Question


To what extent will you be introducing elements of other cultural and religious traditions?





Answer


Which other traditions? There are those that Greece heavily borrowed from, such as those of the Mediterranean Near East. (Not that of Turkey, which didn't exist, yet). These will appear, because without them, Hellenic Paganism would lose much of its context. To truly know a thing, you have to understand at least part of how it developed.

Besides which, in real traditions, as that of Paleo-Pagan Greece would have been, the notion of an observance or practice that is purely of the moment, is a false one. Practices will more often fade out, or gradually evolve into new ones, than be instantaneously ended or transformed. Archaic elements, practices of other times, would intrude into the "purely" Classical Greek religion of our imagination, much as elements of that religion later intrude into early Christianity.

To adequately recreate that Paganism, to any extent, thus, would require the inclusion of those traditions and practices that led up to it.


But, we don't merely look to the roots and the moment of Classical Greek religion and society, but to that which derived from it. In terms of cultural traditions, our base, if you will, are those cultures that were most heavily impacted by Greece. Those of Greece, and of the Romance speaking cultures. (France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal are the most obvious examples).

In religious matters, we have another issue. While the Hellenic tradition is perhaps the best preserved of the Western Pagan traditions, in the literature, it is still fragmentary in a lot of areas, and it is necessary to fill in the gaps - in liturgy, for example. Some would have us go to other Pagan cultures to seek out the details, in particular those of Northern Europe. That doesn't make a lot of sense to us, given the alien character of those traditions. Instead, we would look to the post-pagan traditions that drew from the Pagan tradition of interest to us, for clues as to what those original traditions might have been.

Thus, we end up with an eclecticism, but one of time, rather than space. One that follows the development of a living tradition, rather than a self-conscious effort to merge that which was never unified.








Question


So, are you going to include elements from any traditions, aside from those you mentioned?





Answer


Hardly ever, and pretty much only when the inclusion is justified by tradition. We don't like taking practices out of the context that gives them meaning.

The only nod to Celticism, and Wicca that I picture our group making, is the observance of Samhain, or "All Souls Day" (Halloween), as this day has long since penetrated deep into the consciousness of Latin peoples everywhere, and there is something beautiful about this holiday.








Question


So, you people are hate filled bigots, who can't accept others, and their ways?





Answer


To demand that another adopt one's culture, in part or whole, and then protest his intolerance when he says no, is a curious practice. One that we view with a proper degree of contempt. Those indulging in it, will quickly be shown the way out.

But, on to more pleasant subjects ... unless you want to discuss this subject, some more. Otherwise, let's return to the main page.