Towards stronger, healthier Heathen Clergy resulting in better Heathenry
Greater Heathenry need to have something that can be pointed at that articulates in clear, rational, and accessible ways what Heathen Clergy actually *is* rather than what other people define and think it is.
One of my most difficult arguments on the interwebs is getting across that we are not Richelieu-vian power grabbers. That we are *not* Catholic Priests out to sell indulgences, Protestant pulpit thumpers trying to tell their congregations how to live and what to do, or even Wiccan Priest/esses discussing magical ways to solve lifeâs problems. Too many Heathens assume the totality of our job is performing rituals. That *is* part of our job, but modern clergy do far more than that. Not even getting into spiritual/pastoral care, we can be medical advocates, explorers, articulators, and developers of Heathen Theology, and arbitrators and frithweavers, just to name a few.
I have to too often stress that we (Godhar) do not wish to get between people, their spirituality/religion, their relationships with the Divine (meaning a short hand for God/desses, Ancestors, Vaettir, and our Ways), and their Folk. We want to enhance, encourage, advise to make those various relationships the best it can be for the Folk. To see a Kindred/Tribe/Group flourish with just a portion of any guidance I gave fulfills me a great deal, even if I am ultimately left behind. I learned that lesson from Odhinn. He is happiest when we don't want or need him anymore.
Do I need to point out that being Clergy has a lot more to do with a variety of other factors beyond just knowing a lot on a particular scholastic subject? Yes, Godhar need to know the Lore, but they do not need to have Bachelor's (or higher) in History to do the job. In fact to be a Godhar they need to know many soft skills (arbitration, spiritual/pastoral care, applied theology, interpersonal skills, etc.) that *just* knowing the Lore and History does little to inform. They need to be able to *apply* the Lore, along with other solid experience, and other knowledges.
The academic and scholastic aspects of our Heathenry are very well represented, yet our spiritual/religious sides (what my Religious Studies professors called "theological") is severely lacking. I think it is part of the job of Heathen Clergy *to* articulate the Theological side. Merge the Experiential with the Lore and other knowledges to make a better, stronger Heathen religion.
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