History (up to a point)

[Runt]

The basic progression as I see it:

The development of the concept of spirits controlling individual elements of the world. Most of them were reflective not of the nature of their human worshippers, but of the nature of the worshippers' harsh environment. Not surprisingly, most were considered something to fear.

The development of rituals and sorcery to try to control/appeal to these spirits to influence the physical world, or to protect oneself FROM these spirits and their effects on the spiritual world.

The spirits evolve into gods and goddesses, gradually becoming more and more powerful in the eyes of their followers and taking on more human charactoristics.

The gods and goddesses are given a set of myths that reflect the culture of the worshippers.

The gods and goddesses merge into one another, are known throughout larger and larger territories by one set of names, and gradually become fewer and fewer. Their lives and characteristics are generally competely comparable to those of their human worshippers, though they are, of course, more powerful.

Montheism comes along and for a few centuries discourages the belief in multiple deities and gets thoroughly mixed up in the politics of various regions.

Human laws allow for "religious freedom" in some locations (usually Western, but with Western imperialism it spreads gradually to other nations along with the less favorable aspects of Western culture), and gradually society relaxes its tensions enough to see the reemergence of paganism and the decentralization and emergence of a more "spiritual variety" in and of Christianity.

 

[RavenRose]

Are you Nastasha Vanessa Ostrom ?

 

[RavenRose]

(sorry, that was directed towards the link in your profile)

 

[Runt]

Yup, that would be me.

 

[Master Hoomer]

I believe all religion came from SEX..... :roll: yes dirty sweaty humping...lol

No really..sex.....
More specifically sexual energy ..polarity of male and female enrgies withiong people....

I beleive we are all androgenous(at a spirit/soul level of beiong)....but we exhibit more tendency toward one or the other in our physical bodies.....

I think religion is a search for balance and harmony......
a marraige of oposite enrgies to form divinity...a chemical wedding to use an alchemy term...(sperm egg ..zygot).......

Archaeologically portrayals of the divine trinity...penis..vagina and product have been fouind to be dated way back to 8700 bce!.......rather a wee while ago......those pesky sumerians in iraq!.....

the next time you have sex...you are forming your own religion :lol: .....

 

[Ceridwen018]

It seems to me, that logically, religion and god are a creation of man. Humans have had the same certain basic needs since the beginning of their existence: food, shelter, and a rudimentary understanding of their environment, among others.
In the early days, man had very little understanding of the world in which he lived. Nature, without science, can seem very irrational, and so when these early men, obviously lacking science, could find no rational pattern in their surroundings, it seemed elementary to them that there must be something else out there which was controlling all.
Thus, the belief in a higher power was born. Religion became the perfect tool for explaining gaps in people's knowledge, and grew to become a universally accepted idea.
Another point which supports this theory lies in the observation of the many parallels between modern religions and ancient ones. I will not list any here now, but if anyone would like some examples, you need only ask. Enough for now, more later.

 

[Master Hoomer]

Yes religiuon was created by man..and so was God

But God was "labelled by man"..god and gods exist..we merley label them and give them form via our belief.....

Jung was wrong....archetypes are not merely of the collective mind...OR archetypes in the NON Jungian usuage are of the mind....

dribble....

I think parallels exist as mystical truth is universal..because simply: the inner planes ARE REAL!......

 

[Green Gaia]

Religion is a worldwide phenomenon that has played a part in all human culture and so is a much broader, more complex category than the set of beliefs or practices found in any single religious tradition. An adequate understanding of religion must take into account its distinctive qualities and patterns as a form of human experience, as well as the similarities and differences in religions across human cultures.

In all cultures, human beings make a practice of interacting with what are taken to be spiritual powers. These powers may be in the form of gods, spirits, ancestors, or any kind of sacred reality with which humans believe themselves to be connected. Sometimes a spiritual power is understood broadly as an all-embracing reality, and sometimes it is approached through its manifestation in special symbols. It may be regarded as external to the self, internal, or both. People interact with such a presence in a sacred manner—that is, with reverence and care. Religion is the term most commonly used to designate this complex and diverse realm of human experience.

The word religion is derived from the Latin noun religio, which denotes both earnest observance of ritual obligations and an inward spirit of reverence. In modern usage, religion covers a wide spectrum of meanings that reflect the enormous variety of ways the term can be interpreted. At one extreme, many committed believers recognize only their own tradition as a religion, understanding expressions such as worship and prayer to refer exclusively to the practices of their tradition. Although many believers stop short of claiming an exclusive status for their tradition, they may nevertheless use vague or idealizing terms in defining religion—for example, “true love of God,” or “the path of enlightenment.” At the other extreme, religion may be equated with ignorance, fanaticism, or wishful thinking.

By defining religion as a sacred engagement with what is taken to be a spiritual reality, it is possible to consider the importance of religion in human life without making claims about what it really is or ought to be. Religion is not an object with a single, fixed meaning, or even a zone with clear boundaries. It is an aspect of human experience that may intersect, incorporate, or transcend other aspects of life and society. Such a definition avoids the drawbacks of limiting the investigation of religion to Western or biblical categories such as monotheism (belief in one god only) or to church structure, which are not universal. For example, in tribal societies, religion—unlike the Christian church—usually is not a separate institution but pervades the whole of public and private life. In Buddhism, gods are not as central as the idea of a Buddha (fully enlightened human being). In many traditional cultures the idea of a sacred cosmic order is the most prominent religious belief. Because of this variety, some scholars prefer to use a general term such as the sacred to designate the common foundation of religious life.

 

[Master Hoomer]

The word religion is derived from the Latin noun religio, which denotes both earnest observance of ritual obligations \

The word religion means "to bind" I was told by my gay ex catholic priest ...hindu (and rosicrucian/high priest of wicca) online friend who has a masters degree in theology..... :lol:

 

[Green Gaia]

I've never heard of that... here's what my dictionary says:

re·li·gion noun
1. religion beliefs and worship: people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life

2. religion particular system: a particular institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine

3. personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by

4. obsession: an object, practice, cause, or activity that somebody is completely devoted to or obsessed by
The danger is that you start to make fitness a religion.

5. christianity monk’s or nun’s life: life as a monk or a nun, especially in the Roman Catholic Church

[12th century. Via Anglo-Norman religiun , from Old French religion , from the Latin stem religion- “obligation, reverence,” of uncertain origin: probably formed from religare

I suppose you could get "to bind" from obligation, though... :?

 

[Master Hoomer]

I've never heard of that... here's what my dictionary says:

ALl I know is my online friend is leardned....Shiva is wise dude...like I said,..he's been a catholic priest,....and currently is a hindu 1st and foremost..but is also a high priest in wicca and a member of modewrn rosicrucianism......

When it comes to religon he is a walking text book..lol....

He was also married to a lesbian...go fig....who said he uh..well he was as good as a dyke in bed..apparently..lol..I'll leave that to your imagination

If he was running for office..I'd vote

 

[Green Gaia]

No imagination needed about that here lol

Anyway, I wasn't aruging with you, just trying to understand where 'religion' meant 'to bind'. If you could ask your friend for more info, perhaps a website that explains it, I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Runt]

but is also a high priest in wicca

I don't know about the other denominations (Hindu, Catholicism, Rosicrucianism), but in Wicca at least being a "high priest" is no great achievement. You have to understand that in Wicca ALL practicioners are considered priests and priestesses, and "high priests/priestesses" usually don't lead more than twelve other people. And you don't usually become a "high priest" after years and years of study like you may in some religion. You could convert to Wicca today, do an esbat tomorrow with a group of equally unexperienced friends, and declare yourself High Priest for those rites simply because you have the greatest leadership skills.

Of course, it is ENCOURAGED that you learn about Wicca before you become a leader... and some covens DO have a system of apprenticeship that trains members before they ever really earn the "rank" of "priest", but that is not automatically the way with every coven...

 

[Master Hoomer]

As requested from various websites:


The word Religion and the word Rely both come from the same Latin word, Religare, meaning to bind or tie, which is similar to joining two oxen together with a YOKE, which comes from the same Sanskrit word as YOGA, which means, UNION, which is related to COMMUNION....


Webster's Collegiate Dictionary traces the word back to an old Latin word religio meaning "taboo, restraint." A deeper study discovers the word comes from the two words re and ligare. Re is a prefix meaning "return," and ligare means "to bind;" in other words, "return to bondage." Do you still want some of that "old-time religion"?

"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you! Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"

 

[Master Hoomer]

Of course, it is ENCOURAGED that you learn about Wicca before you become a leader... and some covens DO have a system of apprenticeship that trains members before they ever really earn the "rank" of "priest", but that is not automatically the way with every coven...

Shivs is quite a character....
He is an EX catholic priest.....served in the US military as a priest and stuff....according to the laws of the church ...he will always be a priest though

Hindusim and roscrucianism are more spiritua paths than religions....he is first and foremost a hindu...

As for wicca...yes he studied.....
I happen to know he presided over his daughter's marriage...and the entire congregation was sky clad...lol.....

Again...I'd vote for him....lol

 

[Green Gaia]

Ah.. ok thanks :lol:

 

[Runt]

As for wicca...yes he studied.....
I happen to know he presided over his daughter's marriage...and the entire congregation was sky clad...lol.....

Getting the right to marry people means nothing. In most states any licensed or ordained "clergyman" (usually of ANY religious sect or denomination) can perform marriages. There are ways to become licensed to marry people without having to prove you know ANYTHING about religion. For example, the Universal Life Church (http://www.ulc.org/) will license anybody as a minister so long as they send in the required fee for their certificate. This is a secular organization. I kid you not... you can do it right now, online, and it is real. This option is legal in many jurisdictions. You would have to check in your own state to make sure it is valid. I know people who have done it here in my state, and can LEGALLY MARRY PEOPLE.

Here are the laws in a few states regarding the ability to marry a couple:

(from <http://www.ulc.net/laws.html>)

ALABAMA

Any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which he is a member may perform marriages. Also, marriages may be performed by the pastor of any religious society according to the rules of the religious society. --- Ministers must provide a certificate of the marriage to the judge of probate within one month after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk for the judge of probate.

ALASKA

The minister, priest or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state may perform marriages. --- Ministers must provide marriage certificates to the couple married and report the marriage to the Marriage Commissioner.

ARKANSAS

Any regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination may perform marriages. --- Ministers must have their ordination credentials filed by the county clerk who will then issue a certificate to the minister. --- The marriage license must be completed by the minister and returned to the county clerk within 60 days from the date the license was issued. --- For questions see the county clerk.

UTAH

Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination who are in regular communion with any religious society may perform marriages. ---Ministers must provide a certificate of marriage to the county clerk who issued the marriage license within 30 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the county clerk.

VIRGINIA

Ministers of any religious denomination may perform marriages. --- Before performing marriages, ministers must provide proof of their ordination and proof that they are in regular communion with their church to the circuit court of any county or city or to the corporation court of any city in this state. The judge will then authorize the minister to perform marriages provided the minister obtains a bond in the amount of 500 dollars. --- Ministers may receive a fee of no more than 10 dollars for performing a marriage. ---Ministers must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the clerk who issued the marriage license within five days after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the county circuit court or the clerk of the corporation court.

WASHINGTON

Regularly licensed or ordained ministers or any priest of any church or religious denomination anywhere within the state may perform marriages.--- Ministers must send two certificates of marriage to the county auditor within 30 days after the marriage.

 

[Master Hoomer]

sticks tongue out...hrrmph runt some people are never happy.....

You'll just have to take my word for it.....he is a learned man :lol:

Americans ans marriage..you guys are nuts

 

[Runt]

"We're ALL mad here!" --Cheshire Cat