"Elephants".....
Mar. 19th, 2009 12:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mdehnersWiccans, Pagans and Heathens all have the same one that folks dance about. It's the FACT that the majority of ANY religion aren't Clergy. "We know that!?!" I hear. Not really. The average religous person is a participant, not director. They come for the Rites and for the Spiritual Experiences they bring. They don't come for the Theology, Dogma, Lore,etc. They leave that up to their Clergiperson.
Right now, the "Big 3" of Alt-Rel don't have a large enough population to attract any but those who are generally the type to BE Clergy...in that "Perfect World". That doesn't negate the FACT that most folks aren't inclined to be. This quickly become apparent in groups reaching a decent number so that those who have been forced due to circumstance to act as CLergy no longer feel so pressured. Sadly, unless the group has enough "natural" Clerics that decrease in pressure brings resentment to those who still would much rather BE than DO.
The area in all 3 that has been lacking in large has been work on the minor Works that ALL real religions have FOR those folks. The Little Devotional Acts, minor Rites and such. I've been these last couple of months trying to live as the majority of my HEathen Ancestors did. That is, things like "Hail to thee Sunna" and plaintalk dialogue with the Regin(for which there is plenty of Lore evidence for)...no "High Church". For Heathens, there's the Admonition about "Sacrificing too Often" but I don't consider being Thankful a Sacrifice but simply a Politeness.Besides you WERE given something, you should at least send a "Thank You Card";>.....
For those who are Interested in our Individual Ways BUT aren't Clerically Oriented our Ways can be daunting. Think how many would be at the local Catholic Church if EVERYONE had to do the Rites? You think the pews are empty now......
Truth,
Pat
Right now, the "Big 3" of Alt-Rel don't have a large enough population to attract any but those who are generally the type to BE Clergy...in that "Perfect World". That doesn't negate the FACT that most folks aren't inclined to be. This quickly become apparent in groups reaching a decent number so that those who have been forced due to circumstance to act as CLergy no longer feel so pressured. Sadly, unless the group has enough "natural" Clerics that decrease in pressure brings resentment to those who still would much rather BE than DO.
The area in all 3 that has been lacking in large has been work on the minor Works that ALL real religions have FOR those folks. The Little Devotional Acts, minor Rites and such. I've been these last couple of months trying to live as the majority of my HEathen Ancestors did. That is, things like "Hail to thee Sunna" and plaintalk dialogue with the Regin(for which there is plenty of Lore evidence for)...no "High Church". For Heathens, there's the Admonition about "Sacrificing too Often" but I don't consider being Thankful a Sacrifice but simply a Politeness.Besides you WERE given something, you should at least send a "Thank You Card";>.....
For those who are Interested in our Individual Ways BUT aren't Clerically Oriented our Ways can be daunting. Think how many would be at the local Catholic Church if EVERYONE had to do the Rites? You think the pews are empty now......
Truth,
Pat
