Punishing people as witches and heretics through the ages probably came about through fear; fear of losing the status quo, fear of competition; fear of the unknown; fear of difference; easy opportunities for destruction, plunder, and self-aggrandizement. Hence the old adages that one person's heretic is another person's prophet, one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter. But how wild, what similarities/differences we humans display!
At one time, I studied a bunch of so-called Utopian societies in the USA (and in colonial North America), which kept leading me back, back, back. Let's say to the Bogomil starting in the 900s (cursed as buggers and bogeymen by the mainstream of their day); or the Cathari/Albingensians (1100s+); or the "eye-biting witches;" or the Waldensians (late 1100s+) . . . Most of these groups were simply different from the prevailing religious and secular powers of their day and place . . . In Europe, groups that were successfully crushed could be effectively labeled schismatics and heretics and witches; groups that took over wide swaths were eventually called "Protestants."
At some point, I'd like to write more about many of these groups, and some of what is known of them. But let's note right here that a group of Waldensians made it to North America, and some of them founded a town in North Carolina, a town called Valdese. Apparently, some residents can still speak an archaic Provençal dialect. Like several other religious groups differing from their mainstream roots, Waldensians don't take oaths, are pro-peace and anti-death penalty/anti-war -- a challenge of sorts to "The Man." Sort of like St. Francis of Assisi in some ways, only not condoned by the Catholic Church. Why him and not them? Because he could seem to fit into the scheme of things without undermining the primary power base.
In the 1980s, I worked with a woman in North Carolina named Florine who was a member of a group similar to the Waldensians. She was cool, yet compared to many, she also seemed a bit strange. She invited me to a couple meetings of her group. They met at member's homes, were modest in many ways, and the women let their hair grow very long, but then curled their hair in elaborate buns or knots. A very peaceful group. Glad to have met them, even though I've since become Catholic regardless of all that church's foibles and bizarreness. (What group isn't bizarre in some way or another, especially to an outsider?)
Today's Rune: Possessions.
7 comments:
Humans are pretty weird individually. Mix them in a group and then isolate them through something cultural or religious or appearance and you've got multiple weirdnessess. but it's interesting.
I understand the need of most people to be a part of something...to come together under a commonality and feel connected. What I don't understand though is why we divide that being we call god into so many ideologies and paints,. And then each thinking our room of color is the only true and best color. If everyone would quit trying to be a this or a that and just be satisfied in being under the banner of God...so much bullshit would be over.
I can't follow the philosophies of dead old men when there is a living God to be learned from.
Fascinating stuff!
As an outsider observing unfamiliar rituals, you must've felt uneasy. I know I would. Felt that away supporting someone an AA meeting.
werent there a bunch of utopina cities in the US in the 1850s or around that time
Erik-What an interesting post! I always wanted to take a class to study religion-never have, but managed to read up some on my own. As imperfect as humans are, then so are their beliefs. Too much wiggle room, I guess.
Erik-What an interesting post! I always wanted to take a class to study religion-never have, but managed to read up some on my own. As imperfect as humans are, then so are their beliefs. Too much wiggle room, I guess.
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