Faith ... I know this is tossed around a lot ... however, that term and its origins are Abrahamic. They use it to describe their covenant and later ways to "interact" with their “white christ” and by the Muslims and Jews to describe their actions. It is so ubiquitous in religious discussions because Xtianity has dominated Western culture for so long.
I do not think ancient Heathens had "Faith" they held beliefs, but now we are
getting into niggling praxic based vs. doxic based. Belief is based more in
"proof" (and I'm speaking very simply and broadly here), I believe in Thor
because he has proven himself to me in a variety of ways, thus he has earned my
honour/worship. Faith being a doxic approach means one was told or informed
what, how, and why the Divine does this or that and one adheres to that doxy. This is why it is "blind," one accepts what they are told, not necessarily what they experience. I
do think the many hard recons head in this doxic direction, and this is wrong,
in my mind.I do not think ancient Heathenry took much "on faith," and I do not think we should now. Reciprocity and earning one's place is to obvious in our Lore. They dealt in precedent and "what worked" (praxic leading to orthopraxic) not having faith in some document or authority.
To put this in a clearer example: A village had a nearby large lake, they depended on it for water, food, and such. In a very small period five people drowned because of one mishap or another. Clearly the "Lake jotun" (I’m using “jotun” to mean “very big sentient Vaettir” not a member of the Ice or Fire Giant Tribes) wasn't happy for some reason. So because when they blotted to the God/desses, and to other Vaettir (of the mountain, their own lands etc.) and received good results (precedent) they applied that same belief to the "Lake jotun." They sacrificed one of their best bulls, some important items they had made, etc., said great things in praise of the "Lake jotun." Then they waited for omens from that Lake to say whether it was received. One of which was fewer drownings, and other such obvious if you know to look for them signs, and other such positive things they observed. They received those signs as the Lake's acceptance, thus decided that every year on this or that auspicious date to do the same thing. That is praxic leading to orthopraxic. Ritual leading to positive results that lead to belief not only in the process, but the specific ritual to the "Lake jotun." Essentially, the proof was in the pudding. If it worked they did it again, developing beliefs. If it didn't, they changed tactics until it did.
However, this is *not* how the Xtians (or really the Abrahamics) did things. They were told what to do in some doxic form, the very basis of the covenant. If they didn't adhere to that covenant, Yahweh punished them.
Are people understanding the subtle difference I'm speaking about? Heathenry is not a Faith, it is a Way ... specifically a Folkway. It is a practice. We do not do something because we are told in a book what to do, but what actually works. Which changes depending on the environment and situation. There are people who *do* approach their Heathenry in doxic ways, which Rod designates as "scriptural" but that is because that way is what has dominated the West for so long and is thus "easier."
So, I get squirrelly when Heathens talk about their Faith, because it means they are adhering simply to what they are told. They are not developing beliefs, but merely "having Faith" in what they are told. I do not think Heathenry's various aspects of Divine wants us to be that way.
Am I making sense?
Technorati Tags: Faith,Heathen,Heathens,Belief,Heathenry,Vaettir,omens,Ritual,Yahweh,Folkway,praxic,doxic,orthopraxic
Windows Live Tags: Faith,Heathen,Heathens,Belief,Heathenry,Vaettir,omens,Ritual,Yahweh,Folkway,praxic,doxic,orthopraxic
Blogger Labels: Faith,Heathen,Heathens,Belief,Heathenry,Vaettir,omens,Ritual,Yahweh,Folkway,praxic,doxic,orthopraxic
No comments:
Post a Comment