Sir Darius the Clairvoyent

25 minutes ago, Thrice Daily said:

What are your thoughts on the Catholic Church @NaturaNaturans

Allow me to qoute Nietzche:

    “All that once was evil is now good; all that once was good is now evil. They seek to transvalue all values – they are the ones who break the tables of old values, the breakers, the lawbreakers; they are the creators.”: 

6 minutes ago, Thrice Daily said:

The catholic church very nearly wasn't here. 

 

One of the main reasons I decided to go "all in" in favour, was because of this battle.

 

In 1571 the Ottoman Empire was threatening Europe. The Ottoman fleet was waiting in the Gulf of Patras, ready to attack Rome and other Christian territories and the Christians were seriously outnumbered. Pope Pius V asked everyone to pray the Rosary for victory, believing that prayer could help. During the battle near Greece, the Holy League's smaller fleet managed to defeat the larger Ottoman navy, which was a huge surprise, It's interesting to think about how history could have gone differently if the Ottomans had won. Would it have been better or worse for Europe?

 

The way I see it, if the powers that be, whatever governing force that flows through existence, be in divine Love or the Forever Changing Tao wanted the Church gone it would have been wiped out in this battle. 

 

For me there is a reason it wasn't and that reason is enduring, its the reason I decided not to look into becoming Orthodox, because for better or worse, the Catholic church was "Built on Jesus" through Peter as the first Pope, (I personally believe that no matter what the group even an Autocracy, someone needs to have the final say, someone has to make decisions, and the rules can change over the years, it can be alive as such)

 

It could have been wiped out in the 1500's in which case I don't think I would have got so far in my process to become Christian, the outcome of the battle helped me early on begin to dig a little deeper and find out a little more... Faith I suppose.

Following Your logic, was it Gods will that made the lutherans victorious in the 30 years war?

Just now, Cobie said:

Inside yourself. 

Thats beautifull 

@Cobie

I do not understand much of eastern thought. Where should I begin?

15 minutes ago, ChiDragon said:

Somebody don't even bother to do some fact checks before defying it. How can one deny the facts without any knowledge of it and assumed it was an opinion. For example, isn't cell respiration a modern truth.

I dont follow brother

4 minutes ago, Thrice Daily said:

Yeah, this is no mystery to me. Order and Chaos tend to follow one another all the way through history. Here is another perspective on scenarios back then.

 

The tribes that existed before Christianity were most often warring, engaging in raids and internal quarrels. I'm willing to bet the past was as atrocious if not more atrocious to be a part of one of these tribes.  

 

Now I'm looking into the past before Christianity I'm finding a lot of violence, warring, blood feuds, i'm still about 50/50 whether it was over all good or bad?? Bit it did happen and there is no denying that. 

 

Here are some of the realities that were altered as a result, in real terms... Please don't reply back with more tales of bloodshed, all the tribes were up to that way before Christendom and as I've said in previous posts there are psychopaths and sociopaths in every walk of life.  

 

The blood thirstyness of the Romans for Gladiator games, taking the kids to see that no doubt did on going damage to generations seeing all that blood at an early age... Gladly we moved away from this passtime.. Can you guess why?

 

Here are some of the realities and how they were altered...

 

1. Western Europe

• Introduction of literacy and education: The spread of Christianity brought written language, literacy, and education to many previously illiterate tribes. Monasteries, churches, and cathedral schools became centers of learning, preserving classical knowledge, and teaching new skills. The development of Latin as a scholarly language unified various tribes under a common intellectual framework.
• Social welfare: Christian institutions promoted charity and care for the poor, sick, and needy. Monasteries often operated hospitals, orphanages, and shelters, contributing to the rise of organized social welfare systems.
• Legal systems: The influence of Christian ethics helped shape early European legal codes. The moral principles of justice, mercy, and the sanctity of life helped reform some tribal practices like vendettas or honor killings.
• Unification: Christianity provided a unifying force in fractured tribal societies. Leaders like Charlemagne in France and King Alfred in England used Christianity to bring together warring tribes and create more cohesive and centralized states.

2. Scandinavia

• End of human sacrifice and violent customs: The Christianization of the Vikings (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) led to the gradual abandonment of human sacrifices and other violent religious practices. Christian teachings on the value of human life helped reduce some of the more brutal aspects of Viking culture.
• Legal and moral frameworks: Christianity introduced more structured and ethical legal systems, reducing blood feuds and introducing concepts of justice and forgiveness into law. For example, the Icelandic Althing (parliament) embraced Christianity in the year 1000, ending internal conflict between pagan and Christian factions.
• Cultural development: Alongside the new faith came new forms of art, literature, and architecture, such as the building of cathedrals and churches, and the creation of Christian manuscripts like the Book of Kells.

3. Ireland

• Golden Age of Monasticism: Ireland became known for its monastic culture, which played a key role in preserving classical knowledge during the so-called Dark Ages. Irish monks like St. Patrick and Columba spread Christianity across the island and into Scotland, while Irish monasteries became centers of learning and artistic production (e.g., illuminated manuscripts).
• Social structure: Christianity helped reduce some of the harsh tribal customs, such as clan-based warfare and practices related to slavery. Over time, it influenced a more unified legal system, especially through the Brehon Laws, which began to incorporate Christian ethics.
• Education and scholarship: Irish monasteries also became renowned for their scholarship and played a key role in the transmission of knowledge across Europe.

4. Eastern Europe

• Cultural development: In areas like Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, the introduction of Eastern Orthodox Christianity through figures like Cyril and Methodius brought the Cyrillic alphabet, leading to increased literacy and the development of national literature. The Christianization of Kievan Rus under Vladimir the Great in 988 AD marked the beginning of a unified religious and cultural identity.
• Centralized governance: Christianity often worked hand in hand with the centralization of power. For example, in Bulgaria and Serbia, it supported the rise of powerful Christian kingdoms that integrated Christian teachings into governance and law.
• Arts and architecture: Christianity led to the development of stunning Byzantine-style architecture, especially in the form of domed churches and religious art like iconography. This religious and cultural transformation left a lasting imprint on Slavic societies.

5. France

• Clovis and the Franks: The conversion of Clovis, King of the Franks, to Christianity in 496 AD helped unify the Frankish tribes under one Christian rule, providing a foundation for the future Carolingian Empire. The spread of Christianity helped pacify tribal warfare and contributed to the creation of stable kingdoms in Gaul.
• Support of the arts: Under Christian rule, the arts flourished. Monasteries became hubs of artistic creation, particularly in the form of illuminated manuscripts, religious music, and Gothic architecture.
• Moral and legal reforms: Christian influence moderated tribal customs, with a focus on Christian virtues such as charity, forgiveness, and the sanctity of marriage. The Church helped introduce reforms against polygamy and infanticide, which were common in some tribes.

6. Germanic Tribes

• Unification and centralization: The Christianization of the Germanic tribes helped unify them under larger political entities. For example, the Saxons were united under Charlemagne following their conversion, which led to the creation of the Holy Roman Empire. Christianity helped reduce internal tribal conflict by promoting a shared faith.
• Moral reformation: Christianity replaced some of the more violent aspects of Germanic tribal law, like blood feuds and revenge killings, with Christian concepts of justice, peace, and mercy.
• Scholarly and cultural growth: Germanic tribes that converted, such as the Franks and the Saxons, saw growth in literacy and education. The monastic system brought schools, libraries, and a more systematic recording of laws, customs, and history.

7. Celtic Tribes

• Preservation of culture and learning: While Christianity brought new ideas, it also helped preserve much of the Celtic cultural heritage. Celtic Christianity, which developed in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, maintained some aspects of traditional Celtic art, poetry, and culture while integrating Christian ideas.
• End of certain violent customs: Some of the tribal warfare and warrior-based culture that dominated Celtic society were softened by Christian teachings of peace, forgiveness, and community.
• Monastic contributions: Celtic monasticism played a critical role in the preservation of learning during the early medieval period, with monks creating manuscripts and spreading Christian influence across both Ireland and Britain.

8. Spain and Portugal

• Reunification: Christianity was central to the Reconquista, the process of driving out the Moors and reclaiming Iberia for Christian rule. This was a key factor in the eventual unification of Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella.
• Cultural synthesis: The Christian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal benefited from interactions with Islamic and Jewish cultures, which led to advancements in art, science, and literature. Christianized Iberia became a center of Renaissance learning.
• Education and exploration: Christian missionaries from Spain and Portugal were among the first to venture into the New World, setting the stage for global exploration and the spread of Christianity worldwide.

Thankyou for reading this part of our shared Christian history, I hope it further colours your perspective of what went down...

 

additionally re it being about 50/50 violent/non violent,,, 

1. Western Europe (Franks, Gauls, etc.)

• Mostly peaceful, though some military influence was present, particularly with leaders like Charlemagne, who used force to convert the Saxons in modern-day Germany. Overall, Christianity spread largely through alliances and royal conversions.

2. Scandinavia (Vikings: Norway, Sweden, Denmark)

• Mostly violent. The Viking kingdoms often resisted Christianity, and force was used to convert them, particularly by Christian kings like Olaf Tryggvason and Harald Bluetooth. Pagan temples were destroyed, and Christian monarchs imposed the new faith.

3. Ireland

• Mostly peaceful. The spread of Christianity in Ireland is one of the few examples of relatively peaceful conversion. St. Patrick and later missionaries worked through preaching and establishing monasteries, and Irish kings gradually accepted the new faith.

4. Eastern Europe (Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, etc.)

• Mostly peaceful, though some coercion occurred. Conversion of Kievan Rus under Vladimir the Great involved a top-down approach, with royal decree rather than mass violence. In some cases, however, resistance led to conflict.

5. France (Franks, Gauls)

• Mostly peaceful, though political motives played a role. Clovis I's conversion was pivotal, and he used his Christian faith to unify the Franks. Charlemagne’s campaigns against the Saxons, however, were more violent in nature.

6. Germanic Tribes (Saxons, Lombards, Goths, etc.)

• Mostly violent. Tribes like the Saxons resisted Christianity, and conversions were often forced through campaigns by Charlemagne and others. Resistance to Christianization led to wars and mass executions, such as the Massacre of Verden.

7. Celtic Tribes (Scotland, Wales, Ireland)

• Mostly peaceful. Celtic Christianity spread through missionary work, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, where monasteries played a large role. There was less violent resistance compared to other regions.

8. Spain and Portugal

• Mostly peaceful, though later tied to violence during the Reconquista. Early conversions were more peaceful, driven by kings and monks. However, the Reconquista involved both religious and political conflict between Christians and Muslims.

It seems the more violent conversions were with the tribes that typically historically were already the most warlike and er violent... So it makes sense really doesn't it that there was more fighting, just directed at in coming forces rather than neighbouring lands they were trying to take a piece of land or in-fighting within the same tribe itself or factions of it, but less afterwards as stated above, would like to hear your thoughts... 

 very normal stuff by the looks of it for these guys, until later...

Well, instead of focusing on the most violent pre Christian polities, why not focus on the most violent european institution by a long shot? Namley the chatolic church.

3 hours ago, Miffymog said:

I like @ChiDragon!

I dont know him (or her, dk) after reading this thread. Not that I know anything about him, but he seems genuine and true to himself, with a sense of humour.

@Thrice Daily you mentioned somewhere that christianity created the west… others might say it destroyed Europe.

"And so she opens her book with a potent description of black-robed zealots from 16 centuries ago taking iron bars to the beautiful statue of Athena in the sanctuary of Palmyra, located in modern-day Syria. Intellectuals in Antioch (in ancient Syria) were tortured and beheaded, as were the statues around them. The contemporary parallels glare. The early medieval author known as Pseudo-Jerome wrote of Christian extremists: "Because they love the name martyr and because they desire human praise more than divine charity, they kill themselves." He would have found shocking familiarity in the news of the 21st century.
Nixey closes her book with the description of another Athena, in the city of her name, being decapitated around A.D. 529, her defiled body used as a steppingstone into what was once a world-renowned school of philosophy. Athena was the deity of wisdom. The words "wisdom" and "historian" have a common ancestor, a proto-Indo-European word meaning to see things clearly. Nixey delivers this ballista-bolt of a book with her eyes wide open and in an attempt to bring light as well as heat to the sad story of intellectual monoculture and religious intolerance. Her sympathy, corruscatingly, compellingly, is with the Roman orator Symmachus: "We see the same stars, the sky is shared by all, the same world surrounds us. What does it matter what wisdom a person uses to seek for the truth?"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/books/review/catherine-nixey-darkening-age.html

6 minutes ago, Cobie said:

 

 

It was created by the Zhou to justify their takeover from the Shang. 

 

I read a tiny bit on Confucious yesterday. Is this accurate, and do chinese tend to subscribe to it?

5. The Family and the State

Early Zhou political philosophy as represented in the Classic of Odes and the Classic of Documentscentered on moral justification for political authority based on the doctrine of the "Mandate of Heaven" (tianming 天命). This view was that the sage's virtue (de) attracted the attention of the anthropomorphized cosmic power usually translated as "Heaven" (tian天), which supported the sage's rise to political authority. These canonical texts argued that political success or failure is a function of moral quality, evidenced by actions such as proper ritual performance, on the part of the ruler. Confucius drew on these classics and adapted the classical view of moral authority in important ways, connecting it to a normative picture of society. Positing a parallel between the nature of reciprocal responsibilities of individuals in different roles in two domains of social organization, in the Analects Confucius linked filial piety in the family to loyalty in the political realm:
 

It is rare for a person who is filially pious to his parents and older siblings to be inclined to rebel against his superiors… Filial piety to parents and elder siblings may be considered the root of a person. (1.2)

This section examines Confucius's social and political philosophy, beginning with the central role of his analysis of the traditional norm of filial piety.

Confucius (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

1 minute ago, Thrice Daily said:

When you think of all the horror movies made about it it’s quite dreadful what we have been palmed off with as true history. 

I agree. 100% 

It is terrifying to think of the goblins Out there deciding what events are okay and not okay for children to learn about. Hence why I reccomended Ellingsvåg to @blue eyed snake

Can anyone explain the mandate of heaven to me?

30 minutes ago, blue eyed snake said:

I like that

 

one of the reasons of my deep distrust of christians is the way they have razed our native religion to the ground, our holy oaks were chopped down ( and then our warrior have chopped of their heads), our holy places were desecrated, our holy days were ' transformed' to their feasts to lure the simple folks to their churches.

 

Everything from the olden time is gone.

 

later they have hunted down our wise women under the name of witch-hunt under the guidance of the witch-hammer

 

deep mistrust and anger bubbles up when I hear those mealy mouthed persons blabbing about their constructed infertile god.

 

 

Freya

Close your eyes, take a mushroom, weed or beer If youd like. And boom, it is still there.

There is zero controversial. The correct answer is warn shower.

20 minutes ago, blue eyed snake said:

I like that

 

one of the reasons of my deep distrust of christians is the way they have razed our native religion to the ground, our holy oaks were chopped down ( and then our warrior have chopped of their heads), our holy places were desecrated, our holy days were ' transformed' to their feasts to lure the simple folks to their churches.

 

Everything from the olden time is gone.

 

later they have hunted down our wise women under the name of witch-hunt under the guidance of the witch-hammer

 

deep mistrust and anger bubbles up when I hear those mealy mouthed persons blabbing about their constructed infertile god.

 

 

Freya

Yes… but no. He is the ancestor of our people. Nothing can change that. Yes, much is lost, but the fire burns forever. 
 

corny maybe, but it is from the heart. You to scandinavian? I genuinley belive we have a lot more legacy from the pagan days. Check out Sturla Ellingsvåg, please.

18 hours ago, Nungali said:

Its a big club and you ARE in it !    At the base level of the pyramid .

 

If you ain't in it ... you are against it  ; 

 

Light .... Life ..... Love ...... Liberty !

 

Use it or loose it !

 

" LET IT BE KNOWN that there exists, unknown to the great crowd, a very ancient Order of sages, whose object is the amelioration and spiritual evolution of mankind by means of conquering error and aiding men and women in their efforts of attaining the power of recognising the truth. This Order has existed already in the most remote times and it has manifested its activity secretly and openly in the world under different names and in various forms: it has caused social and political revolutions and proved to be the rock of salvation in times of danger and misfortune. It has always upheld the banner of freedom against tyranny in whatever shape this appeared, whether as clerical or political or social despotism or oppression of any kind.

 

"To this “secret order” every wise and spiritually enlightened person belongs by right of his or her nature: because they all, even if they are personally unknown to each other, are one in their purpose and object and they all work under the guidance of the one light of truth. Into this Sacred Society no one can be admitted by another unless he has the power to enter it himself by virtue of his own interior illumination, neither can anyone after he has once entered be expelled unless he should expel himself by becoming unfaithful to his principles and forget again the truths which he has learned by his own experience. "

Could you tell me a little about the pyramid, my friend? Not a lot, just a tiny bit. Is it purley a state of mind, or is it tangible as well?

18 hours ago, Nungali said:

Thoth, Hermes, Mercury, Odin

Under edit.

Odin is the only deity that truly ressonates with me. An enigma. A man known under 170 names. His "real" name meaning shamanic fury or something along those lines. God of war, god of kingship, god of magic, god of poetry, god of the hanged. King of the gods, first king of my people. Leader of the wild hunt and the beserkers. Responsible for shaping the universe. Breathing life into Ash and Elm. On a constant search for wisdom, willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary in the process. I like to believe that he did it, ultimately, for the good of his people.

I know this sounds weird, and that this rant is sort of out of place.

However, I found it intriguing that you mentioned him in relation to Hermes, Mercury and Toth. Hermes and Mercury are the closest links I have found, although I have struggled finding a true paralelle.  Toth I know nothing about.

Tell me please, does he play any role in your tradition?

I have posted this a few times before, forgive me. But Nungali, do you see the same thing I see in the text, an initiation ritual? 

From the song of the high one:

I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows from where its roots run.

No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn,
downwards I peered;
I took up the runes,
screaming I took them,
then I fell back from there.^[10]

^{And after that, he learns the secrets. As it says in my signature:} 

^{From a word to a word I was led to a word,
From a work to a work I was led to a work.}

^Havamal

^{Sorry folks for derailing the thread.} 

1 hour ago, ChiDragon said:

Thank you for your advice. No body is wrong here. They are just have different knowledge about things here. Those who are always against me are acting the same way here. It seems to me that the majority here are acting pretty fairly. That is what I have expected. It is human nature.  I am not upset with anyone here. They have all the rights the reject my ideas. Please don't forget we have an ignore option here for people to choose.

I have nothing against you, just some jokes my friend

@silent thunderhow dear you 😡😡

@ChiDragon
we have teased you enough by now. Now it is time for some genuine advice. If you feel people are downvoting you unfairly, you should try telling them that it is toxic and that they are wrong. I think that is the best solution

One thing that makes me sick to the stomach, is policing of language. I mean, it is literally Orwellian.

'Fact-checking bothers me a little bit. I want uncensored debate and have trust that people are capable of making up their own mind.

From an article on fact checking I read today:
 

Quote

 

"Recently, VG, NRK, the Norwegian Journalist Association, Faktisk.no, the Redaktørforeningen and the Media Companies National Association launched a proposal for a new center for source criticism.

The center will "fight disinformation and strengthen people's resilience against fake news" and estimates an operating budget of NOK 70-100 million."

 

 Allright... but the thing is, the organizations mentioned here, that push for this, are literally 95% of Norwegian media. Who are they going to fact check? Themself? Each other? I kind of took it for granted that they already did, but...

Quote

 

"Besides, Satter believes, no one is capable of fact-checking fast enough to keep up with their lies and misrepresentations. The lies are designed to appeal to people who are non-factual, on an emotional level.

That is why they need good information, he believes. And if we are not able to give them good information, then you cannot be surprised if the Russians succeed in their propaganda."

 

A much more sensible approach I think.

Quote

 

"With too great ambitions, fact-checkers are also in danger of smoking more than it grows. It is an impossible task, and one almost certainly gets bogged down in endless whining that one is out to silence dissenting voices.

Such so-called "meta-debates" can quickly go in the "knee-jerk" favour, because many people out there react on autopilot, against "censorship" and better-informed people. Not because it is like that, but because it is experienced and, not least, feels like that.

Some will probably think that the center will become a kind of ministry of truth, with the implication that freedom of expression is once again under attack.

Don't bite it.

It is not, and has never been, an attack on freedom of expression to be critical and make quality requirements for verifiability."

 

What? Nobody is skeptical of verifiability. We love it. We are skeptical of you asking us to believe you on blind faith. A center that controls what information that reaches the people has never been an attack on freedom of expression???

Quote

"Of course, we should not fall into the Swedish trap either, where all debate about immigration was chased out of the "opinion corridor". It is, to put it somewhat banally, about behaving maturely and responsibly."

Very reasonable. Only worry I have, is if "behaving maturely" is code for "behave as I want you to." If not, I am good.

This caricature is from the article:

One term I remember the media introduced when Russia invaded Ukraine, was "angrepskrig." Translates to attacking war. I mean... what else is a war? "peace keeping operation?"

10 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

" The meek shall inherit the earth "

 

(after they are dead   ) 

Haha yess, and blessed are tho who giveth to the temple. The gods will reward thy manifold. 

Good day to you!

This website is noticebly slower to load than any other I use. When ever I click on something, it takes approx 10 sec. On other websites, it happens instantly. Any idea what might be behind this?

Thanks.

Feedback appreciated. So many interresting possibilites to explore. The mysteries, the nature of the gods, relationship with nature, values, after life... 

Hope it is of interest for some of you as well!

1. One of humanities largest, oldest, and most influential traditions

2000 years ago, a set of closely related spiritual traditions existed in the northern plains of India, the Persian empire, central Asia, and practically all of Europe. It was the native faith of the Roman Empire and the Greeks, and when they encountered their neighbors to the north, they realized that they were worshipping the very same gods.

This is what Tacitus had to say about the gods of the germanic people: Of all the Gods, Mercury is he whom they worship most. To him on certain stated days it is lawful to offer even human victims. Hercules and Mars they appease with beasts usually allowed for sacrifice. Some of the Suevians make likewise immolations to Isis.

A likely interpretation is that Mercury refers to Odin, Hercules to Thor, and Mars to Tyr.

Pliney the Elder (historia naturalis, ca. 66 ad) made another fascinating connection. He connected the word druid to the Greek word dru, meaning oak. The Celtic cognate would've been draur. Both these would again been derived from the proto indo european word deru - the root word for both the English words tree and true. Originally it seems to have meant firm, solid and steadfast, but also tree or wood (3). In all likelihood, Pliney the Elder was correct. While dru meant oak, the second half of the word, id, might come from vid, essentially meaning deep knowledge. Druid can therefore be interpreted as "those with deep knowledge of the oak." Oak likewise has importance in norse, greek and slavic mythology. There is so much that could be said about the indo europeans relationship to the oak, to evergreen plants and trees, and I might come back to this, but for now, the point was to illustrate a common tradition in Europe that the Europeans themself recognized and wrote about.

The question of the origin of these beliefs is naturally a hard nut to crack. There are truly loads of striking similarities. Although I believe most of these stems from a common root, there have certainly been instances of borrowing as well. Another issue is dating these beliefs. A little silly undertaking in my opinion, as these are organically developed folk beliefs: a totally different beast than the religions of the book. In my opinion, you can not date ideas: they do not appear in a vacuum, but build upon older ones. I belive the safest and most accurate way to date these is to look at where and when this spectrum of closely related people once roamed. This would've been the proto-indo-europeans (by definition). The question is not fully settled, but we can say with a fair amount of confidence that they lived on the Pontic-Caspian steppe around 6,400–3,500 BC +-.

Extraordinary successful as they were, half the world now speaks an indo european language as their mother tongue, making it the largest language family by a long shot.

So what can we say about the beliefs of these people? Very much as well as very little. There are several things to consider here. One of them being their oral nature. Indo european poetry has certain characteristics, such as (1) Use of Fixed Phrases and Epithets, (2) Metaphorical and Symbolic Language, (3) Hero Cult and Concepts of Honor, (4) Oral Transmission and Collective Memory, (5) Distinct Poetic Forms and Rhythms. When you find poetry/epics/myths containing many or all these techniques and structure, you have found something truly indo-european. Being the largest culture on the planet by a long shot, both in terms of geography but also number of people, there are naturally countless examples of these. To mention some of them, we have the Iliad and odyssey, the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Eddas.

2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me

While the chosen people supposedly were walking the desert in search of the promised land, they grew anxious that Moses would not return. To pass the time and calm their nerves, they constructed a golden calf and made sacrifices to it. But as we all know, Moses did return. He returned with the law of the self-proclaimed angry and jealous god. The first three commandments goes like this:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

The phillistines were in all likelihood a Greek people who settled in the holy land. The Israelites called their god, possibly Zeus, Ba'al-Zebub (this form is used in 2 Kings 1:2). It translates to "lord of the flies," likely referring to flies flying around the filthy people not chosen by LORD Yahwe. In the new testament, it is written as Beelzeboul, literally "lord of shit." Beelzebub is also used to refer to the devil. David desired to marry the kings daughter. The brideprice was set at 200 pieces of philistine foreskin. David murdered a couple of hundred philistines, mutilated them and gave their foreskin to the king in exchange for his daughter (1 Samuel 18:27).

Why am I telling you this? It is important to be very clear here. I am doing it for the following reasons:

1. To demonstrate judaisms and Christianities hatred and intolerance for anyone of a different faith.

2. To show how so many deities have been demonized.

3. The militant nature of the faith

The Devil' is, historically, the God of any people that one personally dislikes…
Aleister Crowley

3. The twilight of the gods

The old tree sighs
when the giant shakes it—
Yggdrasil still stands,
but it trembles.

Fenrir howls terribly
before the doors to Hel;
the wolf will break its bonds
and run.

I know much wisdom,
I see deep in the future,
all the way to Ragnarok,
a dark day for the gods.

Excerpt from Völuspá, translated by Dr. Jackson Crawford

With the help of legislation outlawing the native faith of a people, persecution, mass execution, burning of literature, destruction of temples, pressure, the burning of "witches" and centuries of indoctrination, the Abrahamic religions did everything in their power to utterly destroy any native wisdom tradition of not only Europe, but everywhere they went.

"And so she opens her book with a potent description of black-robed zealots from 16 centuries ago taking iron bars to the beautiful statue of Athena in the sanctuary of Palmyra, located in modern-day Syria. Intellectuals in Antioch (in ancient Syria) were tortured and beheaded, as were the statues around them. The contemporary parallels glare. The early medieval author known as Pseudo-Jerome wrote of Christian extremists: "Because they love the name martyr and because they desire human praise more than divine charity, they kill themselves." He would have found shocking familiarity in the news of the 21st century.
Nixey closes her book with the description of another Athena, in the city of her name, being decapitated around A.D. 529, her defiled body used as a steppingstone into what was once a world-renowned school of philosophy. Athena was the deity of wisdom. The words "wisdom" and "historian" have a common ancestor, a proto-Indo-European word meaning to see things clearly. Nixey delivers this ballista-bolt of a book with her eyes wide open and in an attempt to bring light as well as heat to the sad story of intellectual monoculture and religious intolerance. Her sympathy, corruscatingly, compellingly, is with the Roman orator Symmachus: "We see the same stars, the sky is shared by all, the same world surrounds us. What does it matter what wisdom a person uses to seek for the truth?"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/books/review/catherine-nixey-darkening-age.html

To demonstrate with a concrete example:
St. Lucia is celebrated at 13th desember in Italy, and in… Scandinavia, and nowhere in between. Lucia comes from latin lux, meaning light. The scandinavian word for light is lys or variations of it. In the Julian calendar, the 13th december was belived to be the darkest night of the year. Legends of women going around checking If people have prepared for christmas, and either showering them with gifts or punishing them If they fail to do so, are found all across Europe (frau holda, lussi, baba yaga). Notice the similarity between Lussi and Lucia by the way. She takes one of two forms: either demonic, ugly, devil-like, child eating witch, or a friendly women dressed in white carrying a light.

(Lussi, demonized version)

Saint Lucias day in a scandinavian elementary school, clearly illustrating the evil nature of the pagan ritual involving children celebrating the return of the sun.

Ending words
I am not sure whether I should write a disclaimer or not. I do not want appear apologetic for talking about the native traditions of Europe, and the fanatics who tried to erradicate them in the most gruesome way imaginable. On the other hand, I do not want to attack jews, christians and muslims. I have no problem with you whatsoever. So now, what do I want to communicate?
…

I want to communicate that the image we have of the European, pagan tradition is as twisted as can be. I want to show how the most innocent of practices got persecuted by the people who viewed themself as righteous. I want to keep the fire alive. In upcoming essays, I will focus solely on the beliefs, practices, legacy, and wisdom of the Indo Europeans themself.

To be continued!

2 hours ago, Dedicated said:

 

An other way to look at your musing is, we all need to eat to avoid suffering hunger, so why not turn this necessity into a shared joy.

Beautifull.