Cornelius

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Everything posted by Cornelius

  1. I am always glad when you grace us with your presence and wisdom Von and You're Welcome The Amish actually are a good example for an analogy. They are an insular community and while heavily christianized their society is descended from and contains many germanic elements. Heathens today are practicing and reconstructing a pre-christian religiosity, worldview, and culture based upon tribalism. With our groups we are attempting to build a "tribe" and society within society. While integrated in modern times of course as we are modern people I actually have large Amish and Mennonite communities where I live in Upstate NY by the Adirondacks. "It seems as if you do have a solitary minister in terms of ONE and only one clergy figure for each unique congregation (to the extent those terms convey the loose conceptualization to which the rest of us can grasp it) " This statement I take minor issue with. As the op and ther term "solitary minister" refers to a minister without any congregation and not just a sole minister of a congregation. I do see what you are getting at however. Another issue is that this doesn't apply to Heathenry. In Arch-Heathen times they had priests of a specific cult that mainly was responsible for the upkeep of a holy site such as a grove or the rare temple. Most of what could be considered a priest was also the tribal leader or chieftain. This can also be seen into the middle ages such as in Iceland with the term "Godhi" that some heathens prefer to use. Which was a chieftain that also functioned as a high priest. Going back 2,000 years to the time of the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus when he wrote "Germania" we see this same basic model where a head of state performed all public priestly duties for the community and tribe but in the household the male head was responsible for the priestly duties and household religion. A religion which was private and could and perhaps often differed from the state religious practices and beliefs. Today this basic model generally holds as most Heathens practice a household religion that is kept for the most part private and only for select people to have knowledge of. In larger more public groups while often there will be one person taking on a priestly role this is not necessary or required. Some groups have a Lord or Chief of some kind that also takes on the priestly function. A group may have a designated member that fulfills this role. Some groups have nobody officially dedicated to this role and just the person who performs said functions when they occur. Some groups have no set person for the role or function and simply take turns. Each group develops their own specific. what is commonly referred to as, Sidu or Thew which loosely translates to custom. It is not up to anyone outside this group to tell them any different or what they should be doing. We have other concepts that come into play such as inningart and utengart but I think you'll get the picture. You're Welcome Mark. As you know I'm always willing to take the time. I'm glad things are well for you and that you still take the time to post.
  2. I was specifically referring to solitary "ministers." There is no such thing in my belief system. What we have that equates to clergy can only be granted that status by group recognition. That status also only pertains to said group and does not reach beyond it. What others do is of no concern to me. There is not orthodoxy in my belief system only orthopraxy. It was the ancestors tolerance of other beliefs and belief systems that can be argued to have been their downfall in regards to the christianization of Europe. It is good to see you back Von. I am a Germanic Heathen and I've been on this "path" for a little over seven years. It's good to hear from you Mark. I hope things are well.
  3. In my belief system there can be no such thing. Although the definition of "clergy" is also different than the christian worldview entails. That being said there is nothing wrong with it in others. If you feel the need to have others then find them.
  4. It has been a while DE. I have changed my name a few times so I don't know which you would remember but it's good to see you back.
  5. Exactly what I was getting at Jonathan.
  6. There is a big difference between ex nihilo creation and that. There is a difference between nothing and something. The singularity was something. Nothing does not mean can't be seen with the naked eye, it means nothing. It seems you are trying to reconcile science with your beliefs and chosen mythology. There is nothing wrong with this as we all do it to varying degrees. Just don't expect anyone else to take it seriously.
  7. A theory in science is different than the common parlance definition.
  8. I guess it's easier than spending the countless hours reading, learning, discussing, and altering your worldview to a pre-christian European weltanschauung.
  9. http://m.livescience.com/49489-oldest-known-gospel-mummy-mask.html Researchers using a technique that dissolves the glue in Mummy masks from Egypt have recovered many ancient papyri including works such as Homer. Among such finds they have recovered a fragment of the Gospel of Mark dating before 90 C.E. The oldest known Gospel fragment ever found. The findings will be released at a later date.
  10. Do that which is right is an excellent and libertarian philosophy to me that is shadowed by be excellent to each other. Which although from Bill and Ted I find to be excellent as well. It is both hard and easy to follow Do that which is Right. The beauty of it is that that which is Right is left up to the person to decide. Like reality and morality it is ultimately subjective. I find that even people who do wrong barring mental issues know that they are doing wrong. Therefore they also know what right is as well. Basically on some level we have an idea of right and wrong and while knowing what's right is easy applying that knowledge can be hard and we as humans will fail. It doesn't mean we can't strive to do that which is Right at all times even though we fail because that is doing the Right thing.
  11. I'm about a 1/4 of the way through. Some obligations have kept me busy so I apologize for not responding sooner. Did you want to discuss anything in particular??
  12. I would be glad to do so. I'll start tonight and I am a fast reader so I will probably be able to start talking sometime tomorrow. In the meantime leave any questions or thoughts and I will reply when I am ready. I used to try to run a book club here and I encourage anyone who has the time or access to join in on this discussion.
  13. I have not read it in a few years. I would be willing to read and discuss it in this thread.
  14. Oddly enough Satanism advocates responsibility to the responsible and admonishes shifting blame.
  15. If an ** is going to kill someone because another ** with a guitar tells him too then he was an ** to begin with and going to do it anyway. -Pete Townshend It's all about avoiding personal responsibility and accountability. Also pushing ones morality (which is subjective) and/or religious beliefs on others to conform them to your way of thinking.