reposting FYI:
On 22 March 2010 20:40, Jake Stratton-Kent
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> On 22 March 2010 17:03, Jez <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> On 22 Mar 2010, at 09:18, Caroline Tully wrote:
>>
>>> Maybe Hinduism would be better described as 'polytheistic' rather than
>>> 'pagan'?
>>>
>>> ~Caroline.
>>
>>
>> Agreed. And so would heathenry. That's exactly why I chose that particular
>> analogy.
>>
>> I am a polytheist heathen, and the term 'pagan' is not descriptive of my
>> path.
>>
>
> Thelema Jez and All,
>
> First off, maybe some theoretical discussions on the list happened
> before I got here, so forgive me if this is a dumbass question or has
> been done to death already.
>
> Now for the question.
>
> Are you distinguishing pagan from polytheist because of some classical
> doctrine of the One, that exists in paganism so defined but not in
> polytheism, and traditions that might require a separate term for that
> reason.
>
> Even if that isn't what you mean it strikes me as an interesting
> distinction and one worth discussion. Such a doctrine is found in both
> pagan and Christian Neoplatonism - even though the former was the most
> stalwart opponent of Christianity. I'd have to ask other participants
> on the list to clarify whether there is a corresponding doctrine in
> one Indian philosophy or other, as I suspect there is.
>
> It would be a unifying factor potentially between Abrahamic and some
> other traditions, but how inclusive is it? Is it implicit in - say -
> animism? Rejection of the concept is significant, and there may be
> modern philosophical implications.
>
> My purely selfish reason for asking, on the other hand, is this might
> help me finally figure out whether I am or am not a 'Hermetic'
> occultist. If not, then I might have to consider calling myself a
> heathen. ;)
>
> ALWays
>
> Jake
|