I have often said (and still believe) that Hellenismos…the Reconstruction of Ancient Greek Religious Practice….should not be a religion of the intellectual elite.
And yet…I look around me, and I see discussion after discussion written and argued by numerous people of obvious intellectual prowess. I sit, I read, I understand….I sit back in frustration because I have nothing to add or contribute. I am a regular schmo, you see…and a Hellenic Reconstructionist.
Do I fit? Where do I fit? Or do I have to go running to the Neos masquerading as Hellenic Polytheists so that I can feel accepted?
I’m going to attempt to answer these questions.
Yes…I fit. I am a Hellenic Polytheist that loves the Gods and wants to worship in a traditional and orthopaxic manner. I wish to follow the worldview of the Ancient Greeks, and the best (and only) way to do that is to follow a Reconstructionist approach. I am a Hellenic Recon. By virtue of that alone…I fit.
The harder question to answer is “where do I fit?”. I’m not an intellectual or a scholar. Being well read is different from that. Because we still have to go back and “prove” to the Neos, posers, and wannabes that the Reconstructionist view is in fact, the correct view in terms of practice, historical accuracy, and worldview…all you see are the intellectuals duking it out. What you don’t see are the regular schmoes going about their business and practicing, acting with piety and virtue, and interjecting when and where they can. We should be past the defining period. Sadly, we are not.
It really makes a regular schmo rather intimidated, beat down, and questioning whether they are a part of the religion. Welcome regular schmoes, come hang with me.
I believe that each of us must work with the talents that we have. I’m not an intellectual, so I don’t really take part in debates where it requires a level of acumen that I simply don’t have. What I can do is talk about correct worship, how to pour a libation, show you that it’s not a difficult thing to do…and tell you that the love of the Gods and a desire to worship traditionally is all that is required. In spite of all the talk of history and philosophers…there is still worship, love of the Gods and a deep spirituality. It’s just not the whole “experience junkie” “personal spirituality” and “personal relationship” crap that you hear spouting from the Neos…er….Hellenic polytheists out on the net.
While that may be appealing, it’s not Hellenic Reconstruction…and so, you know…you’ve got to go where you feel *you* best belong. I just feel that you don’t need to be turned off by all the smart people. They are practicing as well…but using their gifts to communicate in Hellenismos in the best way that they can. I do it in my own way. Perhaps that appeals to others like me that are quiet, simply because they feel that can’t contribute. You can contribute…in your own way, and that is more than enough.
I believe I answered the other question, “Do I have to turn Neo to be accepted” in the paragraph above, as well.
No…you don’t have to change your focus to be accepted. Too many people have sold out what they really believe in order to have a sense of community.
There *is* a community here for the regular people like me. But we can’t know you’re here unless you talk. I’ve been largely quiet myself because of it. Now I’m talking. Don’t be afraid to share, talk, and have a sense of community.
There are more of us than you think.
Anonymous
on Dec 6th, 2008
@ 6:47 am:
I totally agree with your article! Yep, I’m a regular ‘Joe-Shmoe’ too, and I have left many of the yahoo groups for this very reason. There are a lot of great people on those groups, but also a lot of snobby intellectual wannabe’s who use their intellectual prowess to criticize and belittle people so as to stoke their egos. They are more interested in out debating each rather than enhancing and spreading our religion through teaching. For example, I used to lurk on a certain deity specific prayer circle/group, but left because I witnessed the moderator (a very bright, but not wise man) belittling people he didn’t like. Consequently, only a handful of regulars post, even though the group has a substantial membership. It’s too bad, really, because I think he’s doing a disservice to his god in that a lot more people would post if he wasn’t so conceded and bent on his one self development. He was also more interested in discussing philosophy than matters of the heart. A real shame, because Hellenismos encompasses both. Okay, enough with the bitter beans. Thank you for your article, Twinkle. You really should give yourself more credit, because you have just as much brains as you do heart. Keep up the good work!
Twinkle
on Dec 7th, 2008
@ 3:53 pm:
The problem with these sorts of blogs is that people think I am implying that using your brain doesn’t need to happen in Hellenismos. As a result, I get a lot of neos jumping on the anti-intellectual bandwagon and agreeing with me when I post things like this.
I’m not getting this from you, Anonymous, which I appreciate tremendously. You seem to *get* what I’m saying.
For clarifications sake, I’ll just say this:
Rationality and reason are important. I am very interested in the history of ritual and liturgy…and it is vitally important to practice in a traditional context…and the only way to really do that is educate yourself.
In no way am I implying that doing what “feels right” is the key to Hellenismos…it isn’t.
Anonymous
on Dec 7th, 2008
@ 9:28 pm:
You’re right, it certainly wasn’t my intention to imply that one shouldn’t use one’s brains, although (I admit) I did allow my emotions to cloud my writing. (That and a few bruski’s. Hey, it was Sat. night, what do you expect? LOL!) Anyway, any serious practitioner of Hellenismos is well aware of the amount of hard work, studying, orthopraxy, self-analyis and critical thinking involved. The practice of Hellenismos (and the Gods), requires us to expand beyond ourselves. We are tasked to become better human beings.
Twinkle
on Dec 7th, 2008
@ 10:59 pm:
What a pleasure it is to speak with you!!! I truly appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
Koraldo
on Mar 3rd, 2009
@ 3:39 am:
I have always thought you and what you write shows great intellect surpassing the works written by these “intellectuals”. Where it differs from others is the audience. Many of the “intellectuals” practicing hellenismos write using primarily Logos.
Your’s on the other hand makes primarily use of Pathos, and is the most “human-like”.