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 Deity And Respect For Culture, Is there such a thing as "cultural theft"?
Khenti_Amenti
post Oct 22 2007, 03:43 AM
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In more serious Pagan circles the discusion is often in the lines with "Man can not manipulate Gods and thinking so is hubris. Taking Divine names out of cultural context (ie Zeus out of Greek Religion) is Cultural theft and disrespectful". All this ofcaurse with total disregard for differing paradigms and Ontologies.

It is seen as "using" Divine names in Magickal work is a disrespect towards the Deities in question (as opose to general belief most Pagan Religions do not deal in Magick).
I will not go in to paradigms here since what cnstitutes a God differs even within Religions (proper) but it should be clear, i think, that a Golden Dawn member vibrating "Zeus" has another world view than a Hellenist worshipping Zeus.

1. What is your view?
Whether or not you have a paradigm that allows for Divine names from different Cultures, do you feel it could somehow be seen as disrespectful towards that Culture or followers of a Reconstructive Religion conected to it?

2. When you invoke a Divine name in Ritual, have you studied that God and how he / she was actually percieved in ancient times in an academic manner (not even Victorian Orders such as GD and O.T.O. has their understanding of ancient Gods, Cults and Culture right acording to more modern academic studies)?

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SeekerVI
post Oct 22 2007, 07:02 PM
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Intellectual property is a major issue in this Information Age, so there's no reason to think religious property would just be limited to altars and statues. Though I doubt any legal ruling would stop Christians from worshiping "God" if Judaism was found to be original owner of the monotheistic concept.
Then again, if there are actual entities present, it'd be easy enough to ask them about any problems you might have with their origins personally. It might even be the best route, they're likely to know everything about themselves, like most people in the world. Then again, it might be better to ask a related entity, because most the people I know think they're much better a things than they really are.
If they're just cultural concepts, I say don't use 'em around anyone who might be offended. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bigwink.gif)


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"A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
- Saul Bellow

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