Making offerings to the gods is a routine part of a devotional polytheist's practice. And, as pointed out in a recent article by Asa West, "what we choose to offer to a god–and our reason for choosing it–says much more about us than it does about the god." While I agree with this sentiment in part, Asa uses this perspective to buttress some rather judgmental conclusions about how other Pagans choose to practice. The author was apparently involved in a discussion about whether or not a bullet was an appropriate offering to the Morrigan. Asa went on to say in the article that:
You can read the full article here, and while it is about offerings, I'm interested in putting a different spin on this topic, because I was bothered by the writer's attitude here.
One of the things I happen to love about polytheistic theology is it doesn't whitewash reality (aka, the gods). It doesn't see the world through rose-tinted glasses and ignore the fact that the gods are not necessarily out to support human health and well-being (and at times their nature is outright opposed to human health and well-being). Gods of polytheisms are war, violence, chaos, starvation, disease, and death, not just the things humans happen to like. Death - specifically being a herald of death in battle/war - is one of the Morrigan's aspects.
I think Asa is guilty of whitewashing the gods here. One gets the sense from this essay that because she refuses to honor the fearsome, dark, or taboo aspects of the gods, that those of us who do aren't being authentic in our devotion (aka, it isn't "really" the Morrigan we love) or are somehow wrong to do what we do (aka, we shouldn't honor those "icky" aspects of the gods).
Seriously? Judgmental much?
At any rate, I put this in the debates section for reasons that should be obvious, but most of you guys who will post here know I'm not really one for debates. Feel free to offer any reflections on the article, or on the issue of viewing the gods through rose-tinted glasses.
"... given our historical moment, if you think a bullet is a fine, healthy offering to a goddess of sovereignty–especially in the midst of our mass shooting epidemic and racist, militarized police; especially in light of the fact that violence has never been cured by more violence–then what does that say about you? What does that say about the qualities you want to nourish and feed within yourself? If a bullet is okay, why not a landmine? Or napalm? Or a nuclear warhead?
...
I’m going to ask a tough question here, one that will probably raise some hackles: is it really the Morrigan you love, in all her complexity and uncomfortable truths, or is it the thrill and video-game fantasy of violence?"
...
I’m going to ask a tough question here, one that will probably raise some hackles: is it really the Morrigan you love, in all her complexity and uncomfortable truths, or is it the thrill and video-game fantasy of violence?"
You can read the full article here, and while it is about offerings, I'm interested in putting a different spin on this topic, because I was bothered by the writer's attitude here.
One of the things I happen to love about polytheistic theology is it doesn't whitewash reality (aka, the gods). It doesn't see the world through rose-tinted glasses and ignore the fact that the gods are not necessarily out to support human health and well-being (and at times their nature is outright opposed to human health and well-being). Gods of polytheisms are war, violence, chaos, starvation, disease, and death, not just the things humans happen to like. Death - specifically being a herald of death in battle/war - is one of the Morrigan's aspects.
I think Asa is guilty of whitewashing the gods here. One gets the sense from this essay that because she refuses to honor the fearsome, dark, or taboo aspects of the gods, that those of us who do aren't being authentic in our devotion (aka, it isn't "really" the Morrigan we love) or are somehow wrong to do what we do (aka, we shouldn't honor those "icky" aspects of the gods).
Seriously? Judgmental much?
At any rate, I put this in the debates section for reasons that should be obvious, but most of you guys who will post here know I'm not really one for debates. Feel free to offer any reflections on the article, or on the issue of viewing the gods through rose-tinted glasses.