What do you think they would think?

[Imeera]

I was thinking about things randomly and it occoured to me. What would the ancient civilisations, that our Paganism comes from, would think if they knew their religions were still going in the forms that they are?
Would they be angry or happy?
Do you think they would think we got everything wrong about their religions?
Do you think they would think we changed it? Or not at all?

I personally think they would be pleased. What do you guys think?

[Xander67]

im inclined to agree :)

[Calli]

I think they would be amused at how complicated a lot of us make things that were so simple for them.

[Darth Brooks]

I was thinking about things randomly and it occoured to me. What would the ancient civilisations, that our Paganism comes from, would think if they knew their religions were still going in the forms that they are?

Good question!


Would they be angry or happy? I think some of them would be happy or at least content, but a lot would probably be offended, maybe even downright pissed.


Do you think they would think we got everything wrong about their religions? I think some of them might have been open-minded enough to think we're doing all right. But certainly many of them would not even be able to recognize what we do as their religions.


Do you think they would think we changed it? Or not at all? I think they would all agree that we have changed things. I think those who wouldn't like this very much would need to be reminded of how their religions changed even during their own times.

[Toki Wartooth]

I think their opinions would be about as diverse as all of ours, if not perhaps moreso.

[Nesta]

I think they would be bemused and bewildered at some of the stuff we get up to and I think they would laugh out loud too. Generally I think they'd be happy about it, mostly.

It's a great question Imeera.

[Imeera]

I think they would all agree that we have changed things. I think those who wouldn't like this very much would need to be reminded of how their religions changed even during their own times.

Ooohhh I agree. It has changed. And will change. And no one can stop it really. Hopefully it will keep changing for the better!

[Regulus]

I don't think they would be very emotional about it. I think their attitude would be very matter of fact. "Well, you got this wrong, this wrong, and this needs to go over to the left." Stuff like that. Either that or they would laugh at some of our pronunciations of names they came up with.

[Nachtigall]

They would be very, very surprised, I think... And I am not sure at all, that everything in modern paganism would be a pleasant surprise for them:)

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Well unless one is a Reconstructionist I do not think they would even recognize the concept of modern Pagan / Heathen practices. Only under that guise do I think one could even hope to have any type of foundation or structure that might even give a clue to what one's religious structure and beliefs are that could be seen as reflective of an earlier time.

Most of the so called Pagan callings are new creations and have no resemblence to earlier religious practices. Even many recon paths are singular in nature so without the social grouping even that facet would be lost. Well no resemblence beyond the use of names of god / goddess from earlier religious practices.

Schedule wise, our calander is so different than many of the early cultures they wouldn't have a notion of what date is what to even give a clue to what the ritual is supposed to mean. Move them beyond their known cultural and geological area and I think they would be further lost.

Realility wise I think many would probally find the practice pathetic in what we (collectively) claim to be things carried over from times past.

I suppose any family tradition that has remained unchanged or relatively stable on core componets might be found to be a good thing. At least recognizable to earlier practioners of the traditions and practices being shown.

In realility I think many pagans / heathens would have their bubbles really crushed to find out just what thier practices would be seen as in retrspective eyes. Evolution of the path even being a componet that is taken into consideration.

[kaosxmage]

Who could know? Theirs was a different world, and we have very few clues to how they thought about anything in general. Religious practices were different between tribes, cities, etc. The cohesive bond many of them shared was language. All else shifted from the slightest to grand difference.

--Kaos

[David19]

I was thinking about things randomly and it occoured to me. What would the ancient civilisations, that our Paganism comes from, would think if they knew their religions were still going in the forms that they are?
Would they be angry or happy?
Do you think they would think we got everything wrong about their religions?
Do you think they would think we changed it? Or not at all?

I personally think they would be pleased. What do you guys think?


I think they would be amused at how complicated a lot of us make things that were so simple for them.


Good question!

I think some of them would be happy or at least content, but a lot would probably be offended, maybe even downright pissed.

I think some of them might have been open-minded enough to think we're doing all right. But certainly many of them would not even be able to recognize what we do as their religions.

I think they would all agree that we have changed things. I think those who wouldn't like this very much would need to be reminded of how their religions changed even during their own times.


I think their opinions would be about as diverse as all of ours, if not perhaps moreso.

I'm going to agree with Toki, Calli and DB, I think there opinions would be very diverse, some would love the fact we were still continuing their practices, some would hate it, some might not care, some might just laugh at us, etc. I think if we could communicate with them, it would be a good opportunity to find out about how things were really done back then, and see how you could bring that into the modern world. Some might think a lot of us were foreigners, taking their own religious/cultural identity, and exploiting it, for example, the ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Greeks, Romans, etc were all quite xenophobic, how many of us could claim any of those as ancestry (like if you're an ancient Egyptian/Kemetic Pagan, how many of us can claim ancient Egyptian heritage, etc (although for me, I do have Iraqi blood, so, I migth be covered for the Mesopotamian's!, although, since I'm being attracted to other paths as well, maybe they'd hate me for that, then, again, the Assyrian's adopted elements of Zoroastrianism, and, there's evidence Mesopotamian's held similar views to Buddhist's and Hindu's, that the world was an illusion, etc).

We tend to forget that in the ancient world, a lot of what was religious was also part of a cultural/ethnic idenity, so, they might be very nationalistic/racist towards us, who don't "fit", that said, maybe, some would be quite cool and liberal and not care.


Who could know? Theirs was a different world, and we have very few clues to how they thought about anything in general. Religious practices were different between tribes, cities, etc. The cohesive bond many of them shared was language. All else shifted from the slightest to grand difference.

--Kaos

Good post :) :thumbsup:.

[*~Amora~*]

I think their opinions would be about as diverse as all of ours, if not perhaps moreso.
Exactly what I was thinking. Different groups of people would have different responses, as would individuals within those groups.

[Imeera]

I am agreeing with all of you here. I supose it would be the same as an increadably ignorant person trying to imitate what we are doing from scraps of knowledge. They try their best to imitate it. But they can't help changing it to fit what they think is right. For example sacrifices. We see them as wrong, they didn't.

[joykristel]

They would definitely be happy that their tradition was passed over for centuries now. They would just have to teach us their ancient practices and beliefs to have first hand information rather than pass overs. :)

[coyoger]

I think they would be flatered at the effort, and hope they'd show us the correct way.