The Gods are alive?!

Should they be allowed to do this? What about the orthodox power; is their action right, just, or wrong? After so many years, should the Greek pantheon, treated by many to be dead and myth, be allowed to resurface as a genuine religon of the world?

Discuss.

quote:

This sounds strangely like the US government.

Excellent.

quote:

Christians, through history, have "convinced" the world that their way is the only true way.

That's not entirely true; many, many people think that they are just as wrong as the Greek myths. I speak of the followers of any other religion of course.

quote:

Don't you think some Pagan might be offended when they refer to the "Norse Myths"?

I have a feeling that this happens so often that they don't care anymore. I was a druid for some years, and the question that I most frequently got asked was whether I sacrificed virgins, or bathed in the blood of unicorns. And besides, I find folklore and myths more interesting than parables.

quote:

so I have a question. why do we call one thing "myth" and not the other?

Christians, through history, have "convinced" the world that their way is the only true way. They call all else myth, and the term just stuck. I find it extremely odd when I refer to the "Christian Myth" and xians get offended. Don't you think some Pagan might be offended when they refer to the "Norse Myths"?

quote:

descisions and policies all appear to be sprining directly out of the mouths of 'fire and brimstone' preachers

This sounds strangely like the US government.

Well Maya I don't know but it's not very fair. If I were to tell a Christian that the bible was full of "myths" most would get offended. Yet people can call the religious stories (which is what the bible is) of some religions myths. Personally I get offended when I see how some books about "myths" of various religions (ex. Roman, Greek, Egyptian, etc.) will treat it as if they were no more than fiction with no truth to them. I think if they are going to treat the stories of the old religions that way then the bible should be treated the same way and commonly known as myth as well.

PS I don't mean any offence to any Christian reading this. While it is not my belief system I have no problem with those who do believe in the bible.

so I have a question. why do we call one thing "myth" and not the other?

quote:

So why do you think their government believes otherwise?

I apologise, but before posting first I couldn't read the entire article, the school internet shut off.

It would appear that this repression has been going on for some time; not only of these pagans but of other religions like Buddhism. Quite frankly, I am rather shocked and horrified to discover a modern European nation who can be described as 'semi-theocratic'. I have great respect fot the Orthadox tradition, as it has managed to remain 'pure' where even the Roman Catholics have failed, but it seems to be going too far to integrate themselves with the state in that way. I am glad the president allowed them that ceremonial worship; a triumph, it appears, for religious freedoms.

The reason that the government is so repressive would seem to be that they are all being dominsated by the Orthadox faith; ethics, descisions and policies all appear to be sprining directly out of the mouths of 'fire and brimstone' preachers. This does not make for good statesmanship.

Of course it was never dead. The ruling church just thought it was. I revere gods most would believe nonexistant in religons some know are dead.

quote:

so I suppose they have the full right to believe whatever they so choose.

So why do you think their government believes otherwise?

I beleive that a similar thing happened in Iceland; when Christianity arrived, all the Icelandic leaders decided overnight to 'convert'. Recently, this mass conversion was undone, and now the traditional norse pantheon is recognized a legintimate religion, Ásatrú.

I see no reason why people should believe in a Christian god and not in these, and so I suppose they have the full right to believe whatever they so choose.

I don't think it ever really died out. Like so many other religions that were suppressed by the Christians it probably just went underground. As for being dead I suppose you think worship of the Roman pantheon or ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses is dead as well? Never think of a religion as dead because no matter how old there are probably people still practising such religions. I would know, I'm a Pagan and have looked into many of the old religions while searching for the path that is right for me.

Interesting. I've often wondered if anyone still worshipped the old gods.

quote:

Should they be allowed to do this?

I don't see why not. I'm not thrilled about the allure it has to nationalist extremists, but I guess that's inevitable when you deal with a mythology that's so intertwined with the country itself.

quote:

What about the orthodox power; is their action right, just, or wrong?

Fuck those whining theocratic cunts.

quote:

After so many years, should the Greek pantheon, treated by many to be dead and myth, be allowed to resurface as a genuine religon of the world?

It's as valid as any other religion, I suppose. I'd be curious what grounds anyone would have for claiming that it shouldn't be allowed to resurface, aside from pissing and moaning about "pagan idols" this and "degenerate dead religion" that.

The idea of people resurrecting dead pantheons makes me smile; seems a little Neil Gaiman-ish.