Ooh, I just can't resist!
So, Renee directed me to the latest blog post of everyone's favorite Hellenic Evangelist.
He was once again discussing his favorite topic teh ebil self appointed oracles. Because when people decide they have a direct line to the gods that trumps tradition, well its like when Paul decided that the Christian god was talking directly to him and the voices in his head knew better than what Jesus said, and that's why Christians began slaughtering non Christians, because when people think they can talk to gods I guess this is what happens (and I really hope Tim didn't strain anything pole vaulting to that conclusion, either that Pagan oracles are in any danger of doing the same or that that is the sole or even the major reason why Christianity turned so ugly).
But see, further down toward the end of his rant, we find this line. Which Renee found particularly interesting and thus wanted me to see.
but if one thinks Hermes (for example) gave them a vision that he or she are chosen to be his oracle, do “his work,” and be “his representative” to the people, that does not stand the test, and is most likely a self created, ego induced delusion.
Hmmm ... gee... who does that sound like? :-P
Granted, nothing is direct and obvious, that's their MO, state no names so you can claim later that you didn't point a finger at anybody no matter how clear a description you gave. But still, considering the recent events here, it seems just a little too coincidental.
For one thing, I've noticed that whenever Tim is talking about his self appointed oracles, he just about always refers to them as male. I figure this is either because he is always talking about
sannion (likely) or because like me male is the default setting when I'm speaking generalities. But here, he says "he or she" for the first time in the whole post steps away from strictly using the male terms (for those of you who don't know, I am female).
For another thing, why pick Hermes? Is he a god who had a massive oracular cult way back when? No, not really. Is he a very prominent god in the modern Hellenic religion? No, not really. In fact I seem to be one of the very few people that claims Hermes as a primary patron and the primary guiding force in their lives, most of the time he seems to appear in a secondary role alongside another god who plays the primary role (usually Apollon or Dionysos or both). Or at least this is the pattern I have noticed since I've been in the community, correct me please if you see things differently. Hermes is a well loved god certainly, but there don't seem to be many called to his priesthood (unlike all the Apollonians and Dionysians kicking around everywhere). So, considering he really isn't a god with a huge modern following with priests and oracles everywhere, it is an odd name to pick for your example.
I don't know, that little (for example) thrown in there, which doesn't appear anywhere else in the post or in most of his previous posts, smacks to me of a smarmy cover story. So that way if someone came on and said, "That sounds like Gavin, is that who you're talking about?" he can say, "Well, I said it was an example ..." Yeah, I'm clever with my wording too, that's how i can see through tricks (though I don't often use them, if I'm talking about someone in particular I'll say so).
The fact that I do oracular work with Hermes (for myself mostly, and once recently for my mother because she asked me to) and do believe he has things he wants me to do in the world, and that is a lot of what I was talking about in the posts I made and the comments I replied to around the time the shit went down ... all very telling. If it actually has nothing to do with me, I have to say between my posts and my falling out with one of his lackeys, the timing is just so perfect.
The thing of it is, while I do believe I am Hermes' pet human (for lack of a better term :-)) and that he's gearing me up for some massive spiritual shit and that I have things I'm supposed to do in the world with him, I most assuredly do not believe it makes me special or better than anyone else. In fact I would wager that no one with patrons or work to do on their behalf feels they are special or better, just about the only people I ever see talking about how special being god touched is are the people who are denouncing such things. I really have no wish to delude or manipulate the Hellenic community with my uber special secret divine knowledge; hell, considering that most of the community doesn't even know that i exist because I'm a list lurker, I'm doing a piss poor job of showing everyone how special I am so they'll all follow me off a cliff or whatever. I've said a million times I'm not a community sort, I'm one of the fringe people and I'm content to stay out here; I'm most definitely not a leader and i don't fucking want to be one either.
My journal here isn't to convince people how special I am, its just for my ramblings and for hopefully connecting with other people who get it. Listen to me or don't, believe me don't believe me, who gives a shit?
But then again, most people here understand that and don't need to be told how I feel. But that's also because most people aren't reading this with a chip on their shoulder and an agenda in hand.
If you can find where, at any point in time, I ever said that I was "special" or that everybody should listen to me and do what i tell them because the gods love me more than you, please feel free to point it out to me.
But you know, people talk to gods, people have patrons, it happens, in fact most of my friends here fall into that category.
Perhaps being mentioned in a rant? Being painted as an example of a deluded and egotistical person who is a potential danger to the community at large and must be avoided?
Now that is special.. :-)
(no I won't post a link to his blog since after complaining about people doing that I'd be a douche bag do it myself. those who really want to find it can do so on their own)
He was once again discussing his favorite topic teh ebil self appointed oracles. Because when people decide they have a direct line to the gods that trumps tradition, well its like when Paul decided that the Christian god was talking directly to him and the voices in his head knew better than what Jesus said, and that's why Christians began slaughtering non Christians, because when people think they can talk to gods I guess this is what happens (and I really hope Tim didn't strain anything pole vaulting to that conclusion, either that Pagan oracles are in any danger of doing the same or that that is the sole or even the major reason why Christianity turned so ugly).
But see, further down toward the end of his rant, we find this line. Which Renee found particularly interesting and thus wanted me to see.
but if one thinks Hermes (for example) gave them a vision that he or she are chosen to be his oracle, do “his work,” and be “his representative” to the people, that does not stand the test, and is most likely a self created, ego induced delusion.
Hmmm ... gee... who does that sound like? :-P
Granted, nothing is direct and obvious, that's their MO, state no names so you can claim later that you didn't point a finger at anybody no matter how clear a description you gave. But still, considering the recent events here, it seems just a little too coincidental.
For one thing, I've noticed that whenever Tim is talking about his self appointed oracles, he just about always refers to them as male. I figure this is either because he is always talking about
sannion (likely) or because like me male is the default setting when I'm speaking generalities. But here, he says "he or she" for the first time in the whole post steps away from strictly using the male terms (for those of you who don't know, I am female).
For another thing, why pick Hermes? Is he a god who had a massive oracular cult way back when? No, not really. Is he a very prominent god in the modern Hellenic religion? No, not really. In fact I seem to be one of the very few people that claims Hermes as a primary patron and the primary guiding force in their lives, most of the time he seems to appear in a secondary role alongside another god who plays the primary role (usually Apollon or Dionysos or both). Or at least this is the pattern I have noticed since I've been in the community, correct me please if you see things differently. Hermes is a well loved god certainly, but there don't seem to be many called to his priesthood (unlike all the Apollonians and Dionysians kicking around everywhere). So, considering he really isn't a god with a huge modern following with priests and oracles everywhere, it is an odd name to pick for your example.
I don't know, that little (for example) thrown in there, which doesn't appear anywhere else in the post or in most of his previous posts, smacks to me of a smarmy cover story. So that way if someone came on and said, "That sounds like Gavin, is that who you're talking about?" he can say, "Well, I said it was an example ..." Yeah, I'm clever with my wording too, that's how i can see through tricks (though I don't often use them, if I'm talking about someone in particular I'll say so).
The fact that I do oracular work with Hermes (for myself mostly, and once recently for my mother because she asked me to) and do believe he has things he wants me to do in the world, and that is a lot of what I was talking about in the posts I made and the comments I replied to around the time the shit went down ... all very telling. If it actually has nothing to do with me, I have to say between my posts and my falling out with one of his lackeys, the timing is just so perfect.
The thing of it is, while I do believe I am Hermes' pet human (for lack of a better term :-)) and that he's gearing me up for some massive spiritual shit and that I have things I'm supposed to do in the world with him, I most assuredly do not believe it makes me special or better than anyone else. In fact I would wager that no one with patrons or work to do on their behalf feels they are special or better, just about the only people I ever see talking about how special being god touched is are the people who are denouncing such things. I really have no wish to delude or manipulate the Hellenic community with my uber special secret divine knowledge; hell, considering that most of the community doesn't even know that i exist because I'm a list lurker, I'm doing a piss poor job of showing everyone how special I am so they'll all follow me off a cliff or whatever. I've said a million times I'm not a community sort, I'm one of the fringe people and I'm content to stay out here; I'm most definitely not a leader and i don't fucking want to be one either.
My journal here isn't to convince people how special I am, its just for my ramblings and for hopefully connecting with other people who get it. Listen to me or don't, believe me don't believe me, who gives a shit?
But then again, most people here understand that and don't need to be told how I feel. But that's also because most people aren't reading this with a chip on their shoulder and an agenda in hand.
If you can find where, at any point in time, I ever said that I was "special" or that everybody should listen to me and do what i tell them because the gods love me more than you, please feel free to point it out to me.
But you know, people talk to gods, people have patrons, it happens, in fact most of my friends here fall into that category.
Perhaps being mentioned in a rant? Being painted as an example of a deluded and egotistical person who is a potential danger to the community at large and must be avoided?
Now that is special.. :-)
(no I won't post a link to his blog since after complaining about people doing that I'd be a douche bag do it myself. those who really want to find it can do so on their own)