| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: Druidism Now Fully Recognized as a Religion in the UK |
 |
|
Now, Britain has a recognized religion similar to Shinto in Japan.
| Quote: |
By SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press Writer Sylvia Hui, Associated Press Writer � Sat Oct 2, 3:52 pm ET
LONDON � Druids have been worshipping the sun and earth for thousands of years in Europe, but now they can say they're practicing an officially recognized religion.
The ancient pagan tradition best known for gatherings at Stonehenge every summer solstice has been formally classed as a religion under charity law for the first time in Britain, the national charity regulator said Saturday. That means Druids can receive exemptions from taxes on donations and now have the same status as such mainstream religions as the Church of England.
The move gives an old practice new validity, said Phil Ryder, the chairman of the 350-member Druid Network.
"It will go a long way to make Druidry a lot more accessible," he said.
Druids have practiced for thousands of years in Britain and in Celtic societies elsewhere in Europe. They worship natural forces such as thunder and the sun, and spirits they believe arise from places such as mountains and rivers. They do not worship a single god or creator, but seek to cultivate a sacred relationship with the natural world.
Although many see them as robed, mysterious people who gather every summer solstice at Stonehenge � which predates the Druids � believers say modern Druidry is chiefly concerned with helping practitioners connect with nature and themselves through rituals, dancing and singing at stone circles and other sites throughout the country believed to be "sacred."
Ancient Druids were known to be religious leaders, judges and sages among the Celts during pre-Christian times, although little evidence about their lives survived. There are now various Druid orders and about 10,000 practitioners in Britain � and believers said the numbers are growing because more people are becoming aware of the importance to preserve the environment.
The Druid Network fought for nearly five years to be recognized under the semi-governmental Charity Commission, which requires proof of cohesive and serious belief in a supreme entity and a moral framework.
After initially rejecting the Druid Network's application, the Charity Commission decided this week that Druidry fit the bill.
"There is sufficient belief in a supreme being or entity to constitute a religion for the purposes of charity law," the commission said.
Adrian Rooke, a Druid who works as a counselor, said Druidry appeals to people who are turning away from monotheistic religions but still long for an aspect of spirituality in their lives.
"It uplifts the spirit," he said. "The world is running out of resources, and in that context it's more important to people now to formulate a relationship with nature." |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101002/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_druids_recognized |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So, actually there is no connection between modern day Druids and the ancient Druids. So, really, this modern day Druidism religion is just based on some English fantasy of what the ancient Druids were like.
| Quote: |
| Originally inspired by 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century Romantic movements, modern Druidism was based upon theories about the Iron Age Celtic druids which are no longer considered to be historically accurate. Modern Druidism has no demonstrable historical link to the ancient Celts or their culture.[5] |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-druidism |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Konglishman wrote: |
So, really, this modern day Druidism religion is just based on some English fantasy of what the ancient Druids were like.
|
A religion based on fantasy? GTFO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Druids? Fantasy? I'll be sure to clue my Half-Elf Fighter-Cleric into this whole development. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
If I was British I would definitely sign up.
"Whaddja do last weekend?"
"I went to my Druidism ceremony at Stonehenge." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hotwire
Joined: 29 Aug 2010
Location: Multiverse
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah caniff, you'd join up alright - if you weren't already a Scientologist!
Cat's out da bayg homie. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hotwire wrote: |
Yeah caniff, you'd join up alright - if you weren't already a Scientologist!
Cat's out da bayg homie. |
What are your crimes? C'mon, spit it out.
We have a file on you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hotwire
Joined: 29 Aug 2010
Location: Multiverse
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Naw, I'm just a gnat on the side of the COS. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sergio Stefanuto
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Article/OP:
| Quote: |
| believers said the numbers are growing because more people are becoming aware of the importance to preserve the environment |
Other than for the satisfaction of human wants and needs, the environment has no intrinsic value at all and there's nothing whatsoever to be gained by "preserving" it, save of course for some goal related to human wants and needs. Only humans and other conscious animals have the right to exist and be "preserved", but the environment doesn't have any emotions or feelings and it should be put to profitable use where ever possible. Humans have a childlike tendency to project their conscious sensations onto inanimate objects. The reason it's wrong to pour plastic toxic chemicals into rivers is that it is unbeneficial to humans, not because there is anything intrinsically wicked with it. Rivers have no sensations and couldn't care less.
I am however very sympathetic to the view that the sun and stars are sacrosanct. Not only does solar radiation make life possible for Earth and probably trillions of other bodies with creatures on them, but stars themselves are created in a spontaneous process of cosmic reincarnation - recycled from the remains of previous, dead stars. Magnificent. But being in awe of mother nature is no reason to advocate reactionary environmentalism. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Happy Warrior
Joined: 10 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sergio Stefanuto wrote: |
Article/OP:
| Quote: |
| believers said the numbers are growing because more people are becoming aware of the importance to preserve the environment |
Other than for the satisfaction of human wants and needs, the environment has no intrinsic value at all and there's nothing whatsoever to be gained by "preserving" it, save of course for some goal related to human wants and needs. |
But you mean camping, right? Because there must be a place for camping. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rocktek
Joined: 17 Dec 2009
Location: South Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sergio Stefanuto wrote: |
| Magnificent. But being in awe of mother nature is no reason to advocate reactionary environmentalism. |
So, what will it take for anti-environmentalists to acknowledge modern science? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
