tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post6541328885094063064..comments2023-11-05T04:09:26.194-05:00Comments on e g r e g o r e s: Everyone Already Knows What Paganism IsApuleius Platonicushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11761230673724504084noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-76862632541526177852009-12-14T11:56:17.101-05:002009-12-14T11:56:17.101-05:00That's a good suggestion.
To me there are th...That's a good suggestion. <br /><br />To me there are three keys to this issue: (1) that Paganism has always been flexible and dynamic, (2) that there is no route by which polytheism can ever gradually change into monotheism, and (3) that monotheism represents a regressive cultural phenomenon, objectively inferior to polytheism by any measure (including ethically and intellectually).<br /><br />If I were ever forced to specify what king of Pagan I am in just one word I would probably have to say "Pythagorean". Personally I don't support any kind of blood sacrifice, let alone human sacrifice. But as an admirer of Julian I can hardly insist on absolutely disassociating myself from Pagans who engage in animal sacrifice.Apuleius Platonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761230673724504084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817911217098974229.post-39540710702079773172009-12-11T04:41:25.929-05:002009-12-11T04:41:25.929-05:00I think it would be helpful if you could speak to ...I think it would be helpful if you could speak to reform within paganism itself, because the sleight-of-hand monotheism always attempts is to portray itself as a reform of backwards practices like human sacrifice, injustice, etc., while we know that Rome was famous for outlawing human sacrifice, that Zoroaster reformed Iranian paganism without expunging it of paganism, that there were plenty of deities who stood for social justice, the plight of the orphan, charity, etc. Plato represents one of the most ethical of pagan philosophers, etc. This seems worthy of a post.SiegfriedGoodfellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01696170388891436569noreply@blogger.com