The latest “Queer I Stand” column that I wrote is up at Patheos.com’s Pagan channel, which is called “Bringing Back the Gods.” As you’ll see, it’s exactly what it says on the tin, and is about making cultus to divine beings be a central aim for modern paganism.
Now, many of you might say, “But isn’t it already?” In polytheist circles, yes; but in the wider world of modern paganism, not so much, and the pieces I link to in the article have been conspicuous in their absence of actually referring to the gods at all in some cases–and deliberately so in one case. I find that problematic. While I do know and understand that there are all sorts of approach to modern paganism, some of which don’t include gods, and some of which are even against anything that would suggest gods exist at all, nonetheless I find it highly problematic to make those who do recognize the gods and have relationships with them be the odd-balls, the minority, or the weird lunatic fringe, which is the direction some of those attempts to define us seem to be going.
Have a look, if you like, and feel free to comment there or here as you may prefer.
Excellent article, and you wrote much of what I was unable to say in my absolute frustration and disgust over the rehashing of the arguments online this past week.
That people who have a belief in the gods (or, in my case, spirits, faeries, otherworldly creatures, etc.) are called embarrassments or made to be the ‘weird ones’ is, at best (imo), problematic. And that sort of tossing-under-the-bus is what led me to abandon the label pagan for myself; not only did I find myself in different if not opposite places in relation to, well, almost everything in my life, I saw no reason to associate myself with a group that was and is increasingly hostile to the idea that I believe in something and act on that belief. -sighs- I will not rant anymore about this. I must not!
Thank you for the lovely article. It was a really, really great read.
By: Eddie on January 11, 2013
at 10:41 pm
Thanks very much!
Yes, I totally understand why many people are distancing themselves from the pagan label. It too literally fits me in far too many ways (I’m rural and unsophisticated, and will never be a true city-dweller) for me to give it up entirely, even though a lot of what goes by the name “pagan” these days is less and less what I like or am interested in…I’ll be one of the last holdouts on it, probably.
But, that’s why I tend to put “polytheists and Pagans” (or vice versa) in a lot of what I say on my Patheos columns these days.
By: aediculaantinoi on January 12, 2013
at 8:35 pm
Wow, you appear to have stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest with this one. I haven’t see you have this many comments in quite some time!
By: Jay on January 13, 2013
at 12:36 am
Well, I don’t know that I’d call it a hornet’s nest, since most of the commentary is positive (though there’s a few people who are just doing their usual picky sectarian snark…let’s just say a certain Platonist is one such culprit–who never allows me to have my own opinion on anything I write at Patheos…); but, yes, it’s been far more popular than any other post I’ve done in a long time for how many comments it’s generated.
By: aediculaantinoi on January 13, 2013
at 8:45 am
I think I’m familiar with the Platonist of which you speak. Though if it’s any consolation, he doesn’t appear to like anybody. And you’re right, it has been mostly positive, I just find it remarkable that it’s this topic which has generated so much interest.
By: Jay on January 13, 2013
at 9:28 am
Alas, I fear you speak the truth about said person.
There’s a great deal more of us that feel as I expressed in that column than I had expected; and yet, I think we’re still in the minority in the overall world of modern paganism. Oh well…
By: aediculaantinoi on January 13, 2013
at 6:39 pm
Absolutely one of the best articles of yours I’ve read and, strangely, being removed from the Pagan blogosphere largely by choice it intersects with something J. and I have been talking about quite a bit lately in a very uncanny way. While neither of us identify as pagan or necessarily polytheist – we’ve come up with very similar conclusions as you have.
By: Michael Sebastian Lùx on January 13, 2013
at 10:26 am
Thank you! I had a feeling you might say something like that, actually…but, it’s still appreciated!
By: aediculaantinoi on January 13, 2013
at 6:40 pm
Thank you for writing that article.
By: Elizabeth on January 13, 2013
at 6:26 pm
Thanks very much for reading it!
By: aediculaantinoi on January 13, 2013
at 6:42 pm