About Hellenic Polytheism
I originally wrote this about three years ago, but have revised it and feel that I should post it here. I'm not sure if I ever did, but this is for those who are curious about Hellenic Polytheism. That is, the religion of ancient Greece as it's followed today. This is fairly short, so even if you're not the essay type, you should enjoy it. Note that this takes a general perspective, but I did link to two videos where I explain my personal views. For any Hellenic Polytheists here, please let me know if I've missed anything.
Hellenic Polytheists are a very assorted group. While we have morals etc, we don't have a specific book to follow, though we do have ones which are considered sacred (Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days etc.). Something which may perplex many new to our faith, and which may confuse others who then mistakenly put all of us in the pagan/Wiccan camp is that there's right way to follow The Gods. We don't even agree on one set name for our faith. You'll often see things like Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Paganism, Hellenismos, Hellenism, Hellenic Reconstructionism and/or Hellenic eclecticism, depending on the person and/or branch you ask/study. One of the few things that holds us together is our belief in the gods of ancient Greece. However, even that differs among people and groups. Another is that, with the possible exception of those who choose to hunt, we don't practise animal sacrifice (I'd say about 99% of us are in that category). None of us support the subjugation of women etc, though our beliefs on exactly what a woman's role is may vary slightly from person to person. We're generally very open-minded and we encourage people, both in and out of our religion to ask questions about the gods and each other. We're firm believers in education. Not everyone is a scholar, but everyone should try to learn something in life, whether it's a trade or formal schooling. Some of us are of Greek descent or natives of Hellas, and others are not. One of the things that annoys me about the nonGreeks is that many of them have no interest in modernday Greece. They only care about the past. I'm the opposite, caring more about the present and recent past. But to be fair, I've also heard that there's a small minority of Greek followers who are closed-minded and who don't accept foreigners. Again, it's a very small portion of our faith who feel this way, so don't be put off if you see some of their posts etc, especially if you're a Christian, as they tend to be very strongly against them. While they do have valid reasons, I personally think that there are much better ways of trying to resolve them than spouting such hatred toward every single member of a religion.
In any case, some of us are reconstructionists, trying to follow the old ways as much as modern life will permit, some are middle-of-the-road (strict Hellenic panthion but may not do the rituals etc... we have way too many festivals), and some are totally eclectic, following different gods/goddesses and mixing religions. For the record, I follow a strictly Hellenic-based faith, though I'm not as traditional in my devotions as I would like to be. Most of us make some kind of offerings to the gods like the daily portion of food set aside for Hestia the guardian of the harth and home at meal times or a sacrifice of food/clothing/time (perhaps to a charity, shelter etc). Many of us write hymns for a prayer answered by a given deity or as a prayer to one. Some of us have altars or even shrines set aside for various deities in our homes. It's important to mention that those of us who are of the reconstructionist variety usually don't practise any kind of magic, except possibly the Orphics or other mystics who base their practices in history. I don't work in any kind of magic, though I do like divination. Still, I usually consider that separate from my religion. We may or may not have personal bonds with various deities (mine is with Hermes, Athena and Aphrodite). Most strict recons desmiss that idea as modern. We have priestss and priestesses, not in the Christian sense of sermans and church, but they do help in times of need, sometimes by oracle and sometimes just by being there or even performing marriages.
As I said earlier, our views of the gods are mixed. Some of us, especially in Greece, see them as symbols, while others see them as literal beings and still others see them as forces of nature. I personally see Them as individual beings, complete with Their own personalities etc. Outsiders to our faith often ask how we can follow Them,. I've heard this so many times that feel it's necessary to explain how a large number of us feel on the subject. The Gods are not mortal, and cannot be judged by human standards, nor by humans themselves, who lack full understanding of Them. Furthermore, we were not made in Their image and They did not, as in Christianity etc, make us to be the centre of the world. We are not important in the grand scheme of things. So while I may have a bond with Hermes, for example, that doesn't mean he can't turn around and ignore me or that he won't demand more of me (maybe poems, time given etc) if he's unsatisfied. Yes, the sacrifices etc help, but they don't guarintee that the gods will pay attention or grant our wishes. They just make it more likely. Most of us, especially from the reconstructionist side, believe that it's wrong to demand anything from Them or to believe that we have any power over them. I personally find those who hold the opposite views to be blasphemous and hubristic, and yes, they do exist.
We don't usually believe in a heaven/hell concept, though there are good and bad places in The Underworld and I certainly wouldn't want to go to Tartaros. However, some of us may take varying viewpoints on the afterlife and some just say that they have no clue what it's like and won't presume to know. This is one of those areas where I differ from traditional teachings, as I believe that certain spirits come back due to unfinished business, others cross over into the spiritual realm (whatever that may be) and still others are reincarnated. We don't have sin as such, but we do have our own concepts of right and wrong, some of which were handed down through things like Solon's Tenets or the Delphic Maxims or other sacred works and some which we learned from our own experiences.
As for me, even after eight years, there's still alot I don't know. this is largely because I'm more into modern Hellas, as I've said, which is not a good thing in this case. As a result, I don't study as I should, which is bad not only religiously but also as a true patriot of Hellas. Hopefully, I will change this soon and begin to worship more properly and learn more about the ancient culture and our faith. At any rate, that's us in the nut shell. Feel free to comment and to ask questions and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
For a more personal perspective, you can visit these two links. As with any of my essays here, feel free to comment and to watch my other videos, if desired.
Coming to The Gods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDbCmHNwoUc
This goes into my own faith and how I found The Gods. Here, I tell the full story of the nun who rejected me due to blindness. (Note that I do not hate Christians.) Another video is mentioned. It's basically a quick intro and is called To My Hellenic Polytheist Friends.
How I Worship and Sacrifice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNl0hKiByDY
This is part II to the previous video and explains my actual worship practices.
Hellenic Polytheists are a very assorted group. While we have morals etc, we don't have a specific book to follow, though we do have ones which are considered sacred (Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days etc.). Something which may perplex many new to our faith, and which may confuse others who then mistakenly put all of us in the pagan/Wiccan camp is that there's right way to follow The Gods. We don't even agree on one set name for our faith. You'll often see things like Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Paganism, Hellenismos, Hellenism, Hellenic Reconstructionism and/or Hellenic eclecticism, depending on the person and/or branch you ask/study. One of the few things that holds us together is our belief in the gods of ancient Greece. However, even that differs among people and groups. Another is that, with the possible exception of those who choose to hunt, we don't practise animal sacrifice (I'd say about 99% of us are in that category). None of us support the subjugation of women etc, though our beliefs on exactly what a woman's role is may vary slightly from person to person. We're generally very open-minded and we encourage people, both in and out of our religion to ask questions about the gods and each other. We're firm believers in education. Not everyone is a scholar, but everyone should try to learn something in life, whether it's a trade or formal schooling. Some of us are of Greek descent or natives of Hellas, and others are not. One of the things that annoys me about the nonGreeks is that many of them have no interest in modernday Greece. They only care about the past. I'm the opposite, caring more about the present and recent past. But to be fair, I've also heard that there's a small minority of Greek followers who are closed-minded and who don't accept foreigners. Again, it's a very small portion of our faith who feel this way, so don't be put off if you see some of their posts etc, especially if you're a Christian, as they tend to be very strongly against them. While they do have valid reasons, I personally think that there are much better ways of trying to resolve them than spouting such hatred toward every single member of a religion.
In any case, some of us are reconstructionists, trying to follow the old ways as much as modern life will permit, some are middle-of-the-road (strict Hellenic panthion but may not do the rituals etc... we have way too many festivals), and some are totally eclectic, following different gods/goddesses and mixing religions. For the record, I follow a strictly Hellenic-based faith, though I'm not as traditional in my devotions as I would like to be. Most of us make some kind of offerings to the gods like the daily portion of food set aside for Hestia the guardian of the harth and home at meal times or a sacrifice of food/clothing/time (perhaps to a charity, shelter etc). Many of us write hymns for a prayer answered by a given deity or as a prayer to one. Some of us have altars or even shrines set aside for various deities in our homes. It's important to mention that those of us who are of the reconstructionist variety usually don't practise any kind of magic, except possibly the Orphics or other mystics who base their practices in history. I don't work in any kind of magic, though I do like divination. Still, I usually consider that separate from my religion. We may or may not have personal bonds with various deities (mine is with Hermes, Athena and Aphrodite). Most strict recons desmiss that idea as modern. We have priestss and priestesses, not in the Christian sense of sermans and church, but they do help in times of need, sometimes by oracle and sometimes just by being there or even performing marriages.
As I said earlier, our views of the gods are mixed. Some of us, especially in Greece, see them as symbols, while others see them as literal beings and still others see them as forces of nature. I personally see Them as individual beings, complete with Their own personalities etc. Outsiders to our faith often ask how we can follow Them,. I've heard this so many times that feel it's necessary to explain how a large number of us feel on the subject. The Gods are not mortal, and cannot be judged by human standards, nor by humans themselves, who lack full understanding of Them. Furthermore, we were not made in Their image and They did not, as in Christianity etc, make us to be the centre of the world. We are not important in the grand scheme of things. So while I may have a bond with Hermes, for example, that doesn't mean he can't turn around and ignore me or that he won't demand more of me (maybe poems, time given etc) if he's unsatisfied. Yes, the sacrifices etc help, but they don't guarintee that the gods will pay attention or grant our wishes. They just make it more likely. Most of us, especially from the reconstructionist side, believe that it's wrong to demand anything from Them or to believe that we have any power over them. I personally find those who hold the opposite views to be blasphemous and hubristic, and yes, they do exist.
We don't usually believe in a heaven/hell concept, though there are good and bad places in The Underworld and I certainly wouldn't want to go to Tartaros. However, some of us may take varying viewpoints on the afterlife and some just say that they have no clue what it's like and won't presume to know. This is one of those areas where I differ from traditional teachings, as I believe that certain spirits come back due to unfinished business, others cross over into the spiritual realm (whatever that may be) and still others are reincarnated. We don't have sin as such, but we do have our own concepts of right and wrong, some of which were handed down through things like Solon's Tenets or the Delphic Maxims or other sacred works and some which we learned from our own experiences.
As for me, even after eight years, there's still alot I don't know. this is largely because I'm more into modern Hellas, as I've said, which is not a good thing in this case. As a result, I don't study as I should, which is bad not only religiously but also as a true patriot of Hellas. Hopefully, I will change this soon and begin to worship more properly and learn more about the ancient culture and our faith. At any rate, that's us in the nut shell. Feel free to comment and to ask questions and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
For a more personal perspective, you can visit these two links. As with any of my essays here, feel free to comment and to watch my other videos, if desired.
Coming to The Gods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDbCmHNwoUc
This goes into my own faith and how I found The Gods. Here, I tell the full story of the nun who rejected me due to blindness. (Note that I do not hate Christians.) Another video is mentioned. It's basically a quick intro and is called To My Hellenic Polytheist Friends.
How I Worship and Sacrifice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNl0hKiByDY
This is part II to the previous video and explains my actual worship practices.