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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Nov 3, 2003 22:24:39 GMT -5
Question number two: If so many of these words (just to give two from my own post, Samhain and Tao) are transliterated as well as translated, why aren't they spelled more phonetically? It's mainly out of a sense of respect. These are terms which have a deep-seated meaning for the cultures from which they are adopted, and to change them willy-nilly shows a lack of respect for those traditions, IMHO. So for someone who celebrates Samhain (pronounced "SOW-in"), it is a respect for the history and tradition of that holiday. Hence the reason I am struggling to learn the ancient Greek phrases used during my rituals; it shows a respect for the Gods and the history and culture associated with Them; to do any less is an insult, IMHO.
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Nov 2, 2003 8:21:41 GMT -5
I see that SSD posted "The Book of the Dead", and I would only recommend this book if you are seriously upon the Kemetic path, as it is a hard read, IMHO. Yes, but as we Recons like to remind people, we are a religion with homework! The Iliad, Eddas, the Book of the Dead... when you are trying to take an ancient religion and bring it inot modern times, some hard reading is required... look at all the book I have just to put together a solid Hellenic ritual. And that's not even counting the number of extra books I have to read for the Clergy program through Hellenion!
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Oct 31, 2003 6:46:00 GMT -5
The Book of the Dead (Egyptian/Kemetic) Greek Religion, Walter Burkert (Hellenic) Athenian Popular Religion, Mikalson (Hellenic) The Eddas (Norse/Asatru)
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Oct 30, 2003 14:29:05 GMT -5
Vlad: read, chat, and experience. That's the best way to find your path. I was raised Catholic, exposed to Wicca in college, did some time as a Pentecostal, went back to Wicca, and then graduated over to Hellenic Reconstructionism. If it hadn't been for some really odd turns in life, and a lot of intelligent ppl, I'd prolly still be floundering. Instead, I'm now training to be a Theori Hellenic Priest)!
Cyberpaladin: don't worry about heaven or hell. if you don't believe in them, how can they impact your life? Even the oldest Pagan religions have some concept of hell, but unlike the Christians, you really have to earn it. For example, showing eusebia, or severe disrespect, to the Gods of Olympos would land a Hellenic like myself in Tartaros. Cowardice in battle is a good way to land yourself in the realm of Hel if you worship the Norse Pantheon. There is a dark underworld in Egyptian mythoi, Babylonian mythoi, etc. But you have to be a really bad person and seriously offend the Gods to land there. Most Pagan religions don't spend a lot of time on the concepts of the afterlife in the same way modern Christians do. obviously there are exceptions, but generally speaking, many Pagan paths are more concerned with how you live your life today as opposed to how to get you into heaven... it's just not the same focus on life.
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Oct 26, 2003 14:54:32 GMT -5
Since we are on the topic of paganism, how much do you guys know about the ancient Egyptian pantheon(s)? what do you want to know?
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Oct 21, 2003 20:42:31 GMT -5
just to add some definitions here:
Hellenic: A path which embraces a reverence for the Gods of Olympos and the traditional means of worship of the ancient Greeks. There are a number of subgroups and Mystery Cults of Hellenic Religion: Orphics, Pythagoreans, Neo-Platonists, Bacchae, and Elusynian Mysteries, to name a few. The majority of Hellenic pagans tend to focus on the worship of the Gods as done through the Hellenic Period of Greece; before that there isn't a lot of info, and after that things got a bit complicated, to say the least.
Asatru: A path which embraces a reverence for the Gods of the Nordic pantheon and Their traditional means of worship.
Kemeticism: A path embracing a reverence for the Pharonic/Egyptian Pantheon and Their traditional means of worship.
Religio Romana/Nova Roma: Paths focusing on the worship of the Gods of the Romans (and yes, there is a difference between the Gods of Olympos and the Gods of the Romans!).
Reconstructionism: A religious methodology which uses history, literature, art, philosophy, and other "academic" fields of study to recreate a religious tradition of an ancient culture.
Wicca: a blanket term for the modern pagan movement which embraces a revrence for a Goddess-centered religion focusing on a cyclical calendar where each major holiday represents an aspect of the life cycle. There are many flavors of Wicca, such as Dianic (serious Goddess emphasis), Gardnerian, Alexandrian, etc. Although there isn't a single definition for Wicca, it is marked by an eclectic mix of ancient Celtic, late 19th and early 20th century Mysticism (such as Thelema, Golden Dawn, and Freemasonry), and Jungian theories about the nature of the Gods.
Thelema and Golden Dawn: Two distinct paths which focus on different aspects of Ceremonial Magicks. Ceremonial Magicks draw upon ancient pagan (mainly Egyptian, but also some Greek) concepts, Qabbalah (Jewish mysticism), and elemental magicks.
think I hit most of the major ones, especially since most people have at least a passing familiarity with Buddhism, Hinuism, Druidism, and Native American religions...
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Feb 7, 2004 11:24:44 GMT -5
We only have the one dog. In the past, my pets have been:
1 dog when I was born.
Added a second when I was about 7? They didn't like each other.
The third dog my parents got was the only one we had at the time.
In law school, the house was a zoo. At one point, 3 cats. At another point, a cat and a dog. At yet another point, just one dog.
Now my parents have 2 of the cats that lived with me in law school.
I wouldn't trust the new pup with another dog. Between her age and the breed's temperment, I don't think she's even willing to consider someone else being alpha to her!
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Feb 7, 2004 7:15:37 GMT -5
Well, Arryk and I just got a Basenji pup last week. She's 9 weeks old, about 4 pounds, maybe 6 inches tall and stubborn, I mean cute, as hell. I found this on one of the Yahoo groups we joined for Basenji owners, and thought anyone who has ever had a dog or cat will appreciate this:
Dear Dogs and Cats:
Declaration #1: - When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way. - The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. - The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run. - I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping: They can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm. - My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees! - And for the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years, so canine/feline attendance is not mandatory. - The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you.
*To pacify you I have posted the following message on our front door...
#2. Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets: 1. They live here. You don't. 2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. 3. I like my pet a lot better than I like most people. 4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, and doesn't speak clearly.
#3 My Final Declaration
Why Dogs and cats are better than kids: They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions (i.e. nose rings;), don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the results.
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Post by ShonenSenshiDave on Sept 26, 2003 16:35:35 GMT -5
Name: ShonenSenshiDave/SSD/Dave
Sex: uhm, I think my name makes this a moot question...
Height: 5 feet 3 and 1/2 inches
Hair: medium length, haven't seen my original color in months, so don't ask
Eyes: Hazel...
Overall Description: a riddle wrapped in an enigmal
Age: Old enough to know better and young enough not to give a damn (ok, I'm 31)
Birthdate: I'm a Capricorn...
Marital Status: Domestic Partnered (darn laws!)
Children: ahhh..NO
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA (south/central PA, 2 hrs west of Philadelphia)
Pets: does my hubby count?
Likes: Reading, DnD, martial arts, weapons collecting, BtVS, Charmed, sci fi, horro, action, yadda yadda yadda...
Dislikes: fluffy bunnies, Britney Spears, Boy Bands and the list goes on....
Religion: Hellenic Reconstructionist
Tattoos: too many to list, safe to say I have more tattoos than skin, I think...
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