by Horatius Piscinus on Thu Sep 04, 2003 10:36 am
Salvete
Regarding the ancient Religio Romana, I think far too much focus is placed on so-called "foreign influences". The ritu Graecae, as one example, was really a Roman manner of performing ceremonies without any actual connection to Greek rites. Before any foreign culti deorum were brought to Rome they had been transformed into Roman culti. Later Rome began to even transform the culti deorum in local areas over to a Roman form. That's the thing about "eclectic" religions, they change what they absorb more so than that they are influenced by what they adopt.
With regard to the modern Religio Romana you have two problems. First is which Religio Romana are you reconstructing? Second is the inescapable fact that you are trying to reconstruct the religio for modern communities. The Religio Romana went through several stages of evolution in the past. There is little point trying to discern what was the religio arcaica when even the Romans had no idea. The religio was reborn and transformed in the fourth century, and then further developed in the third century with several additions to its rites and culti deorum from overseas. The religio at the end of the Republic was quite different from that of the time of Camillus. At that time there is much inquiry into the past religio by antiquarians. The Caesarians were for innovation and reform of the religio, which eventually came about with the Restoration imposed by Augustus, then is the still later imperial religio. There are clear breaks in the various Religiones Romanae between these different periods. Which then does a modern constructionist base his or her approach upon? I think the answer to that really lies with the individual and how they relate to the gods.
Too much study of ancient precepts leads to a formalism that stifles practice. Practice of the religio begins with the individual, but remember that all religions exist within a community. Organizing a community will have to meet the needs of that community, which necessarily is a modern community with modern needs. I think you need therefore to have the community first, and not worry about organization initially. The idea of organizing along the lines of the ancient state religion I think is the wrong approach. You should instead first look at other ancient groups such as the religious sodales as a model for local, modern communities. They will transform the religio Romana to their own needs. Some of that will be good, other parts perhaps not. Eclectic? Not necessarily, but it will not be the archaic or even ancient version of the Religio Romana either.
Valete et vadete in pacem deorum
M Horatius Piscinus
Sapere aude!