Druids Vs. Neo-Druids ....Round 1

I have read a lot about the old ways of the druids. I know a lot about the way they did things. The rituals and the lore they kept. I know they way they were taught and the ways they learned.

In todays society we are unable to devote ourselves so totally to a single ideal as they did.

If we teach differently, conduct our rituals in city parks, live the life of a solitary druid, and learn our lore from books, does that make us less the the druids of old? The ones who spend years learning the lore and legends, had sacred groves deep in the forest, and were surrounded by others of like mind.

I know on the surface one sounds so much better then the other but who among us has the ability to live that life and are we diminished for that?

There are plenty of people that claim solitary witches, Wiccans, and/or Pagans. It is knowing this that truly begs the question you are asking, is it so wrong for someone to be solitary in their practices since nearly all the information we have today comes from books? Quite frankly for our ancestors information was not so easily nor readily available and not everyone was literate or learned enough to read. So the fact we even have books is a blessing, but at the same time it also seems a curse. Because with books comes schools, with schools, comes the phrase, "You have to have a degree in this in order to anyone to take you seriously in what you do," and how ridiculous is that?
My ancestors just had to prove themselves and half the time their reputations proceeded them from their tribes. In this day in age we need a silly piece of paper to say, "Hey Look! I'm qualified to do this," when it is the universe and the gods themselves that truly dub us worthy of their love, wisdom, and respect not society.

While it is comforting to know there are others out there who do/might accept us for who we are and what we believe, we should really be turning our attention to the heavens and communing with our gods. As the old quote goes, "For many are called, but few are chosen," and this is very true even today. Just because you follow the way, does not mean you truly know it.

indeed. still, it i want to be fair and offer the possibility that perhaps the degrees were meant as a practical way of prooving knowledge and experience?

While I can still understand this aspect, it still isn't the most fair way of judging someone's intelligence on the matter. Why would it not be possible to simply take a test that accesses this sort of thing to see how much you know? Perhaps no one cares enough or it is simply a matter of it is something that cannot be access. Everyone learns differently and at their own pace after all.

And I still feel degrees are rather insulting as far as people even taking you seriously as a priest or priestess. I know a web-site that you can go to for instance that you make you a Reverend, all you have to do is fill out the information and you become a Reverend of your choice faith. Now if it is simply that easy, why is something like that not enough to prove your priest/priestess hood? I know it seems rather silly, but on a serious level I am asking and posing these questions. ^_^ Good conversation starters and the like you know.

._. you kind of seemed to have dampened my own feeling of self-credebility by making it seem so easy and cheap... and right when i was entertaining thoughst of purchasing my Doctorite of Divinity, feeling that by now i have earned it....

but yes, i do like the ULC. ^_^ my position as a Minister does feel deserved, and the amount of influence i will be able to excert with my Credential card and Doctorite will realy help me to further my studies...

TwilightInsanity wrote:

._. you kind of seemed to have dampened my own feeling of self-credebility by making it seem so easy and cheap... and right when i was entertaining thoughst of purchasing my Doctorite of Divinity, feeling that by now i have earned it....

but yes, i do like the ULC. ^_^ my position as a Minister does feel deserved, and the amount of influence i will be able to excert with my Credential card and Doctorite will realy help me to further my studies...

I'm sorry Twilight, I didn't mean to cheapen the moment. I was merely trying to state that if the ULC can provide you with a certain amout of credentials that makes you a Reverend, how does that not validate your priesthood, especially if you know what you are doing?

I can certainly see people who don't know what the hell they are doing trying to perform ceremonies and thinking of that all seems too funny, but that's when it is truly a test of your knowledge and worth of the position. It is within those defining moments that truly dictate whether we are fit to be a priest/priestess, reverend, etc.

I believe as long as you feel your position has been justly earned well enough then there is nothing wrong with proclaiming yourself a priest or priestess of whatever faith/path you believe in so long as you have a good deal of knowledge about what you are doing, how to do it, etc, etc.

exactly. ^_^ and i knew what you meant, i guess i'm just so into being fair and pointing out every argument... unless of course i am in an actual debate... >.> <.< >.>

lol Oh hell no! I hate getting into debates/arguments. While some may like to argue that I do like to "argue" when it comes to topics of interest, unless I am highly passionate about them, I do not typically care to argue them. Reason being is because I get tired out easily from all the skeptics turing to poke holes in peoples philosophy, beliefs, or logic. It can truly take it out of a person. I have been in debates and arguments before, but eventually I get the idea that A) No one is going to listen to my point anymore because they would just prefer to be closed minded and not open to the possibility they are wrong or B) They just like hearing themselves talk C) They are just going to carry on so people know their hate for supposed "Wannabes/Heathens/etc" as they may call them.
It just all depends.

huh... i suppose...