formerly mielikki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
austin_tycho) wrote2004-08-03 12:44 pm
austin_tycho) wrote2004-08-03 12:44 pm
Entry tags:
That mailing list I'm always bitching about
...was starting a bashing session on the word 'religion'. Someone begged to differ, and I agreed with her. I'll get to my chores right after this, Maw!
"--- In That mailing list I'm always bitching about@yahoogroups.com, someone wrote:
> Without looking it up, which anyone on this list can do, I'll say religion means to bridge
> (the mundane and the sacred), to relink.
>
> Blessings,
> [someone]
That was my understanding too. I cheated and looked it up on dictionary.com and got this:
[Middle English religioun, from Old French religion, from Latin religi, religin-, perhaps from religre, to tie fast. See rely.]
'Tie fast' as in to attach something to something else, to connect it (and why not see rely, while you're at it). I can see how someone who is very protective of their freedom would find this idea a bit uncomfortable. It also reminds me of the Hierophant card; many interpretations focus on negative qualities such as inflexibility and a sense of being 'hide-bound' (Robin Wood, who I otherwise like, was pretty bad about this).
I found a new appreciation for this card when I studied with BOTA. The Hebrew letter they associated it with was Vav, or nail. The nail holds things together; connects, ties fast. The Hierophant, I learned, is a servant- both of his congregation, and of his god(s). He connects them together.
And while it's possible to see him as an outside person who wears a funny hat while he looks down at you (like I guess it's possible to see Strength as a lady prying open a lion's jaws- maybe she's a vet tech or something), I see him in the same way as I see the rest of the Major Arcana, as representing a force within myself, or an aspect of existence. He is that part of me that helps me to connect with the Divine, and chooses to help other people connect with the Divine (and learn how to forge their own connections too).
"--- In That mailing list I'm always bitching about@yahoogroups.com, someone wrote:
> Without looking it up, which anyone on this list can do, I'll say religion means to bridge
> (the mundane and the sacred), to relink.
>
> Blessings,
> [someone]
That was my understanding too. I cheated and looked it up on dictionary.com and got this:
[Middle English religioun, from Old French religion, from Latin religi, religin-, perhaps from religre, to tie fast. See rely.]
'Tie fast' as in to attach something to something else, to connect it (and why not see rely, while you're at it). I can see how someone who is very protective of their freedom would find this idea a bit uncomfortable. It also reminds me of the Hierophant card; many interpretations focus on negative qualities such as inflexibility and a sense of being 'hide-bound' (Robin Wood, who I otherwise like, was pretty bad about this).
I found a new appreciation for this card when I studied with BOTA. The Hebrew letter they associated it with was Vav, or nail. The nail holds things together; connects, ties fast. The Hierophant, I learned, is a servant- both of his congregation, and of his god(s). He connects them together.
And while it's possible to see him as an outside person who wears a funny hat while he looks down at you (like I guess it's possible to see Strength as a lady prying open a lion's jaws- maybe she's a vet tech or something), I see him in the same way as I see the rest of the Major Arcana, as representing a force within myself, or an aspect of existence. He is that part of me that helps me to connect with the Divine, and chooses to help other people connect with the Divine (and learn how to forge their own connections too).
no subject
Damien
(no subject)
no subject
My understanding of the difference between 'religion' and 'spirituality' is that religion denotes a set of bliefs held in common by a group or groups of people where as spirituality is a description of one's personal connection to the divine - which could be encompassed by one's religion.
Sheena
(no subject)