Greek deities 'unbanned' in Greece

[Nantonos]

It has taken almost 2,000 years, but those who worship the 12 gods of ancient Greece have finally triumphed. An Athens court has ordered that the adulation of Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Athena and co is to be unbanned, paving the way for a comeback of pagans on Mount Olympus. [... continues ...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1767802,00.html

I hadn't realised they were banned to begin with, but the article also says that

About 98% of Greeks are Orthodox Christian, and all other religions except Judaism and Islam had been banned.
In a less than ecumenical interfaith statement, the article concludes:


Father Eustathios Kollas, who presides over the community of Greek priests, said: "They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."

[Toby Stimpson]

Wow...how multicultural those Greeks are...gone are the days when the people worshipped those from asia minor. Interesting.

[banondraig]

coolness! :boing:

[Brenda]

Nice :)

[Nantonos]

It would also seem to be an opportunity to make contacts with Hellenic recons in Greece; increase international cooperation and get access to good information that might only be available locally. There is also now the possibility of open celebration by people visiting Greece. All in all its encouraging news.

[Theres]

i knew pressure was building on this subject. in fact this film...

www.istillworshipzeus.com (http://www.istillworshipzeus.com)

was released just last year. i wonder if it provided any genuine leverage?

it makes me happy that the ancient Gods can be openly worshipped there once again, but at the same time sad that this was even an issue in the land that invented democracy.

[Athena-Nadine]

*...dances around happily...*

[catshadow]

*...dances around happily...*

...joins in with her...:boing:

[Incendia]

That is great news! _handclapp

[Cain]

Father Kollas sounds like a happy bunny, doesn't he?:lol:

[Fire's Shadow]

Father Kollas needs a hug.

[Cain]

Father Kollas needs a hug.

He certainly needs something...a hug wasn't what I had in mind though. Hey, this means I can reaapropriate the Enyo shrines in the name of the Discordian Society. I think I should celebrate by jaking the good Father.

[Fire's Shadow]

He certainly needs something...a hug wasn't what I had in mind though. Hey, this means I can reaapropriate the Enyo shrines in the name of the Discordian Society. I think I should celebrate by jaking the good Father.

Here here! Here's to a man who can't see the world because his head is too far up his ass. Father Kollas, we salute you.

[Rasenna]

i knew pressure was building on this subject. in fact this film...

www.istillworshipzeus.com (http://www.istillworshipzeus.com)

was released just last year. i wonder if it provided any genuine leverage?

it makes me happy that the ancient Gods can be openly worshipped there once again, but at the same time sad that this was even an issue in the land that invented democracy.

I thought the Romans invented democracy. Weren't the Greeks under monarchy?

[Cain]

I thought the Romans invented democracy. Weren't the Greeks under monarchy?

Nope. Athens had a passable direct democracy (unless you count slaves, women, people under thirty, foreigners and people we dont like as real voters), but it didn't turn out too well. Rome had a similar system to the Athenians when it came to vote restriction, but used representatives.

[Cain]

Here here! Here's to a man who can't see the world because his head is too far up his ass. Father Kollas, we salute you.

I can't find an email for him...:( He sounds like a barrel of laughs though, from what I've read.

[Shield_Wolf]

This is really cool that people who want to Worship how they what.
:fpraise: Praise ZEUS

[David19]

I'm pleased for them, and I think it's good that they can worship the Greek gods, and practice their religion, although it said that, aside from Islam and Judaism, other religions were banned, is this still true, like is Buddhism, Taoism, etc still banned?.

Although when Father Kollas said:


"They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."

He seems like he holds the same Christian-bashing of other 'pagans', although the Orthodox priests don't sound 'fun', but Christianity is far from 'dead'.

[David19]

He certainly needs something...a hug wasn't what I had in mind though. Hey, this means I can reaapropriate the Enyo shrines in the name of the Discordian Society. I think I should celebrate by jaking the good Father.

Maybe you should do that, she was/is a Greek goddess, and from what i've read about Eris/Enyo, she seems like she could shake things up (and i think father Kollas needs to be shaken up), lol.

[Philosophia]

I'm so happy that this has occured! :hugz: to everybody

[RakliDipity]

I wonder how exactly did they enforce this ban? Did they refuse to teach Greek Mythology in school, or something similar?

I think I should celebrate by jaking the good Father.
What did you have in mind?

[Cain]

Hmm, not certain. An email joke of some sort, certainly. Perhaps an invitation to join a fictitious group, to reward his efforts towards religious intolerance in the world. Something would have come to mind.

[RakliDipity]

The Pat Robertson Society for a Better, More Inclusive, World?
...or something along those lines...:hahugh:

[Feroxyhite]

I'm pleased for them, and I think it's good that they can worship the Greek gods, and practice their religion, although it said that, aside from Islam and Judaism, other religions were banned, is this still true, like is Buddhism, Taoism, etc still banned?.

Although when Father Kollas said:



He seems like he holds the same Christian-bashing of other 'pagans', although the Orthodox priests don't sound 'fun', but Christianity is far from 'dead'.

As far as I can tell, he was referring to the worship of the Hellenic gods. Hence, dead religion and "delusions", because we all know that Christianity is the only real religion.

[Cain]

The Pat Robertson Society for a Better, More Inclusive, World?
...or something along those lines...:hahugh:

Yeah...cant find his contact details though. Probably on some Greek Orthodox site, which means I'd have to get my dictionary out and make some very good guesses.

[ap Dafydd]

This is actually of very great significance in Greece, where laws on religious orthodoxy have been strictly enforced - a Greek case is the only case (AFAIK) to have been made on religious discrimination under the European Convention on Human Rights. Best of luck to the Greek Pagans.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Xentor]

Ah! Freedom!

[Silver Water]

Wow, I never even realized that it was banned for Greeks to worship the twelve gods and Goddesses of Olympus, along with the other, more minor, ones... there's my bit of knowledge for the day. I'm glad that the ban was lifted for them, then ^-^ Even if it never should have been enforced, and I can't really see how they could fully stop them. After all, there were still witches in the Americas even after the Salem Witch Trials...

[Nantonos]

I thought the Romans invented democracy. Weren't the Greeks under monarchy?

Democracy (from Greek δημοκρατία (demokratia), δημος (demos) the common people + κρατειν (kratein) to rule + the suffix ία (ia), literally "the common people rule")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

[Gede]

Khairete pantos Theoi!

[Incendia]

Another update...:boing:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1810722,00.html

[PeatBog]

Rite on, I thought America cornered the market on stick-in-the-muds. Or so I've been told.

[Incendia]

Rite on, I thought America cornered the market on stick-in-the-muds. Or so I've been told.

:lol: We definitely have a monopoly!

I think it's awesome (and am a bit surprised) that there was such a large turnout. Good for them!!!

[Fire's Shadow]

'What their worshippers symbolise, and clearly want, is a return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past,' hissed Father Eustathios Kollas who presides over the community of Greek priests. 'They should be stopped.'

Hey Cain. Looks like our friend is still at it. :hahugh: He sure is persistant. He's like a Greek Jerry Falwell.

[Grimr]

Hey Cain. Looks like our friend is still at it. :hahugh: He sure is persistant. He's like a Greek Jerry Falwell.

I am surprised.

I always thought the Eastern Orthodox to be more tolerant than their Catholic neighbors.


I guess I was wrong.

[Grimr]

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Festival/BacchusFestival.jpg




Let there me more rites to come in Greece today.

Let them sing songs of the Gods.

[Incendia]

Wow, Dracon! Where do you get all your awesome pictures? This one's definitely going into my photo album!! Thanks for posting it! :)

[Grimr]

Wow, Dracon! Where do you get all your awesome pictures? This one's definitely going into my photo album!! Thanks for posting it! :)

I just google them with the knowledge of where to get them.


Also alot of Renaissance paintings and also the paintings of the enlightened age was heavily influenced by the classical cultures.

Many Renaissance sculptors almost always derived most of their knowledge from Greek and Roman sculptures of years past.

[David19]

That picture is pretty cool.

[wolf]

Father Eustathios Kollas, who presides over the community of Greek priests, said: "They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."

That sounds about right ... :yayah:

[Theres]

Also alot of Renaissance paintings and also the paintings of the enlightened age was heavily influenced by the classical cultures.

Many Renaissance sculptors almost always derived most of their knowledge from Greek and Roman sculptures of years past.

that looks very post-Renaissance to me.
in fact i'd suggest it is by Alma-Tadema (the lighting looks very reminiscent of his work) and therefore 19th century.


cool painting though. :)

[Brandon Bee]

This person (http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1144), like our dear Father, doesn't seem to happy about it either.

[Xentor]

Joshua Trevino clearly grasps the problem with most of our pagan paths: the lack of historical basis. At the same time, he fails to recognise that this lack is of no concern for the purpose of the paths... as long as one isn't following a reconstructionist path.