There were female Druids. No, I'll concede, they weren't called Druidesses, but also were called Druids. It was an equal society in the ancient days...and a polygamous one. Also, matriarchal. Since motherhood of a child could be traced, but not fatherhood proven, the lines of ancestry followed the mothers. Christianity made it monogamous and patriarchal.
The Celtic people did not live only in Ireland at that time, but in Scotland, England, on the Iberian (Spanish) Peninsula, and in Gaul (France) as well.
I am Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, Luxembourg, and Scottish. Which is why I say my Celtic ancestors, not my Irish ancestors, when I say I follow the ancient ways of my Celtic ancestors. (1/4 is Irish, btw...my grandfather was 100%. All others are 1/8 since all other grandparents were 1/2 & 1/2. However, it adds up to make me mostly Celtic.)
What I find interesting is that apparently the only ones you think understand you are the ones who agree with you. You think I don't understand atheism? I was married to an atheist...and it's not the reason we got divorced. I respect your right to have your opinions...much more than you show of respect to others' for their right to have theirs. Enjoy your thread. Your OP theory is invalid, but you're entitled to your opinion. You don't have to try to convince the rest of us to share it. If you want peace, let it begin with you. I do want it, and try to share it.
Crotty...there is no need for insults. I have read histories of those times, written by those who were living at the time, and books by those who have studied them as well.
No, they did not. Many of the rituals were conducted in the Sacred Groves, but many were also in public for the tribe. They did not keep the people in Spiritual chains...I really don't know where you got that one, but it has no basis in truth. They also did not take the tribe's wealth. They were supported by the tribe, paid, because of the nature of their work, but it was for the good of the tribe, and its unity, that they worked. The people considered them a necessary conduit to the Spirit world because of their gifts...they did not decide that. And they lived no better than the people, they lived with the people, though in their own dwelling. Many had husbands or wives who were craftsmen in the tribe, and thereby contributed their part to the clan as well.
Sorry, E, but you're way off base. Druids were nothing like the priests of the early Church.
Oh, believe me, I've never developed a thick skin...I still wear my heart very much on my sleeve, and love completely. I just don't consider the end of it to be the end of the world, so I bounce back easily...and laugh about it.
None. The numbers of Pagans killed by Christians and Muslims is very high, though. Since Paganism is a religion of tolerance and acceptance, we have never killed for reasons of religion. Nor do we force our beliefs on others. Christians, however, incorporated those and our symbols in order to convert the Pagan masses.
And no, Crotty...I don't need any history or political lessons. I've had them. Maybe you need to go study them again. Still love ya, though.
No, that religion did not end. It just went "underground" in the face of Christianity's invasion. It still exists, and there's no need for anything to end except ignorance and intolerance...something that you just showed very strongly.
I respect human life just as much as you at least, if not more...as well as all other life...and that's with the belief that we live on afterward.
Sorry...atheists are not the only ones who respect life that much. I hold all life sacred...vegetable, animal and mineral. I have yelled at my children for harming a tree or a rock...and certainly don't tolerate harming humans or animals. That is because of my belief in God and afterlife.
And you can't blame the ones who don't do that for the ones that do. That's prejudice, to lump all into the same basket...just like judging all people of one skin color the same. Prejudice is still prejudice, Al...and that's intolerance. That makes your way no more peaceful than theirs. To say everyone should believe the same is wrong, and not a guarantee of peace by any means.
Tolerance is more of a guarantee of peace. If all accept each other for who they are, and tolerate our differences, then there would be no war, for I'm not just talking about religion, but EVERYTHING.
Now...done. All I can do at this point is keep stating the same thing in different ways, and that's the definition of insanity. I'm not insane.
I disagree. They killed many for their belief in God, burned them right in their Churches, and forced atheism on the people. It became illegal to worship God in public or private, and to have any religious icons. So, yes, they killed and imprisoned for atheism.
In ancient Ireland there was always war amongst the clans of the Celtic people. They were the same race, and shared the same beliefs in God, so that wasn't the point of their wars...it was greed for cattle and land. So, take away the religion part, Mankind still wages war. Yes, my theory has historic proof.
Greed and bigotry will still exist without the belief in God/gods. Skin color, height, "you have what I want" are the real reasons that war is fought...many just used God as the excuse. Take away that excuse, war still exists.
Yes, humans need to evolve, and we will...and since tolerance of differences is becoming more widespread, I think that's the direction it will happen. I certainly hope so. We all need to accept each other as we are. Some of us already practice that.
I will agree, though, with parts of this statement, Al. Intolerance should not be tolerated, and God has no need for armies and war...that's a human need for supremacy. However, that need would still exist and another cause to war over would be found if people weren't using their God as the excuse. Bigotry would still happen. So, I still disagree with your OP theory.
Humans need to evolve to the point where bigotry no longer exists, and we learn to tolerate and accept each other on a global level. That's when there would be world peace.
And your point? Darling...I personally don't care what the Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Pope, think about anything.
I know...I looked, and Wikpedia calls it "Nonbelief"...which gave Atheism a new name as a belief system. You can call an apple an orange all you want, it's still an apple. And I wouldn't care if the Archbishop of Canterbury called it an orange too.
Anyway...this is getting bogged down into a silly debate over words. I've stated my point in this discussion, I disagree with Al's theory in the OP, for it is not the ultimate answer to world peace...so, enjoy and carry on everyone!
No, sir...you are. You and Al are working very hard to deny that you have a belief. Non-belief is still a belief that something doesn't exist. Good try, Crotty. Luv ya, buddy!
Actually, most usually guess off by a lot (under)...which is why I lie on my driver's license! Ya know, it's the only lie I tell! I've rarely given an honest answer to that question.
druidess6308 Forum Posts (13,695)
RE: Atheism- THE Answer to Peace And Evolution of Man
There were female Druids. No, I'll concede, they weren't called Druidesses, but also were called Druids. It was an equal society in the ancient days...and a polygamous one. Also, matriarchal. Since motherhood of a child could be traced, but not fatherhood proven, the lines of ancestry followed the mothers. Christianity made it monogamous and patriarchal.