accepts this nonsense.
The unknown author who wrote 'Matthew' wrote at a distance sufficiently far from Palestine (in time and space) that he knew none of his readers would have been eyewitnesses.
The scribes who copied Josephus and added material realised how ridiculous the account in Matthew was. Not even they could swallow it, and add it to Josephus' writings.
Troy,
Delete"In other words, you can't refute it."
No. In other words: I cannot be bothered arguing about complex issues with a simpleton who has no grasp of them what-so-ever. Why should I respond to a crappy, cliched, worn out, completely DESTROYED set of talking points? Why should anyone who is truly interested in the subjects discussed here even be REMOTELY interested in reading such a back and forth - let alone participate in one?
"How come this bizarre invasion of zombies that was allegedly witnessed by many people was never recorded by independent sources, or if it was recorded why didn't it survive?"
Zombies? This kind of slack jawed, metal slothfulness is exactly what I am referring to. How am I supposed to communicate to someone who couches their enquiry in terms that belong in shitty B movies and kids comic books?
" Answer me that.."
What exactly is the question? Why there are no independent sources on this specific occurrence cited in Matthew? Restate it in a way that can be properly understood to reflect the subject, and I may consider it.
Save your comic book bullshit for the kids in the school yard.
Bachfiend,
What a load of bullshit suppositions and assumptions. The funny part is how you have the nerve to accuse Mike of dishonesty, then go on to lay on the thick brown nut and corn sauce. Unknown authors (who you know all about), revised history that makes for some good revisionism.
Hoo,
My point is simply that to be tolerant of other beliefs and respect rights to religious freedoms, does not mean that any and ever aspect of alien or ancient (culturally) behaviours should be tolerated and accepted.
We have extended this logic to extreme sects of our own religious faith and those related to it; and this concept counts for other faiths (including Paganism) as well.
Your right to believe in (or not) in any form of religion is protected, so long as it does not defile the sacred rights of those other citizens about you.
I don't think Mike or Vox are suggesting BANNING pagan thought or even their harmless rituals. I think they are suggesting (in differing ways) that a wave of pagan thinking is finding a nursery of sorts in the secular vacuum of post modern civilization. I think they further suggest that this 'wave' is a potential danger.
Crus,
DeleteWhat exactly did you mean by "eradicating" paganism?
Here is a clue. If I told you that Christianity has not yet been "wholly eradicated" from academia, how would you interpret that?
Hoo
Hoo,
DeleteIt was not my term, I was responding to JR's post. But, I suppose the shoe fits.
What I meant by the use of it was the eradication of the basic principles of paganism as well as some of it's practices.I am not for killing off all the pagans, if that is why you enquire. I am not even for letting them kill each other off to please their 'gods'.
An example of what could/has been eradicated might be elevation of ideals ('Liberty') or even forces/laws of nature to the divine (lowercase).
"Here is a clue. If I told you that Christianity has not yet been "wholly eradicated" from academia, how would you interpret that? "
Precisely the same way. I would note, however, that eradicating Christianity would be even more difficult than eradicating pagan thought. Ask the pagans!
This brings us to the crux of the issue: When metaphysical and philosophical systems of thought are systematically removed (eradicated) - rather than simply displaced - from any given society, a vacuum is created. That vacuum will be filled. In the case of Europe the secular vacuum could well force the choice between Islam and Neo Pagan thought increasingly for those individuals successfully divorced from their own (recent) culture and traditions.
“there is a reason why "the Dark Ages" historically refers to the time before the coming of Jesus Christ”
ReplyDeleteWhat bullshit. Yet another example of a Christian lying about history.
-KW
To the author of this essay.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent effort.
Paganism was never wholly eradicated from Europe. Two weeks ago a pig was sacrificed on the pitch before a football match (against Celtic I think) in a continental (not British Isles, I am writing from England).
The explanation is always the same, 'To bring luck!'
Sounds so much better than,'So that the team can absorb the spirit energy and as the blood runs onto the pitch it will replicate the blood & spirit energy of our enemies!'
Pretty sure the Club was Galatasary but I'm not sure.I'll look it up if you wish.
I recall 'Aunt Sally' as a Fair attraction when I was small.
This is a direct 'Virgin Harvest Sacrifice' tradition.
and so on.
So thanks for an interesting read.
John Richardson
ps the Dark ages are often thought of following directly after the fall of Rome.
Anon,
DeleteI agree. Paganism was never eradicated. Far from it. Paganism is alive an well. It has been kept so by 'mystery schools' and 'orders' for centuries.
Neo Pagan festivals abound. Check out this week's news for all sorts of stories about the hedonistic 'Burning Man' festival in Nevada. Classic summer fertility rights with a modern masque - right down to the psychedelics.
Yes.
DeleteFurther, pagan rituals embedded themselves in the language & 'cultural traditions' of old societies.
I danced around the May Pole when I was young and we have one at my school now.
Similarly, your American Cheer Leaders represent and replicate the virgins that would be paraded before a battle; for the delectation of the combatants.
Pure Paganism.
Though I now understand you have biologically 'male' individuals who now like to do this.
Huuum.
Yeah.
I put that down to 'progress', Satan's underrated side kick.
Regards.
John Richardson
Christmas tree is a pagan tradition. Be sure not to buy one next year.
DeleteHahahaha!
Hoo
Never have. Sorry.
DeleteJR
....should read 'continental tie.'
ReplyDeleteJohn R.
I like Christmas trees and cheerleaders and I danced around a maypole when I was a kid.
DeleteI don't think the Lord minds, as long as our hearts and minds are with Him. He was accused of gluttony and association with sinners (some pagans no doubt) because of His attendance at too many weddings and banquets.
He knows the human heart.
Amen.
DeleteJR
>Is against Paganism. >Ignores that Catholicism has elements of Paganism. The Romans added elements of Paganism to their religion in order to get the Romans to follow their Jewish religion.
ReplyDeleteA terrible article, without correct informations, made with pure envy towards Polytheistic revival in Europe. Btw, your statement about the ''Dark Ages'' just shows that you lack the most basic knowledge of history. First of all, it wasn't in the BC era AT ALL. It represents the times when Christianity scavenged through Europe, burning temples and books, killing people, creating a repressive regime throughout Europe, destroying free nations. Shame on you for lying to the people like this. I hope nobody has taken this seriously.
ReplyDeleteGermans were never evil. They told us what would happen.
ReplyDelete