Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

By Zeus! (Greeks return to paganism)
Guardian ^ | February 1, 2007

Posted on 02/07/2007 8:11:30 AM PST by NYer

It was high noon when Doreta Peppa, a woman with long, dark locks and owlish eyes, entered the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. At first, tourists visiting the Athenian temple thought they had stumbled on to a film set. It wasn't just that Peppa cut a dramatic figure with her flowing robes and garlanded hair. Or that she seemed to be in a state of near euphoria. Or even that the group of men and women accompanying her - dressed as warriors and nymphets in kitsch ancient garb - appeared to have stepped straight out of the city's Golden Age.

To the astonishment of onlookers, Peppa also began babbling Orphic hymns, before thrusting her arms upwards into the Attic skies and proceeding, somewhat deliriously, to warble her love for the gods of Mount Olympus. But, then, for the motley group of modern pagans coalesced around the temple's giant Corinthian columns, this was a special moment. Not since the late fourth century AD, when the newly Christian Roman state outlawed all forms of pagan worship, had a high priestess officiated on the sacred site.

Armed with white doves, Peppa, a former advertising executive, was not going to hold back - even if it meant defying the furious Greek officials and riot police gathered at the second-century temple's gates, unwilling to stop the ceremony for fear of provoking a violent confrontation. "Sixteen and a half centuries is a very long time to wait," she said. "After so many years of Christian persecution we were finally able to call on Zeus, our king-god, to bring peace to the world ahead of the [2008] Olympics. For us, it was a very, very big thing."

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture; Worship
KEYWORDS: arcadia; faithandphilosophy; godsgravesglyphs; greece; greek; hindu; india; kylikes; mountlykaion; mountolympus; mtlykaion; mtlykaions; mycenaean; mycenaeans; orthodox; paganism; worship; zeus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 next last
To: Gengis Khan
"this indicates the spiritual vacuum afflicting Greece (and much of Europe) "
Believing in a polytheistic religion is "spiritual vacuum". So Hinduism in India is "spiritual vacuum" and only Christianity is true spiritualism [?]

Actually, that's not what I said. I said that reversion to this Apollo-stuff--- which really is intellectually threadbare, morally vacuous, and spiritually feeble in the extreme--- indicates the presence of an aspirant (in the sense of "sucking") vacuum.

Hinduism, by way of contrast, has far more intellectual and moral content than this ginned-up neo-apollo-puppy trend. But I'm sure you knew that.

21 posted on 02/07/2007 11:59:50 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Allah FUBAR : f * * * ed up beyond all recognition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o
"Hinduism, by way of contrast, has far more intellectual and moral content than this ginned-up neo-apollo-puppy trend. But I'm sure you knew that."

Hinduism has far more intellectual and moral content than even Christianity but thats no basis for me to oppose Christianity.
22 posted on 02/07/2007 12:19:38 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
Except perhaps Islam, I am not against any religion (that includes Mormons, Pagans, Seculars, Agnostics and Atheists) doesn't matter how or why. I am only against perverts that promote proselytization or holy war. I believe THOSE ideas are based upon erroneous religious beliefs and teachings.

To me it seems that these "ginned-up neo-apollo-puppy" are choosing/practicing their faith out of their own volition. I see no reason why I should oppose them based on the reasons you have stated. Doesn't this in your book go against the tenet of "freedom of religion" or for you is it only "freedom of the Christian religion" that you are concerned about?

I don't quite understand the logic that religion X should be given no space because its morally or spiritually incapable of resisting religion Y.
23 posted on 02/07/2007 1:03:26 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
You're a gentleman, Gengis.

BTW, it's good to see you back on the forum.

24 posted on 02/07/2007 2:01:41 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Allah FUBAR : f * * * ed up beyond all recognition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: NYer

This is such modern media garbage. For the past 150 years at least various kook groups, usually made up of artists and acedemics start this stuff up in Greece. It not not new, not a result of today's society and it never goes anywhere. Its just kooks.


25 posted on 02/07/2007 2:08:45 PM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
My point, my dear, is that most religions don't present a aggressive threat to me; I acknowledge the elements of truth and value in them, although I do not agree with their total view. The Apostle Paul expressed a certain appreciation for the religious sentiments of the pagan Athenians at their Areopagus (Mars Hill) shrine, and even quoted one of their poets with approval (Acts 17:22-24.)

However, if anyone, secularist, atheist, Islamist or whatever, wishes to threaten my liberty and my nation, I will certainly oppose them, forcefully if necessary.

"I don't quite understand the logic that religion X should be given no space because its morally or spiritually incapable of resisting religion Y."

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Amongst those who are non-aggressors, all "opposition" or "resisrance" is a far friendlier thing, and takes the form of dialog, banter, love, blessing, humor, example, and reason. Against this form of "opposition" --- which is actually friendly persuasion, or even rivalry in doing good --- there can be, I think, no objection.

26 posted on 02/07/2007 2:17:04 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Allah FUBAR : f * * * ed up beyond all recognition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o
"Against this form of "opposition" --- which is actually friendly persuasion, or even rivalry in doing good --- there can be, I think, no objection."

Hmmmm I could you some "friendly persuasion" against Christian proselytization in my own country. I don't think you would object :)
27 posted on 02/07/2007 3:32:21 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o
BTW this is from the article:

"Last year, Peppa's group, Ellinais, succeeded in gaining legal recognition as a cultural association in a country where all non-Christian religions, bar Islam and Judaism, are prohibited. "

What the above article means is that only Hinduism is banned there. It is the case in many places in Europe.

Christians themselves need to get certain things corrected before they can lecture others on morality and freedom. For a lot of us the Church little more than a symbol of hypocrisy and religious intolerance.
28 posted on 02/07/2007 3:53:11 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan

Church little more than = Church is hardly anything more than


29 posted on 02/07/2007 5:49:23 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan

Friendly is as friendly does. Surprisingly, reason and goodwill sometimes work.


30 posted on 02/07/2007 5:56:54 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
According to the CIA World factbook online, the religious distribution in Greece is as follows:

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

I hardly think the Pope or any other (non-Orthodox) leader would have much influence on Greek state policy. But it's hardly a case, I think, of Hindus being singled out. They've had little to no contact with ANY non-monotheistic religious group: Buddhists, Shintoists, Buddhists, Sikhs, Santeria, Makumba, Rastafarianism, or anybody else.

They (Greeks) have had no historic conflicts with Hindus or India as far as I know; so the Hindu question may never have come up. I don't suppose there has ever been any Indian influx into Greece. Do you know?

31 posted on 02/07/2007 6:09:46 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
What that article obviously fails to mention is that getting this recognition as a "cultural association", which basically only means its part of Greek culture, and no one has ever denied that ancient Greek religion was not part of the Greek culture, differs from it being an official religion recognized by the state. Notice that statement makes absolute no mention that it gained legal recognition as a OFFICIAL religion in Greece. Big difference. The article is also wrong in stating that its only "non-Christian" religions not recognized by the sate but I will talk more about that below, it failed to mention that aside from Orthodox Christianity, the only other two religions that are officially recognized by the state are the faiths of Islam and Judaism. Which makes you, Gengis Khan, somewhat correct in you analysis regarding Hindu or any other religion for that matter but that does not mean you can't practice Hinduism or Buddhism or Confucianism or Jehovah Witnesses(I have an uncle who is a JW converted when he married his wife, aunt by marriage) or worshipping snakes in a cave if you want as long as you get the proper license by the state. So yes the freedom in practicing whatever religion you want is there BUT they can't have a "House of Prayers" without permits from the state. What this means is that Orthodox Christianity, Judaism and Islam are the only officially recognized by the state as faiths considered to be "legal persons of public law." Other religions are considered "legal persons of private law." which means in practice, the primary distinction is that the Civil Code's provisions pertaining to corporations regulate the establishment of "houses of prayer" for every non state recognized religions. Oh and you are wrong in believing that its only non-Christian religions that are not recognized by the Greek state, religions like Evangelists and Mormons and basically every other Christian religion that is not Orthodox Christianity are not recognized by the state either and fall under the "legal persons of private law" but that does not mean they can't be practiced freely with the proper permits...except for Scientology, called a "psycho-sect" by the Greek state that not only is it NOT recognized by the Greek sate but it is also prohibited from practicing in Greece based on legal criminal actions. As Kolokotronis stated kookie "cults" who try to associate themselves with ancient Greek religion have been popping up forever now, including quite a few who are not even native Greeks but claim "association" thru ancient Greek religion, this is nothing new and nothing amazing, just the same 'ol again. In a country where 89% of the people are Orthodox Christian and were this religion plays a big part on every Greek person's life, I have to disagree with Mrs. Don-o view that "this indicates the spiritual vacuum afflicting Greece", quite the opposite is actually true for those of us familiar with the country, the culture, history and her people. I don't know about other countries, except for the States since I've gone to school here where church and state are separated therefore religion is not allowed into public schools, but religion, that is Greek Orthodox religion ofcourse, is mandatory in their educational system and you can't learn about the Greek revolution or the Byzantine Empire without learning about the influence Greek Orthodoxy played in the creation of the modern state or about its influence from Byzantine times thru which it claims a continuation through the Eastern Roman(Byzantine) Empire to ancient Greece. In other words Greek Orthodoxy is intertwined very tightly with Greek history and identity unlike any other European countries that I know of at least, with maybe the exception of Italy. Also lets not forget that quite a bit of ancient Greek thought and philosophy had entered into Christianity and many of those ancient Greek customs and symbolic meanings are still practiced today by modern Greeks, even though the names might have changed, such as in ancient times panspermia (also known as polysporia) were offered to the Demeter and Dionysus for fertility and in honor of the dead, in modern times those ancient symbolic meanings for panspermia/polysporia have been taken on by Jesus Chris and the Virgin Mary. ;-)
32 posted on 02/07/2007 6:39:24 PM PST by apro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: apro

So they need to get "permits" from the State to practice their faith? Wont really call that "freedom".


33 posted on 02/07/2007 8:39:14 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

"Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% "

Dont have much time. For now I would only say that you are switching cause for effect. The insignificant numbers from other faiths is because those religions aren't given the breathing space. Its the same in Italy and a few other Christian countries.


34 posted on 02/07/2007 8:45:37 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: indcons

Ping!


35 posted on 02/07/2007 8:46:03 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan

Interesting discussion. Are Hindus interested, then in emigrating to Greece, but stopped by law? I must say it seems...odd.


36 posted on 02/07/2007 8:51:28 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Who's talking about emigration. Are organisations like the ISKCON allowed to preach there? (I am considering ISKCON only for example).


37 posted on 02/07/2007 9:07:13 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

BTW the majority Muslims in US are not immigrants from middle east or South Asia. They are mostly Afro-Americans converts.


38 posted on 02/07/2007 9:10:03 PM PST by Gengis Khan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: NYer
http://www.istillworshipzeus.com
39 posted on 02/08/2007 2:41:11 AM PST by Dajjal (See my FR homepage for an essay about Ahmadinejad.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gengis Khan
I was suprised to see how many Hindu missionary centers the Krishna Consciousness folks have in the USA: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Gainesville, Houston, New York, and several others. They also have missionary headquarters all over Europe. I have no idea if they are active in Greece. Why don't you go the (very attractive) ISKCON website and ask them?
40 posted on 02/08/2007 7:58:11 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (What does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson