Now with the last blog , it seems that I have some strong issues with being part of a church. And I guess you can say that I do have issues with churches. A church goes against everything that I believe in. I understand the limited positive applications of having a church, but only as a building. So why is there such an issue?
The Celts didn't believe in building churches or temples, they preferred to honor the gods and nature by actually being a part of nature. The Celts formed Nematons and held all religious events there. A nematon is a circular clearing in a forest , usually a forest full of Oak trees. Often a spring or stream is located nearby to represent the connection to the three realms. Being that I follow a Celtic path , I would be following the ways of early Celts. A building is removing oneself from nature, cement is made of natural materials, but how can you feel the earth with 8 inches of cement separating you from it.
But the reality is that during the coldest winter days, it might be dangerous to venture out to the nematon. So staying inside is best for the well being of all the people . Here is where I see a church as useful. But then couldn't some other large building work just as well. You can turn any space into a sacred space, why do you have to have a specific reserved building just for that? I feel that I could use the front room of my house or the garage for a sacred space. I don't need a specific building to perform rituals in.
This is also about building a community, a church is a fixed point. What if a member can't make it to the ritual? You take the ritual to the person, for that you need flexibility. With the open Circle that I am working on , I am trying to find several locations for the group to meet at. This way, someone is not always the one that has to drive the furthest.
I do not like the history of religious leadership in general. Corruption and bickering seem to go hand in hand when there is any highly structured religious leadership. There needs to be some form of basic leadership with any large group of people, but when ranks and titles get involved, it just makes me sick. I would love to establish a pagan group that discussed everything up front and resolved everything in a democratic manner. The concept of one person in control of a group is something that I would avoid at all costs.
The final issue that I have with churches is the label issue. I have seen so many people complain about labeling people. And some of these people become members of churches, and adopt a label. I do use labels myself , I have no issues with labels myself. I am a pagan and specifically a druid. Some people get caught up in titles and labels, and it goes to their head. I will never give myself the title "Archdruid of the sacred order of the Oak.", If I ever do, I hope everyone would run me out of town and remove me from any and all pagan groups. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The concept of a church or temple as a building for religious purpose only is not isolated with the Christian churches. I think that there was and is corruption in all church organizations. And this takes away from the belief system. When the community is separate from the church , it works against the community. The community shouldn't need a building to be the focal point of belief. The focus of your beliefs should be always around you, and not in a building. And now I have to quote Dr.Who. I am confrontation with the church, a lady told the doctor that " The Anger of a good man is not a problem, a good man has too many rules." In which the Doctor replied " Good men don't need rules....." Good Pagans don't need a church and the baggage that comes with it. Good pagans don't need any rules and don't need any building.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5JnqPSzSLo
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