There is another line in one of Hutton's books, I think it is "Triumph of
the Moon" and I suppose I could look it up, and it goes something like [to
paraphrase] "If anthropologists and archaeologists bemoan the use of very
outdated material [such as Frazer and Murray for example] by modern Pagans,
they need to realise/admit that modern Paganism is actually a creation *of*
early anthropology." [and maybe archaeolgy, can't remember].
How influential is J.G. Frazer on the construction of modern Wiccan-derived
Paganism? I mean with the dying and rising sun god of the year for example
(and yes I know there are some actual ancient figures that died and rose
again, which reminds me of my interest in the idea that Wicca is
"Aphroditean" and one of Aphrodite's favourites was the dying and rising
_mortal_ Adonis, but I digress... as usual...).
Also, when I say "Wiccan-derived Paganism" I mean modern Paganism that casts
circles and generally behaves like Wicca but without being of Wiccan
initiatory lineage. Remember, some people go around saying "Wiccans are the
priesthood and Pagans are the congregation" which is a little bit of an
outrageous claim, eh, what?
~Caroline.
David said...
>>There is a line I adore on this in Hutton's Pagan Religions of the British
>>Isles. I have the book at work but I think it runs something like "Pagans
>>argue that archaeologists and academic historians can never understand the
>>spiritual beauty of watching the moon rise over an ancient monument. Of
>>course we do why else do you think we want to spend vast amounts of time
>>scrutinizing a site learning everything we can about it and the people who
>>built it."<<
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