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| Home > News Archive > Cauldron News Old: June 2005 | Search |
| Cauldron News Old: June 2005 |
| Religious Practices That Make You Squicky? Posted Thursday, June 30, 2005 by Randall |
I was wondering what (if any) religious practices make you squicky? I'm not saying you would ban them or anything, just that you don't "grok" them at all and don't understand why people do them. For me, a good example would be the modern day Filipino crucifixions. I think that willing participants should be able to affix themselves to a chunk of wood if they so choose, but ... Ewww!
| Best Public Ritual Experiences Posted Thursday, June 30, 2005 by Randall |
Since I'm looking forward to attending my first pagan festival (Sirius Rising at Brushwood, NY), and I'm helping write the Saturday night ritual, I'm interested in hearing your stories about the best public ritual you've ever seen or in which you've been a participant.
Long or short?
Trad specific or eclectic?
How many people staged it?
How many attended?
Indoors or out?
Best part?
Worst part?
Stuff you loved about it?
Stuff you hated?
What would you have changed and why?
| Review: Mother of the Gods: From Cybele to the Virgin Mary Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2005 by Randall |
This book, by a distinguished Swiss scholar of Greek and Roman religion, adds an additional voice to the growing chorus of interest in the Phrygian Mother goddess Cybele in the Greek and Roman world. The book is a translation of a work first published in French in 1996. Apart from a translator's preface and a short preface written for this edition by the author, the English text is completely unaltered from the original French edition.
| Review: Women's Religions in the Greco-Roman World Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2005 by Randall |
For scholars and students alike, Ross S. Kraemer's Women's Religions in the Greco-Roman World: A Sourcebook is a welcome contribution primarily to the study of women's roles in Hellenistic Judaism and emergent Christianity, and only secondarily to the study of women's roles in the Greek and Roman polytheistic traditions. This collection of selected primary sources in English translation augments and replaces Kraemer's well-received Maenads, Martyrs, Matrons, Monastics: A Source Book on Women's Religions in the Greco-Roman World, which was published in 1988 by Fortress Press. Like the 1988 sourcebook, Women's Religions selects primary sources (both edited portions of long works and shorter writings in full) from the fourth century B.C.E. to the fifth century C.E. that pertain to women's religiosity in the above traditions or that provide elements of the broader social context for women in Judaism, Christianity, and related traditions bearing a biblical imprint (e.g., God-fearing proselytes). The collection contains a wide range of literary, epigraphic, and papyrological sources in Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Coptic, with two selections from sources dating earlier than the fourth century B.C.E., the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and a selection from Euripides' Bacchae. It excludes passages from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, on the reasonable ground that these sources are readily available in translation.
| Virginity and Magick Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2005 by Randall |
We've had a lot of threads, over the years, about the power of sex in ritual and magic. But, as Illgrace pointed out, we haven't seen a lot of discussion about virginity. Moral and ethical concerns aside, do you think there is any magical power to being a virgin? Does one gain or lose power when one loses one's virginity? Or is it just irrelevant?
| New Academic Book Reviews Posted Sunday, June 26, 2005 by Randall |
Over forty new reviews of academic books have been added to our Academic Reviews section. Some of these are so interesting that they will be featured here in coming days. However, you don't have to wait as you can find them all there now.
| New Humor! Posted Sunday, June 26, 2005 by Randall |
We have a number of new humor items in the humor section of our web site. You can't miss them, they are marked with "New" graphics.
| Psychic Premonitions and Ethics Posted Sunday, June 26, 2005 by Randall |
If you have a psychic premonition about a future event that involves a particular person, do you think it is wise or ethical to tell them? Or is it better to keep quiet and let nature take it's course?
I realize that some people are more psychically developed than others - is it fair to reveal details of premonitions to others who may not be aware or even believe that such psychic abilities exist?
Do you think that by revealing details of a premonition to someone, they could prevent the future event from happening by taking adversive action? Or do you think the event would still happen anyway, regardless?
Obviously, if it's a bad event, then warning them and allowing them to take adversive action to avoid the situation would be a positive thing. But supposing it's a good situation, could telling them about it actually cause them to change their actions and thus change the future - stopping the event you foretold from actually happening?
Should psychics have a duty to keep quiet about information they pick up and accept that non-psychics don't need to know all the details? Or is it OK to tell people about it? Should we consider psychic ability as a privilege and treat information we receive as sacred? Or is passing on psychic information no different from saying, "Guess what I saw on TV the other day?"
I guess it is all a question of ethics and I'd be really interested to read what you all think!
| Learning Ki Control? Posted Sunday, June 26, 2005 by Randall |
I practice a form of Zen Buddhisim, one that focuses on control of the Chrakas, body and Chi/Ki (however you want to say it) however I'm having trouble with the Ki control. Does anyone know a good way to train my ability to control?
| Herbs and their Uses Posted Friday, June 24, 2005 by Randall |
What are your favorite herbs and their uses and what web sites would you recommend for good detailed information about the magical and mundane uses of herbs?
I've noticed that chamomile is listed as being good for nearly everything under the sun, and I've recently discovered that calendula makes a good astringent (thanks to The Wicca Herbal, very nice book). Today, I bought some really great jasmine flowers (so strong I can smell them through their plastic storage bag and the grocery bag it's inside of, and my backpack), so I'm thinking of making an oil with it.
| How Would You Set Up an Interfaith Service? Posted Friday, June 24, 2005 by Randall |
If you were holding some sort of interfaith service, what would you do?
Would you make it very general with a lot of participation from many different faiths? Would you invite other faiths to share in a modified or non-modified version of YOUR faith's ritual?
What specific elements would you include? How would you make it meaningful to many different religions without making it shallow?
| Sexuality and Paganism Posted Thursday, June 23, 2005 by Randall |
Something I had wondered about was how sexuality effects pagans and belief and connections between the two.
As a Wiccan I always felt a connection to Gaia and the goddess more then the god. I know there is a powerful connection in shamanism and the idea of being between worlds with sexuality and transgender.
Now I'm not saying I worship the goddess because I'm gay or that being gay has made me any better at magic I'm just curious about any interrelatedness sexuality might have to our connection to the divine.
What are other peoples views on this?
| Runes and the World Tree Posted Thursday, June 23, 2005 by Randall |
I am someone who has only been recently studying the runes of the Elder Futhark, and tentatively delving into whatever I can find of old Northern cosmology. Perhaps because I have previously studied the Qabala and the big painting in my living room of the Tree of Life keeps me constantly reminded of it, the figure of the World Tree in particular fascinates me, and has popped up again in a book that I have recently bought on sale. (Witchdom of the True, by Edred.) Although the book explicitly doesn't deal with runes, being focused on practices that relate to the Vanir, it still has me thinking. The World Tree figure provided (I've done a Google search and couldn't find it. It's basically what is here with the worlds at the quarters linked with all worlds in the center, but not with each other, and all those at the center linked with each other in a line. It is captioned in the book as "The Germanic Cosmology") has 24 paths in it, and it seems to me that surely, surely the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark must have been fitted on it by someone.
I am aware that the Elder Futhark is only one system of runes, that the practices of Northern people were not homogeneous, etc. etc. etc. I was thinking that perhaps the allocation of the runes to the tree may have been a more recent thing, perhaps inspired by practices of Western magic?
I really have two broad questions. Firstly, what can people tell me about the history of the Yggdrasil sphere/paths system described above? Who uses it now? (My Google search was surprisingly empty, but I was under the impression that Edred (Thorson) was one of the more widely read and referenced authorities on such matters.)
And secondly, what systems are used to fit the runes of the Elder Futhark on to it (if any)?
| Webcrafting: Teach Yourself CSS the Easy Way Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2005 by Randall |
I taught myself HTML back in the mid-nineties and was proud of the fact that I was able to accomplish the design of fairly complex web pages with nothing more than a starter HTML book, an HTML reference book, and the knowledge I had stored in my head. But back in those days, we web designers had what looking back was a fairly limited amount of tools with which to work, and the quality (or lack thereof) of sites on the web was lackluster at best.
| Creating Your Own Shrines? Posted Monday, June 20, 2005 by Randall |
After reading Juniper's post about the Hawkins Studio and the shrines and statues there, I began wondering about building my own shrines. I live in a small apartment with little floor space but tons of wall space, so I'm thinking in terms of shadow boxes and shelving units like what's on the Hawkin's Studio site.
Have you built shrines you're proud of? What methods and materials work best for you? And what symbols of the God and Goddess do you use when you can't go buy statues?
| To Which Deity Are You Most Similar? Posted Monday, June 20, 2005 by Randall |
To which deity (or deities) are you most similar? Which ones have similar personality traits, beliefs, or interaction styles to yours? Is this the deity that you follow?
| DVD Review: Dreamkeeper Posted Monday, June 20, 2005 by Randall |
This amazing film was originally aired on ABC as a mini-series, but is now available on DVD. Our journey begins with the story of young Eagle boy who has gone on his vision quest ceremony high atop Bear Butte. For several days and nights the spirits have tested and taunted him, giving him no wisdom to carry back with him. Eagle boy is proud, demanding, and rather foolish. Just when it seems he has pushed his luck beyond its breaking point...the story stops. The camera pulls back from a drum in the hands of an elderly Lakota gentleman sitting on a rickety porch surrounded by eagerly listening children. This grandfather is a storyteller, a keeper of the Dreams of his people.
| Webcrafting: 13 Steps to Successful Blogging Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005 by Randall |
Following these blogging techniques should make your blogging experience much more rewarding. There is no guarantee that your blog will become popular or a household name, but the effort should at least put you one step closer. Making money online is not an overnight experience like many may think, but making money online is definitely a foreseeable possibility. As well, growing popularity on the web is not an overnight experience, but through time, dedication, and persistence you will be rewarded with all the royalties of blogging.
| Webcrafting: Wordpress Plugins Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005 by Randall |
Wordpress plugins are programming code that enhance the features of a standard installation of Wordpress. A well written plugin will be basically "drag and drop" without modifying the core code of Wordpress. As Wordpress has been designed in a modular way, plugins allow you to customize your site to your specific needs without modifying the core of Wordpress. Ever since Wordress version 1.2 plugins have been available.
| Webcrafting: MOD_REWRITE for Dummies Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005 by Randall |
This article is not a complete guide to Apache's mod_rewrite neither to .htaccess. Its purpose is to help you - the webmaster - to create "mod_rewriten" versions of your dynamic webpages even if you have limited technical knowledge. I won't show you all the tips-and-tricks - my aim is to bring all the complexity of the Apache's documentation to 1-2 pages of human language - easy and fast.
| Effective Spells for Others? Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005 by Randall |
It seems that most spell methods I've seen are focused on benefiting the person performing the spell. What methods do you use when the work you're doing is for someone else?
Specifically, right now, I'd like to do a simple spell to help my boyfriend's cash flow as he's about to move into a new place and will have lots of bills associated with making the move. He's fairly sure he'll be able to afford everything he needs, but he expects a really tight budget for the next couple months. It doesn't seem that my carving images into an apple and then eating it would do him much good, though it'd be fine if the spell were for me. What would you do in such a case?
| Where Does Sex Fit in with Ritual? Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005 by Randall |
I've heard about "the great rite" but never seen it performed, though I do know that there are many ways to go about it in a ritual (literally having intercourse or symbolically with the chalice and athame). In the reading I've done, I have not found extensive or explicit discussions of the great rite, and I'd really like to know more about it. For example, how many covens (if any) perform the rite literally, and if they do, is it before the group or in private? Tell me whatever you can, please. I am a glutton for information.
| Lack of Advanced Pagan Books? Posted Friday, June 17, 2005 by Randall |
Why do you think there is a decided lack of instructional pagan books beyond the normal 101 tripe?
Is it possible to write a good book that is still capable of holding a wide enough focus(ie attract enough different people) to make it worth it to publish. Can you learn deeper things from a book? What about the mysteries (if your trad has them)? What about more complicated workings?
Is this lack simply a result of the limitations of the medium?
| Converting to Your Religion? Posted Friday, June 17, 2005 by Randall |
Some religions make it very easy to convert (I believe there are four simple and very quick steps in Chick Tracts, for example), others require quite a bit of study and education first (Catholicism, for example), some probably require even more than that. How hard is it to convert to your religion? What is required before your co-religionists will accept someone as a member?
| Studying Other Religions Posted Wednesday, June 15, 2005 by Randall |
I've got a theoretical, imaginary assignment for you. If you were assigned a month-long study project on a religion -- any religion at all other than the one you personally practice right now -- which one would you choose? One presumes this would be a religion with which you aren't really familiar, but I suppose it could also be further study of something you have some knowledge about already.
Just to be clear: I don't mean "study with an eye to conversion", I mean it more in the comparative religion sort of way, studying the history and beliefs and practices and such from an outside viewpoint.
This question sort of comes out of my religious blog; I'm thinking of giving myself such "assignments" just to broaden my knowledge of... well, religions in general. And I was curious about what other people would choose to look into, if they did something similar.
| The Role of Doubt? Posted Wednesday, June 15, 2005 by Randall |
I recently listened to an interesting interview on Speaking of Faith regarding the role of doubt in religious faith. The author contended that doubt was a part of a bright vibrant faith and provided examples of the influences of doubters throughout history. I found this bit by Descartes, where he seems to so completely embrace doubt a particularly interesting exercise:
"To-day, then, since I have opportunely freed my mind from all cares and am happily disturbed by no passions], and since I am in the secure possession of leisure in a peaceable retirement, I will at length apply myself earnestly and freely to the general overthrow of all my former opinions."
What role do you think that doubt has played in your faith?
| Review: Sons of the Goddess Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Okay, I will state it right here at the start. This is a "Wicca 101" book. That does not, however, mean that it is run-of-the-mill in any way, shape, or form. Christopher approaches the needs of young men who are trying to find their niche in a religion which is, in many ways, dominated by Goddess worship. Yes, he covers al the basics - three-fold return, the Wiccan Rede, rituals, ethics and holidays - but with an unexpected slant. He is the author of several other books, including The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, The Outer Temple of Witchcraft, and Gay Witchcraft among others.
| Review: Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
If you accept Ms. Conway's basic premise (that mermaids and other magickal creatures once had a physical presence in out world, but now restrict themselves to the astral world, by and large), you will find this an easy book to deal with. If, on the other hand, you reject that premise, there are problems here. Some of Ms. Conway's ideas are going to be considered unconventional by many.
| Review: A Dark Muse Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Not only does the author detail the effects of the occult on the writing of the past few centuries, he includes selections from these writings. Each chapter ends with note to further your understanding. The authors covered range from Swedenborg, Cagliostro and St. Germain to Edgar Allen Poe, Aleister Crowley, and others. Not all of them have excerpts included, of course (since it would necessitate a book at least three times the size of this one), but the excerpts convey the tone and the breadth of the authors.
| Review: The Cherokee Herbal Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Mr. Garret admits from the very beginning that this book is incomplete. The reasons it is incomplete are simply because a lot of the information is held sacred by the elders of the various tribes he spoke with, and some of the information is not useable within the system of Western medicine. There are no formulas given here, since each medicine elder pretty much "makes it up" as they go along.
| Review: Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Over the years the series of "Chicken Soup" books have served as inspiration for many people. Now there are inspirational stories for those of us who walk the Pagan path. This book includes not only reflections, but spells and recipes from some well-known Neo-Pagan Elders and teachers. These folks share stories of activism and raising children, rituals and the powers of nature. There are ideas to try as well as lessons to inspire. You should be able to find whatever you are looking for within these covers.
| Review: The Virgin Mary Conspiracy Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Graham Phillips has written books on The Knights Templar, Atlantis, and Mary Magdalene. In this book, which is a U.S reissue of The Marian Conspiracy published in the U.K. in 2000, he approaches one of the more popular of current topics (the Holy Grail of Christianity) from a slightly different angle than most current authors. The current, popular, theory about the unorthodox interpretation of the meaning of the Grail is that it refers to the family Jesus - specifically his wife (Mary Magdalene) and any children he may have had. Mr. Phillips approaches from the opposite direction. He looks at the mother of Jesus as being "the container of the holy blood of Jesus," which she must have been, since he was born of her.
| Can a White Pagan be a Racist? Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
I have noticed, at least so far, that I am the only Afrikan traditionalist here and most of what is discussed is rooted in European paganism, which is more than fine. (so no need to get on the defensive, just setting up context for post) I figure this is as good a place as any to inquire: Can a white pagan be a racist?
I have seen Europeans/whites that enter Afrikan indigenous systems subconsciously and others with clear awareness bring along many contemporary parts of their [European] culture that contradict and pollute Afrikan spiritual systems. Chief among that is a host of behaviors that are borderline racist. I think that many of us are under the assumption that a spiritual path absolves us of our worst behavior, when in fact it may only provide us with an opportunity to cleanse ourselves of it. LOL. But many more simply say, "you're mistaken". That is they deny the possibility of any wrongdoing. In this way, pagans seem (to Afrikans, Asians, Amerindians etc) to be no more enlightened no matter what tradition they practice with only the occasional exception.
Now I am not making a concrete statement here, although I am sure it looks as if I am. But I am posing a question (as loaded as it may seem) and providing some food for thought, as it seems very important (to me anyway) that ALL traditionalists (or pagans as I assume most of you refer to yourself as) come to some common understanding, where our more Christian, Judiac, Islamic counterparts have failed. Or the issue of ethnicity and social justice will be a continuous thorn in the side.
| Esoteric versus Exoteric and the Evolution of the Gods Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
Well, maybe not Evolution of gods as in webbed feet or different beaks, but how a gods and it's religion grows when it is Public VS Private.
How do you perceive gods that grow within a religion in a private way, in eclectic or personal paths or in small groups or even solitary worshipers. Do you think those gods are different or become different when viewed through a private perception especially in reference to gods with larger followings or who are worshiped in, primarily, group fashion.
Is this a matter of some gods being, for lack of better word, 'shy' and wanting to work more One on One as opposed to gods who are outgoing and enjoy working on a larger level. I'm sure there are those who are going to say that within larger groups or religions with larger groups of worshipers there is still one on one and personal workings. And that this is sometimes said to be needed to be complete within their faith - if so doesn't that make the opposite true. If someone in a larger group needs to still work one on one then shouldn't then someone who works primarily in a one on one also work in larger groups?
| Review: The Horse Goddess Posted Monday, June 13, 2005 by Randall |
In Morgan Llywelyn's The Horse Goddess we follow the life of a daughter of a Keltoi Chieftan. Epona loves her home in the Blue Mountains. She has spent many long hours daydreaming that handsome Govnu, the most skilled and revered smith in all the clans, will break tradition by taking her as his wife. She wants nothing more than to stay in the Blue Mountains and be a good wife. This story begins on the night of her womanhood ceremony. Amidst swirling smoke and the mysterious Druii (magical and spiritual leaders of the clan) Epona searches for the path to maturity. She fearlessly snarls back into the face of Cernunnos, the shape-shifting Head Druii, during the ceremony, although neither of them has ever understood the blind animosity and compelling forces rife between them.
| Review: Dreams Underfoot Posted Sunday, June 12, 2005 by Randall |
In the words of Terri Windling, "The book you hold is neither a novel nor a simple gathering of short stories. Rather, it is a cycle of urban myths and dreams, of passions and sorrows, romance and farce woven together to create a tapestry of interconnected dramas, interconnected lives - the kind of magic to be found at the heart of any city, among any tightly knit community of friends." No other wording could possible explain more succinctly exactly what this work is in the ordinary view of things. Charles DeLint's Dreams Underfoot attains this goal so well that it does, in fact, transcend the ordinary.
| Your Perception of Deity ? Posted Saturday, June 11, 2005 by Randall |
How do most of you perceive Deity? Is the God/Goddess, or however you may describe them, an entity unto themselves? Are they archetypal constructs? Are they literal spiritual beings outside of you (transcendent)? Or like me, do you see the gods as constructs that are immanent, meaning they are symbolic representations of universal energy, each with their own qualities?
I have developed my own idea of deity over the last 30 plus years. Even after all this time I still wonder if there is more to understand.
| Reading from Non-Standard Tarot Decks Posted Wednesday, June 08, 2005 by Randall |
I have me a few lovely, but non-'standard' decks, one of which is currently striking my fancy to read from. However, without the standard cups/wands etc... I sometimes wonder if there are nuances I could be missing by using standard interpretations and simply equating the suits in the deck with the more 'normal' counterparts and their meaning. (the suits in the deck are bells, hearts, acorns, and leaves... it's a fairy deck, similar to the gnome deck from Lo Scarabeo)
The little booklet that comes with the cards is largely a piece of crap, as far as giving any explanation other than most basic interpretation goes, (not even a reversed explanation) and I have yet to see something about this specific deck which might give a more in depth look. It does, however, allow me to know which suit to equate with which in a more Waite-ish way.
So, for the moment my method has been more or less equating the suits with a more 'standard' suit, and then adding in symbolism that the cards have and my intuitions about the images shown... since reading for me largely is intuition based, I don't think there's much of a problem.
But that doesn't keep me from wondering. Simply because I tend to be drawn to oddish decks that aren't easy to read from without a lot of personal interpretation.
So what would you do?
| Religious Common Ground/Comfort Level Posted Wednesday, June 08, 2005 by Randall |
This is sort of a spin off of something Bob and I are talking about in the Fundamentalism thread. How as Recons we find it easier to relate to some cultures/religions than others.
In Bob's case, he's able to relate easiest to Celtic Recons rather than, say Greek or Roman Recons. I, OTOH, relate best to Roman Recons or those who follow the religions of Asia Minor and North Africa.
Are you able to relate better to a specific geographic group? The religion doesn't have to be Recon, just something that tends to be located mainly from one area of the world. How and why do you relate to this group(s) better as opposed to another one?
| Fundamentalism in a Pagan Religion Posted Tuesday, June 07, 2005 by Randall |
Something that I'm currently talking about on a mailing list has me wondering at what point fundamentalism creeps into a religion? How do you recognize a fundie pagan? How do you deal with them? Is fundamentalism a natural progression in a religion or an anomaly?
| Reincarnation...Real or a Bunch of Phooie? Posted Tuesday, June 07, 2005 by Randall |
What are your thoughts on Reincarnation? Do you believe in it? Have experience in it? Or think it is a bunch of hogwash?
| Child Goddesses? Posted Sunday, June 05, 2005 by Randall |
I'm looking for information on any known child or childlike goddesses or embodiments of childhood in the form of a goddess. Goddesses that are often presented as a child would be helpful, but just about every god seems to appear as a child at least once so I'm not sure that counts. As to why... well, it's a very long and convoluted story, so I'll just leave it at that for now. It is important though. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and one more thing. Yes, I am absolutely 100% certain that the Wiccan Maiden isn't what I'm talking about.
| When Does the Year End? Posted Sunday, June 05, 2005 by Randall |
This is a simple question, so I thought. I was discussing it with a close friend. I was a bit surprised to find out that his "year end" was Samhain. We looked at each other like "what the heck have you been thinking". I have never really thought about it. Yule seems to be the most logical time, the days start longer, nights reign is over. Looking over my library of books it almost seems split on the matter.
I know my reasons but am curious to know those of you again who celebrate the wheel of the year when your year ends and why.
| CauldronMUX FAQ Available Posted Sunday, June 05, 2005 by Randall |
Well, it's about time I got around to writing a MUX FAQ. I'll be posting it in the usual manner, broken up into easy-to-digest chunks. (I hope. Some of these might get a little long.) As usual, if you still have questions after reading this, please feel free to post a reply to the thread asking! If you prefer, you can PM or e-mail a staff member with your questions as well. Some of us are better with the MUX than others, but if we can't answer your question, we at least know who to forward it to.
This is not meant to be comprehensive by any means; I only intend to give a basic overview here. For more in-depth stuff, you can check out the help stuff in the MUX, catch a staff member (especially Bob, Darkhawk, Mike or Phoibos) in the MUX and ask them there, or post a question here.
| Concept of Sin: Is It Important to Faith? Posted Thursday, June 02, 2005 by Randall |
I was wondering if you think that the concept of sin is necessary to a meaningful, challenging faith? I think that the reason a lot of people leave Christianity is that they tire of being told they are sinners and feeling like every behavior is a sin. But recently, I have been thinking about the usefulness of the concept... not necessarily the whole burning in Hell because of sin thing, but the idea that faith can be strengthened and refined because of the notion of sin.
What do you folks think? What role (if any) does the notion of sin play in your faith? Have you found the concept to be helpful or harmful in your spiritual path?
| Urban Hermits Posted Thursday, June 02, 2005 by Randall |
What do you think the position of the modern hermit is? In the US, at least, there is a serious dearth of dank caves to be had for a hermit to do hermitty things in. There's very little land(unless they own it themselves) that a hermit could settle on. And if there even was land(in the slightly more archaic term of hermits being out away from population centers and such) how would the hermit be supported? I mean the disparity between somewhere with people(population centers) and somewhere without (countrysides with appropriate caves) is huge. If there is no population center the hermit will be unable to beg and unable to provide for his/her meager existence, but on the other hand I'm having a hard time visualizing a hermit chilling in Grant Park...
And that's where the problem struck me. Why DO I have that problem? I know more then one person who has decided that for a year they will be homeless. They set everything to be taken care of and frozen for a year, they got rid of any money or means of getting money for that year... and lived on the street. Is this not a hermitage?
I mean it's not a dank dark cave, but surely it's similar. Choosing a different life because of whatever(occasionally idealistic) reason, begging to support yourself.
Granted I'm not painting every single homeless person on the street as a hermit or a modern monk. But surely that crazy guy who dresses as Jesus and carries a large bronze cross is just as set in his faith and on just as much a hermitage as some guy who sat in a cave in England for years.
What do you think of the concept. Do you think the concept of Hermit is still of value? I think, especially, this question begs itself in the US and Canada - I've heard there are still Hermit-hermits in England and Europe as there have been before. But do you think the concept is still valid and useful?