British Druid Order

Found an interesting article on this topic at:
http://koenraadelst.bharatvani.org/articles/hinduism/neopaganism.html
Thought-provoking stuff.
GW /|\

Thanks for that G. Illuminating article, and quite heartening. I found myself stuck at the lights behind a car that had one of those elongated stickers in the back window. Two pentagrams, and in-between were the words, ‘people are going back to the old ways’.
I believe that the rejection of what can easily be described as the tyranny of monotheism, is a natural consequence of mass education, and the technologically enhanced communication capacity we now enjoy. There is a long way to go however. The right to believe as we choose, may be enshrined in charters and constitutions, but for many these documents aren’t worth the paper. I fully understand the author’s misgivings about sky clad rituals, and the expressions of sexual freedoms that many neo pagans seem to be advocates of. In societies where the family is all that the sick, elderly and impoverished, are entirely dependent on in times of need; the family is unsurprisingly sacrosanct, and threats to family values are viewed with great suspicion. However ‘enlightened’ a stance we may take on these matters, they don’t look that rosy to people whose very lives are dependent of family support.
The resurgence of Paganry, will be contingent on the economic, social, and political forces that hold sway, at any given point in time. Given the chaotic swirls these winds are manifesting, there are plenty of opportunities for error, in terms of presentation and emphasis. I don’t think we can afford to be overly careful, however. There have to be limits on contaminating our positions with compromise. We went down those roads with Patrick, and Columbia, etc’ and look where that got us.
We are never wholly going to escape the guilt by association that some will level at us. Almost everyone I tell I am into Druidry, raises the issue of human sacrifice and such rot. Hollywood and the gutter press, aren’t interested in aspects of Paganry, that are freedom enhancing, caring and progressive, when even the idea of bloodthirsty devil worship, and the increasingly popular nonsense of vampirism can be exploited. All faith movements suffer from these things, as there are people who regard all Muslims as crypto terrorists, and all Christians, as potential witch burning, head cases. Unfortunately for the main bodies of both faiths; as with us, there are those who subscribe to the beliefs, whose very public actions, reinforce such notions. It’s all too easy to put on an imposing costume and generate fear, which I am tempted to suspect, is often what some intend. Generating love, peace, freedom and good will, is much more of an uphill job. Often hard enough within ourselves.
Keep the faith.
Joy and Blessings

Too right, Coryllus,
Been pushing those particular boulders up the hill of human indifference for more years than I sometimes care to recall. Even in my current state of cynical old age though, I still think that uphill job is one of the few things that makes life genuinely worth living. Along with books, art, music, sex and spirituality, not necessarily in that order ... and chocolate ... a good curry ... chilled cider ... Family Guy ... I'll stop now ...
Blessings,
GW /|\