posted on Dec, 12 2011 @ 08:42 PM
Originally posted by Noinden
Originally posted by Druid42
reply to post by lleiffermawr
There is much knowledge that has been lost over the ages, and I'd like to believe our ancestors had the ability to be "in tune" with nature, simply
by listening to the sounds around them. You've presented several interesting aspects of how what we hear affects the way we think. This could
become an interesting conversation.
Thanks for sharing. Merry part till it be morrow.
I am always amazed that the modern pagan (or modern westerner in general) thinks that our “pagan” ancestors were more in tune with nature. There
were less of us, so we had a smaller impact on the world (perhaps there is a lesson there?), but honestly our ancestors had less of an impact more due
to numbers, and less “advanced” technology.
We were more "in tune" with nature. We survived in ages past by being in "harmony" with the world around us. We were geographically isolated
units, and never tried to conquer the earth. We were happy where we were at, and left alone, we'd be content. We never had the chance to be alone.
The Conquerors came upon us, and destroyed us, for fear of the knowledge we had.
They still chopped down large chunks of forest, and screwed over the environment. Indeed look at what the Pagan Romans did to the Carthaginians
at the end of the Punic wars, they “salted the earth” on purpose. Similar comments are found in the histories of most western and middle eastern
Let's draw a distinction here, between "Pagans" and "Non-Christianized people". The base term for Pagan means "heathen". The Pagan Romans of
which you speak were actually "heathens" in the eyes of the Christian apostles, and they viewed them as such due to years of persecution. They were
not true Pagans, but defined as such, being lumped into a general category. The Romans were ruthless Conquerors, and only sought to dominate, and
expand their Empire of Control. There is a difference between a Pagan, who walks the path of peace, and a pagan (heathen) who hasn't converted to
So (speaking as a pagan) I do not feel that the Paleopagan (pre-Christian pagans, as opposed to Neopagan (modern pagans) and Mesopagans (groups like
the OTO, Golden Dawn etc which are influenced by Christianity, while being distinctly non abrahamic)), were that much more in touch with the earth,
nature, or the environment.
Paleopagans are no more. They have moved on, and no longer with us, their knowledge hidden away for those who seek it. Everything we see and believe
is contaminated by Christianity, or Islam, or any other belief system that draws us away from our bond with Mother Earth. Peace on earth is against
THEIR beliefs, not ours. In the strictest sense I would be classified as a Neopagan, because I do utilize technology to further increase my
knowledge, and I will state my disdain for anyone who claims to be a Mesopagan.
Other myths (neo)pagans hold include:
That our ancestors were at some point pacifists (nope, archeological evidence shows otherwise).
That our ancestors were all “goddess worshipers” (again no evidence and the work of Maria Gumbatas, Margret Murray etc have been proven to be
somewhat skewed. Some cultures were indeed matrilineal, matriarchal etc, but they were as war like as the so called patriarchal “Kurgans” of
Ever research the Tuatha de Dannan?
The Burning times. The big one for many pagans, where they propose that the inquisition was all about destroying the remnants of the “witch cult”
(it is usually Wiccans who pull this one out to say it is why Christianity is “bad). When in reality most of the burnings/hangings/stoning were
secular, and involved random women and men (who had something their neighbours wanted) or were Jews, Gypsies, and the “wrong flavour” of Christian
for the area.
That was a time of injustice. People in power who FEARED the lack of control. It's in our historical record, and cannot be denied. Can we learn
Is it within our power to live peacefully with the world around us, without trying to control others, existing in harmony?
How does that contrast with what you have been taught so far in your life?