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Who Here Practises a Western Religion?
- Thread starter Rival
- Start date
While I cannot say that I practice a Western religion now, I can say that I used to practice more than one long ago. There were times when I adhered to Neowicca, and there were times when I practiced Hellenism and Roman Religion. If today I wanted to follow a Western religion, it would likely be Hellenism.
Why Hellenism? Are you Greek?
Hellenism would be a decent option because so much information about it is available in the forms of primary and secondary sources. Additionally, there are the Homeric epics and philosophical texts that, together, can help one formulate a Hellenic or Hellenistic worldview easily. Personally, although I am not of Greek identity or heritage, I like Mediterranean cultures and landscapes much more than Northern ones.
I thought you meant California. At least I was close.
I was wondering that Mormonism was basically founded in the United States...so it's Western. Right?
It has an origin from Asia, being an Asian God, so no.
Yes, as I'm a Germanic ethnic revivalist.
Given the level of cultural exchange that has occurred throughout human history, I don't think this is a realistic expectation especially in today's globalized world. This level of "purity" simply does not exist anymore unless you are talking some extremely isolated indigenous groups that would hardly be using the internet to reply to this thread. Or maybe you meant something else by this?
To maybe illustrate the challenge I'm talking about - contemporary Druidry is without question a Western religious phenomena (so is contemporary Paganism more broadly). However, there is also no question that these movements were influenced by non-Western ideas because... well... they couldn't not be given the level of globalism and cultural exchange at the time and throughout history. Does this mean that any contemporary Druid, no matter how strong the spirit of indigenousness their practice is, isn't "pure" enough to be practicing a Western religion? Is it useful to think of things in this fashion when that level of purity cannot and never did exist? What do we really mean by indigenous here?
I was thinking more like Slavic Paganism. Those people groups can be traced back, sure, but I haven't found anyone saying Slavic Paganism is the same as Hinduism because they're etymologically related. The beliefs, praxis etc. are clearly different to the point of being divergent and unrecognizable as being from the same stock.
So Norse, Druidry, Aztec etc. are what I'm thinking of.
First time I hear of Dharmic and Taoism as being "as Western" as the Abrahamics.
I don't know. It is just not clear to me what the criteria would be.
You are listing several examples of what should not count, but that does not clarify much.
For what it is worth, I am a Pastafarian when I feel like it, and there is no doubt that my Buddhist teachers imprinted some Western values and ideas in their teachings.
For that matter, Secular Humanism is as Western as they come.
Secular Humanism is a heretical offshoot of Christianity. It wouldn't have appeared without that.
Why am I always having to explain basic ****. I'm tired of this.
The thread OP is not exactly hard.
Spice
StewardshipPeaceIntergityCommunityEquality
I have a very great interest in Native American religion, but there are multiple sub-sects as much as in any other religion.
Although I do not practice any rituals, I do live certain respects as I've discovered through various reading and research.
Meal time silent prayer is made to the lost life of the food itself.
LGBTQs are special gifts of the Great Spirit and it is an honor to have them in your camp.
It's also nearly impossible to discover any originally left behind after the introduction of Christianity, especially in the later conquered lands, but I'm fortunate in that I am from far enough east that the Native activities were documented by the earliest explorers. In the 1960s these documents were researched and compiled in an attempt to get the local tribe, the Chowanoc, "recognized" by the U.S. government. It has not yet been successful.
My touch of native heritage is from the Algonquians. They were polytheists with all gods called Mantoac. The Great God created all things including the other gods that were made to govern the creation.
I live the Thanksgiving of my country with thoughtful respect in memory of the Great Feast of the Algonquins at harvest. But, no dancing with 3 virgins in the circle of carved posts, and though I generally do cook for three days, and many eat for a week, it is only a few hours of celebration rather than days.
One prayer service noted, used rattles while sitting around a fire. This prayer was thanks to the evil spirits for letting them return home safely. The Good Spirit did not require trubute. The Evil Spirit, however, needed to be pacified to not destroy the gifts of the Good Spirit or cause troubles such as war, plague, and famine. (Robert Beverly)
The Land of Souls is west, where the sun goes at the end of the day. This is the place where the great people, warriors, hunters, servants, traveled to live in all the earthly pleasures. In 1585, a funeral ceremony was held for a deceased great man where the priest promised "Enjoyment of handsome young women, great store of deer to hunt, and never meet with hunger, cold, or fatigue, but everything to answer his expectation and desire." (John Lawson)
Another place, called Popogusso, was a great hole, an endless pit where the lazy, thieving, and poor providers and protectors went. (Lawson, and Thomas Hariot)
Kewas, a carved and painted 4' guardian of Dead Kings, was set in a dark corner of the temple of the city of Secota. Other cities had similar guardians over their temples presenting a terrifying appearance. (John White)
So this is the basics of what I know of my ancestors' religion from about 1585 through approximately 1711 - 1715 when the Chowanoc were sent to the reservation or "blended in" due to the Tuscarora Wars.
Although I do not practice any rituals, I do live certain respects as I've discovered through various reading and research.
Meal time silent prayer is made to the lost life of the food itself.
LGBTQs are special gifts of the Great Spirit and it is an honor to have them in your camp.
It's also nearly impossible to discover any originally left behind after the introduction of Christianity, especially in the later conquered lands, but I'm fortunate in that I am from far enough east that the Native activities were documented by the earliest explorers. In the 1960s these documents were researched and compiled in an attempt to get the local tribe, the Chowanoc, "recognized" by the U.S. government. It has not yet been successful.
My touch of native heritage is from the Algonquians. They were polytheists with all gods called Mantoac. The Great God created all things including the other gods that were made to govern the creation.
I live the Thanksgiving of my country with thoughtful respect in memory of the Great Feast of the Algonquins at harvest. But, no dancing with 3 virgins in the circle of carved posts, and though I generally do cook for three days, and many eat for a week, it is only a few hours of celebration rather than days.
One prayer service noted, used rattles while sitting around a fire. This prayer was thanks to the evil spirits for letting them return home safely. The Good Spirit did not require trubute. The Evil Spirit, however, needed to be pacified to not destroy the gifts of the Good Spirit or cause troubles such as war, plague, and famine. (Robert Beverly)
The Land of Souls is west, where the sun goes at the end of the day. This is the place where the great people, warriors, hunters, servants, traveled to live in all the earthly pleasures. In 1585, a funeral ceremony was held for a deceased great man where the priest promised "Enjoyment of handsome young women, great store of deer to hunt, and never meet with hunger, cold, or fatigue, but everything to answer his expectation and desire." (John Lawson)
Another place, called Popogusso, was a great hole, an endless pit where the lazy, thieving, and poor providers and protectors went. (Lawson, and Thomas Hariot)
Kewas, a carved and painted 4' guardian of Dead Kings, was set in a dark corner of the temple of the city of Secota. Other cities had similar guardians over their temples presenting a terrifying appearance. (John White)
So this is the basics of what I know of my ancestors' religion from about 1585 through approximately 1711 - 1715 when the Chowanoc were sent to the reservation or "blended in" due to the Tuscarora Wars.
I strongly disagree. The need for a name does not the stance make.
Sorry, but it actually is. I don't think you realize how very personal this categorization is.
It's not personal at all. It is a fact that all the religions I mentioned have their origin in Asia, that's not an opinion. The fact that many of them dominate the West does not make them Western.
For goodness sake.
/Threadabort