Greetings.
Hello. When I was considering making this post, I thought that perhaps I'd be met with several comments along the lines of "Jumpin' Jeebus, haven't we already talked about that a zilliom times already?". But after checking the first page of the main comm section, which goes back as far as October, I didn't see anything about it, so I think I'm safe.
Anyone who hasn't already should either read the book or see the movie of The Mists of Avalon. I haven't read the book, so I can't give an opinion on it, but I loved the movie. The main reason I bring it up in ths community is a pivitol scene right at the end (I don't really consider this a "spoiler" since it's not a plot twist or something that ruins the storyline, but I'll put it behind a cut for those who are anal about such things).
The movie ends during the time when Christianity was growing rapidly, and "overcoming" the old ways in many areas. The main character is reflecting, in a voiceover, how the Goddess is becoming forgotten, but that she's accepting it because times change (it's been awhile since I've seen it, I hope I'm not screwing up the concepts too badly). She then sees a group of new converts praying around a statue of the Virgin Mary. Actually, it's one of the Goddess statues that the main character knew while learning her craft, but it's been "dressed up" and slightly altered. The voiceover continues with something to the effect of the Goddess being not entirely forgotten, but taking on a new form.
When me and my wife saw this movie for the first time, we had just recently become pagans, after having been life-long Christians. By my vague description of this scene, some may think that our reaction may have been something like "those damned Christians ruined everything!" or "ha, silly Christians, don't even realize they're praying to one of our Goddesses". But it wasn't like that at all, we were both overcome with emotion, and it was actually very uplifting. I won't go off on some "Mary wasn't a real person, she's a modern version of a goddess myth" rant, but if nothing else, this movie made it easy to see how some people can draw from paganism and Christianity together, that the two are more compatable than many of us want to admit.
Anyone who hasn't already should either read the book or see the movie of The Mists of Avalon. I haven't read the book, so I can't give an opinion on it, but I loved the movie. The main reason I bring it up in ths community is a pivitol scene right at the end (I don't really consider this a "spoiler" since it's not a plot twist or something that ruins the storyline, but I'll put it behind a cut for those who are anal about such things).
The movie ends during the time when Christianity was growing rapidly, and "overcoming" the old ways in many areas. The main character is reflecting, in a voiceover, how the Goddess is becoming forgotten, but that she's accepting it because times change (it's been awhile since I've seen it, I hope I'm not screwing up the concepts too badly). She then sees a group of new converts praying around a statue of the Virgin Mary. Actually, it's one of the Goddess statues that the main character knew while learning her craft, but it's been "dressed up" and slightly altered. The voiceover continues with something to the effect of the Goddess being not entirely forgotten, but taking on a new form.
When me and my wife saw this movie for the first time, we had just recently become pagans, after having been life-long Christians. By my vague description of this scene, some may think that our reaction may have been something like "those damned Christians ruined everything!" or "ha, silly Christians, don't even realize they're praying to one of our Goddesses". But it wasn't like that at all, we were both overcome with emotion, and it was actually very uplifting. I won't go off on some "Mary wasn't a real person, she's a modern version of a goddess myth" rant, but if nothing else, this movie made it easy to see how some people can draw from paganism and Christianity together, that the two are more compatable than many of us want to admit.