Religio ... Americana?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 8:03 pm
First a little about myself so you know where I am coming from.
I've only been practicing this religion a short time, so I make no claims at all to any great spiritual or academic insights beyond the respectable basics. But I have been keeping my eye on Reconstructionism for a while, and have been a staunch admirer of Roma and Hellas since childhood. I became a Roman polytheist because I came to believe, with a little help from Jupiter, it's the right religion for me.
However, as much as I admire and agree with the Recon insistence of sound scholarship and historical validity, I think any ancient religion has to make a few concessions to modern times and existing cultures. I suppose if I were Jewish, I would be more on the Conservative or Reform end of the spectrum than the Orthodox. I think the spirit of the religion must remain intact but some of the external framework has to change for evolving circumstances. (If other Recons want to lambast the attitude for being too "fluffy" or whatnot, that's their choice, but I'm happy with my beliefs).
So, where I am going with this? Well, obviously, I don't live in ancient Rome. The Gods are eternal, but societies are not. The Festivals and Holidays and socio-political circumstances of ancient Rome are dead and buried, and despite what the Nova Romans may believe I don't think they are going to make a strong return. I don't see much sense in following the caldendars and proscribed civic festivals of long dead cultures, whether we are talking about Rome or Athens or what have you.
But I live in a perfectly good country with its own festivals, holidays, and civic culture, and I see no reason why a country so heavily grounded in the Greco-Roman tradition cannot adopt the practices of Rome for its own modern circumstances. And I believe every other society with a proud history and civic culture is entitled to do the same ... the Religio Canadia, the Religio Australia, etc.
The term Religio Americana has been bandied about before, especially during 9-11, but as far as I can see it slowly faded back into obscurity. I'd like to resurrect discussions about how to proceed with a viable Religio Americana, or in general just how one might go about adapting the Religion of the Romans to modern civic cultures, wherever those cultures may be.
Anyone interested?
I've only been practicing this religion a short time, so I make no claims at all to any great spiritual or academic insights beyond the respectable basics. But I have been keeping my eye on Reconstructionism for a while, and have been a staunch admirer of Roma and Hellas since childhood. I became a Roman polytheist because I came to believe, with a little help from Jupiter, it's the right religion for me.
However, as much as I admire and agree with the Recon insistence of sound scholarship and historical validity, I think any ancient religion has to make a few concessions to modern times and existing cultures. I suppose if I were Jewish, I would be more on the Conservative or Reform end of the spectrum than the Orthodox. I think the spirit of the religion must remain intact but some of the external framework has to change for evolving circumstances. (If other Recons want to lambast the attitude for being too "fluffy" or whatnot, that's their choice, but I'm happy with my beliefs).
So, where I am going with this? Well, obviously, I don't live in ancient Rome. The Gods are eternal, but societies are not. The Festivals and Holidays and socio-political circumstances of ancient Rome are dead and buried, and despite what the Nova Romans may believe I don't think they are going to make a strong return. I don't see much sense in following the caldendars and proscribed civic festivals of long dead cultures, whether we are talking about Rome or Athens or what have you.
But I live in a perfectly good country with its own festivals, holidays, and civic culture, and I see no reason why a country so heavily grounded in the Greco-Roman tradition cannot adopt the practices of Rome for its own modern circumstances. And I believe every other society with a proud history and civic culture is entitled to do the same ... the Religio Canadia, the Religio Australia, etc.
The term Religio Americana has been bandied about before, especially during 9-11, but as far as I can see it slowly faded back into obscurity. I'd like to resurrect discussions about how to proceed with a viable Religio Americana, or in general just how one might go about adapting the Religion of the Romans to modern civic cultures, wherever those cultures may be.
Anyone interested?