Can O.T. christian & germanic religion be co-practiced

[Jumi]

Regarding the poll, I think they can. It just depends on how you believe in each of them and what point of history you choose "traditional" to come from. Many already think "OT" is hard to reconcile with the NT. There was considerable amounts of syncretism at various time, where beliefs mixed. Some forced conversions and also willing ones where people didn't really know the new religion made people adopt syncretic approaches.

 

[Desert Snake]

Again, I admit this about myself, and I can only speak from my own end, I suppose. You are correct. However, my question still stands: Why do you feel the need to identify with any particular part of your mixture, rather than simply be you – a Syncretist? Especially for the purpose of debating or presenting some kind of perspective?

Why

Syncretism differs, ex messianic judaism, and u.u. are both syncretic religions, in their own way. The description denotes the practice, just like any other religion. There is a logic to using a non vague description.
Anyways, I think I'm going to leave this subject,

Have a good day

 

[Sundance]

Syncretism differs, ex messianic judaism, and u.u. are both syncretic religions, in their own way. The description denotes the practice, just like any other religion. There is a logic to using a non vague description.
Anyways, I think I'm goung to leave this subject,

Have a good day

You too, man. Peace.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

How do Odin, Thor and Jesus get along?

While I couldn't exactly answer for the Gods, given their examples I would say not well. With Jesus, you listen to him (or else), "turning the other cheek" is big (and hypocritical), and he's the only being that can save you from... jury's out on that, but it's bad and always ends up being what he's going to do to you if you don't believe in him.

With Odin and Thor, there is no cheek-turning. If someone has wronged you, you get even with what you are owed. They're not going to save you, because you can save yourself from whatever might come. Rather than sit atop Hliðskjalf and issue orders and mandates, Odin travels the worlds and listens to others. Learning, enjoying, and sharing in their stories.

There are likely many more differences that I can't think of first thing in the morning, but I do not think they would get along at all.

Regarding the poll, I think [the two religions] can.

The First Commandment kind of throws a wrench into any co-mingling of the faiths. Not to mention the laundry list of restrictions and "thou shalt not's" given to every slight infraction, the automatic assumption of human guilt and sinfulness, and the insistence upon the necessity of salvation. No, the two cannot be co-practiced very well at all. Everyone who tries ends up just practicing Paganism with a Christian veneer, which in Christian terms is not Christianity, and is highly heretical.

 

[Jumi]

While I couldn't exactly answer for the Gods, given their examples I would say not well. With Jesus, you listen to him (or else), "turning the other cheek" is big (and hypocritical), and he's the only being that can save you from... jury's out on that, but it's bad and always ends up being what he's going to do to you if you don't believe in him.

With Odin and Thor, there is no cheek-turning. If someone has wronged you, you get even with what you are owed. They're not going to save you, because you can save yourself from whatever might come. Rather than sit atop Hliðskjalf and issue orders and mandates, Odin travels the worlds and listens to others. Learning, enjoying, and sharing in their stories.

There are likely many more differences that I can't think of first thing in the morning, but I do not think they would get along at all.

That's not the only view about Jesus that has existed.

early Germanic Christianity was presented as an alternative to native Germanic paganism and elements were syncretized, for examples parallels between Woden and Christ. A fine illustration of these tendencies is the Anglo-Saxon poem Dream of the Rood, where Jesus is cast in the heroic model of a Germanic warrior, who faces his death unflinchingly and even eagerly. The Cross, speaking as if it were a member of Christ's band of retainers, accepts its fate as it watches its Creator die, and then explains that Christ's death was not a defeat but a victory. This is in direct correspondence to the Germanic pagan ideals of fealty to one's lord.

The First Commandment kind of throws a wrench into any co-mingling of the faiths. Not to mention the laundry list of restrictions and "thou shalt not's" given to every slight infraction, the automatic assumption of human guilt and sinfulness, and the insistence upon the necessity of salvation. No, the two cannot be co-practiced very well at all. Everyone who tries ends up just practicing Paganism with a Christian veneer, which in Christian terms is not Christianity, and is highly heretical.

In today's world it's considered highly heretical, but at different times in history most Christians weren't literalists. They had made the stories fit their own ideals and what was seen as weak or shameful was woven into heroism.

Given how long it took to complete conversion of some pagans even by using forcible methods to enforce more orthodox views, it's safe to assume that most common folk ignored or were ignorant of larger parts of the Bible.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

That's not the only view about Jesus that has existed.

So you give us... fiction. If you're worshiping a story figure based on Jesus, are you really worshiping Jesus? He was not a Germanic warrior, so pretending that he was just so it meshes well with Heathenry is silly.

In today's world it's considered highly heretical, but at different times in history most Christians weren't literalists.

Yes well there's no point in speaking for the past. If we're comparing Christianity with Germanic Paganism, and asking if they can be worshipped together, the only answers worth giving are for today. Not yestercentury.

 

[Desert Snake]

That's not the only view about Jesus that has existed.



In today's world it's considered highly heretical, but at different times in history most Christians weren't literalists. They had made the stories fit their own ideals and what was seen as weak or shameful was woven into heroism.

Given how long it took to complete conversion of some pagans even by using forcible methods to enforce more orthodox views, it's safe to assume that most common folk ignored or were ignorant of larger parts of the Bible.

I think you might be putting a tad too much stock into what rp is stating about christianity. I personally have no idea what he is inferring, generally, except for the theism, polytheism, part.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I personally have no idea what he is inferring, generally, except for the theism, polytheism, part.

Probably because I infer very little, and state what I mean plainly.

 

[Desert Snake]

Probably because I infer very little, and state what I mean plainly.

Yes, and it's your opinion/perspective. Doesn't mean it's universal, it obviously isn't.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Yes, and it's your opinion/perspective. Doesn't mean it's universal, it obviously isn't.

I'll try to remember that you know what's universally Heathen, having been exposed to it for less than a day.

 

[Desert Snake]

of human guilt and sinfulness, and the insistence upon the necessity of salvation.

Thats what you fell for; the argument against salvation

Thought so.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Thats what you fell for; the salvation argument.

Thought so.

What are you on about now, sync?

 

[Muffled]

I believe if one has received Jesus as Lord and Savior an interest in Pagan religions might be allowed. He would certainly guide a person away from it if it were harmful.

 

[Muffled]

Thats what you fell for; the salvation argument.

Thought so.

I believe if you think salvation is a deception then you might as well take Christianity out of the equation.

 

[Desert Snake]

I believe if you think salvation is a deception then you might as well take Christianity out of the equation.

Salvation isn't a deception. The arguments against the idea of salvation, are what I was referring to. Context,

 

[Desert Snake]

Edited for people who

Arent reading the thread, etc

 

[Muffled]

Salvation isn't a deception. The arguments against the idea of salvation, are what I was referring to. Context,

I believe I see it now, the deception he fell for:

The Ragin Pagan said
"he's the only being that can save you from... jury's out on that, but it's bad and always ends up being what he's going to do to you if you don't believe in him." which he characterizes as the Christian way while "If someone has wronged you, you get even with what you are owed. They're not going to save you, because you can save yourself from whatever might come." he characterizes as Odin's way.

I believe that is true. It is a fallacy to believe one may save oneself from very much let alone a wrathful God who hates sin.

I believe this is another fallacy that one may judge what is sin and tell God He is wrong about it. I believe the judgement of God is still operational that what He calls sin is sin.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

If you are to label it as a deception, you must first prove your god's open-ended threat. Otherwise you're just blowing smoke and fluffing your own ego.

You also completely misunderstood what I meant in your pink-text quote. That means that it's up to interpretation just what your god is supposed to be saving us from. You'll get as many answers as there are Christian sects.

 

[Jumi]

So you give us... fiction. If you're worshiping a story figure based on Jesus, are you really worshiping Jesus? He was not a Germanic warrior, so pretending that he was just so it meshes well with Heathenry is silly.

That's how syncretism worked in the past, through poetry and storytelling that took parts from conservative tradition and mixed them with the new religions. Most people had never read the Bible, much less understood what Christian scholarly "elites" at the time believed.

People were going to church while holding ancient tribal traditions into the 20th century in my country. It took demolishing pagan sites, building churches there and various educational measures to completely remove syncretism nearly a millenia after Christianity became equal to state power. Probably most didn't even see a disconnect between the two as they had lived together for centuries despite stronger attempts to divorce them under protestantism which required uniformity.

Yes well there's no point in speaking for the past. If we're comparing Christianity with Germanic Paganism, and asking if they can be worshipped together, the only answers worth giving are for today. Not yestercentury.

If something worked back then, why not now? It might not be logical to outsiders, but as anyone knows, most faith isn't bound to logic.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

If something worked back then, why not now?

Because we know better, we're allowed to read, and we can plainly see fabricated falsehoods for ourselves. If you're worshiping "Germanic Warrior-Pacifist Jesus", you're not really worshiping Jesus.