Poking at sacred cows

[hakerh]

I've had a bunch of thoughts wheeling around my head lately. Some amuse me; others frustrate me because they're questions I really want to know the answer to but can't get a non-hot-button answer.

Thoughts:

Regarding the SCA and the museum world, and some people's insistence that the SCA is a "real" living history group and should be given the

Comments

[tudorlady]

My answers reflect the fact that $1K is a buttload of money for a peon like me, and (b) - I totally, totally agree with you on the observations about SCAdians and Pagans. Totally. And I'm saying this as someone who knows more about my subject than most of 'em.

[liamstliam]

I can think of a half-dozen Sacdians -- and could probably get to 10 -- who regularly present at Kalamazoo.

Just *because* someone is Scadian, doesn't mean they don't know their stuff. I give you Steve Muhlenberg, Duke Finnvar, as a start.

I cannot be pagan if I continue to believe in God?

[hakerh]

Just *because* someone is Scadian, doesn't mean they don't know their stuff.

I agree, but identifying first and foremost as a SCAdian when talking to academic historians is an automatic discredit before you even get your next sentence out (generic "you," here). There certainly *are* some people who really know their history and material culture, but their voices are hidden among the throng of Celtic-gypsy-samurai who are all too willing to jump into the cameras. I am a museum professional, and I've been told by every professor and mentor I've ever had NEVER to mention my SCA involvement until several months after being hired, if at all.

I cannot be pagan if I continue to believe in God?Sorry, I should have been a bit clearer. I've just never understood the pagans who insist they believe in every single god, *with the sole exception* of Jehovah. I hear a lot of Pagan theology that says *all* gods exist, but I've never heard of Christ or Jehovah being invoked at rituals where the participants seem bloody well determined to have more

Warning: Contains potentially offensive personal views...

[iarwain]

If you believe in and worship all the Gods, why do you exclude the Christian God, especially if your pantheon includes deities that traditionally disliked sharing their worshipers?I can only give you a straight(ish) answer concerning my own beliefs here. I believe in *multiple* gods... not necessarily all of them. I'm not so sure the Flying Spaghetti Monster is quite worthy of my worship, thanks. BUT ...MY gods are not the jealous types. Oðinn doesn't so much dislike sharing worshipers, as long as his worshipers don't neglect him. He's pretty easy going. Diana is the Huntress - she seeks you. She's definitely not on any power trip and quite comfortable with her level of worship. She's cool if she's not your number one: Just don't show her any disrespect. The others I work with have similar attitudes. His worshipers usually make the god of Abraham out to be a petulant, childish, power-hungry war god with a multiple personality disorder and severe self esteem and abandonment issues and delusions of grandeur. It's a big chunk

[macfrode]

Just to poke a little harder... THAT is why some of us insist on pointing out that the SCA is a HOBBY and if we really wanted an education we would go to a UNIVERSITY. yup, I know there are those who are offended when I say that but it's the truth. YES there are those in the SCA who know their stuff. Those same people would have known their stuff even if they hadn't been in the SCA because they either learned it in school or learned it by studying the subject themselves. I HAVE learned some things at SCA classes, I have also come accross classes teaching things that were incorrect according to college classes/text books I've had so I take everything taught with a grain of salt. This is why I have such a hard time with people who try to make us out to BE/into a Medieval educational group. We aren't. There is a very WIDE spectrum of expertise/interest on things historic in the Society and I'm willing to bet the majority aren't willing to do what it would take to be at the level expected at a university or even a decent museum.

[peregrinning]

Ha! I so much want to say "already did: A Hammond, when I worked as Instrumental Music Coordinator at a Midwest College." :-)

Sorry. Complete non sequitur, but I laughed, so I thought I'd share.