We are not afraid to challenge our beliefs; rather, such rational skepticism is encouraged. Press (Oxford England and New York NY USA and elsewhere). PGG2 = Pausanias Guide to Greece Vol. ), I say again that daily to discourse about virtue, and of those other things about which you hear me examining myself and others, is the greatest good of man, and that the unexamined life is not worth living... (Plato Apologia 38, trans. We are using the 1961 Loeb-Heinemann (London, England)-Harvard edition (Cambridge, MA USA). Revivalist Hellenic Polytheist. W. H. D. Rouse 1940. I was taught that the visitation of a God is an extremely rare event; even the greatest of men have never experienced such a thing. This course of study is for people who are considering making a commitment to this tradition...to make this your religion; it is not designed to accommodate people who are casual and simply looking to add to their collection of religious knowledge (you can acquire that from simply reading the website). We are using the 1979 reprint. If you are not interested in being in the real world, move on and find something else. This website attempts to follow the tradition of Orpheus, which could be said to be the cradle of philosophy. Morality proceeds from God, like light; our superstitions are only darkness. Why is the word God capitalized on this site for any deity? Nothing here is designed to be a catechism of belief. Perhaps some family-line has saved them, but they are unknown to this author. Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. 0. The Mysteries have nothing to do with magic, divination, clairvoyance, tarot, etc. Ἑλληνισμός), the ancient Greek religion. = A Homeric Dictionary from the German of Dr. Georg Autenrieth, trans. In what ways is your tradition different from other groups out there? Ἑλληνισμός), the ancient Greek religion. 9. Thomas Jefferson, Do those things which you judge to be beautiful, though in doing them you should be without renown; for the rabble is a bad judge of a good thing. All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. This illustrated glossary, being a dictionary or brief encyclopedia, is intended to be a reference for those who worship the Hellenic Gods, an encyclopedia of Ællinismόs (Hellenismos; Gr. 4. Benjamin Jowett, 1892.). Indeed, the whole of Western Civilization has its foundation in Hellenic culture and discovery. > How can I practice Hellenic Polytheism (or any religion) when my parents are atheist - I am 14 years old? Perhaps the best preparation to practice Hellenismos is to study history, from ancient times to the present. If your Orphic teaching does not include miracles and magic, as you stated earlier, what could anyone find appealing about it? But an actual appearance of a personal God who has chosen you to communicate with? We are using the gigantic, unabridged 1996 Clarendon Press/Oxford edition. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation. Eclecticism can be very exciting, just as it is exciting to have numerous sexual encounters, but it is impossible to become satisfied. a question i know a lot of christians who have bible verses as their phone lockscreen, and they’re super pretty, usually with an aesthetic background and a neat font. (Introduction to Book 10 of Plato's Laws, Thomas Taylor, 1804). CGT4 = The Complete Greek Tragedies Vol. Published by the University of Chicago Press (Chicago IL USA) 1959, the individual plays have various original copyright dates. High quality Polytheism gifts and merchandise. If a God truly is a God, he cannot be ignorant. Indeed there is. Hellenic Gods.org. Even in antiquity, the myths were subject to gross misinterpretation. Therefore, they influence everything in the universe. Divinity is an expression of the natural world, but at the divine level, the level of beings who are free of the circle of births, not the mortal level. Science is the friend of philosophy. There have been some great threads about the Greek religion on AskMeFi already. Νόννος) Dionysiaká (Gr. Devotion [Hellenic Polytheism] Concerning our religion, Hellenismos does not either promote or condemn homosexuality or, for that matter, heterosexuality: we are tolerant and we recognize and celebrate Nature, which manifests in many diverse forms, both heterosexual and the various expressions of the LGBTQ community and beyond. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Actually, no, I am not saying that. Is it inappropriate to be skeptical? I wouldn't. How would my daily life change (like how often do I pray and perform sacrifices and give offerings?) We are actually of the same substance as the Gods, for they are material beings; there is no such thing as "spiritual," something other than, or above nature, because, by definition, nature is Pan: everything. So, like everything in our religion, we must weigh things for ourselves. Thomas Taylor Series V. TTS VIII = The Theology of Plato: Proclus, trans. Deuteronomy 6:4 tells us, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Psalm 96:5 declares, “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens It involves great ignorance. It requires a very long conversation to arrive at the conclusions which I propose, but what I say is that evil is not really "anything;" evil is, rather, action based on the absence of something. Nonetheless, I offer this for your amusement. 0. He uses what tool he pleases. Of course the Greeks have every right to love their religion and their country and to be proud of their heritage, and they, simply by who they are, will always have a special relationship with this religion, for its traditions were fostered by their ancestors and continue to be preserved by the Greek people today. CM = A Classical Manual, Being a Mythological, Historical, and Geographical Commentary on Pope's Homer, and Dryden's Æneid of Virgil, 1833. Who is your creator-God? The logo to the left is the principal symbol of this website. Mathematics. If those who educated you left this area wanting, you must educate yourself. Evil is ignorance, gross ignorance. It is primarily a devotional or votive religion, based on the exchange of gifts (offerings) for the gods' blessings. See HO. I view them as no different from our fantasy movies. Lilith for example is more about sex, pleasure and Infernal badassery while the Hellenic goddess Athena is more about athleticism, war, and wisdom. Despite the fact that much of this material can be found elsewhere, you will find the glossary unique, both in its choice of subjects and in the way these subjects are presented, and, being a work in progress, increasingly unique as time goes on. To clarify further, when we say that the Gods are good, we are not talking about relative situations, situations that can be defined as good or evil based on how we perceive them. If you could characterize Hellenismos in one word, what would that word be? Martyr was an early apologist, explaining Christianity to this new Greek flock within their own system of philosophy. Hellenismos is a natural religion and we all are included in the natural expressions of the universe. It is not meant for the mundane. Yes, it is very beautiful: Orphic Theogony. To my astonishment, there were, perhaps, thirty or more huge crows somehow cracking the shells and eating the nuts. Did he? For that which is primarily good, gives subsistence to every good from itself, and is not the cause of an allotment contrary to itself..." (Proclus The Theology of Plato 1.17, trans. I've been told that the transition from Wicca to Hellenismos is smooth and seamless. Unlike Hellenismos in the west, which for the most part ignores the Orphic teaching, the situation is different in Greece, where Orpheus is embraced as the great theologian who holds the keys to liberation. We are not witches and we do not practice any kind of witchcraft, something which is forbidden to us. I have read that the ancient Greek religion in contemporary Greece is connected with fascist causes. (Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, Cosette, Book Seventh, Chapter VI. Science and mathematics, art, drama, music, philosophy, and democracy harbor unmistakable roots that can be traced directly back to this Hellenic world, a world deeply intertwined with polytheism, religion, and philosophy. Teach a youngster. When you have experiences like this, you can never be sure if it was real or not. We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology. And they certainly did the same in hopes of obtaining benefits. In other words, do others a good turn assuming the best in them, even though your judgment of their character may be incorrectly favorable. ), Opinion is called the queen of the world; it is so; for when reason opposes it, it is condemned to death. DPI = Plato; translated by Benjamin Jowett, 1892, Vol. ), Solve the first only of the two problems, you will be Venice, you will be England. This tradition is entirely polytheistic, i. e. a religion of many Gods. Frankly, I have never seen so many crows all in one place in my entire life, and here they were gathered in my own backyard. Anonymous, Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité! Hellenic Polytheism 101 series kickstarts with an intro to what Hellenic Polytheism is and how you can get started! Religions like Christianity are much more concerned with belief than we are in Hellenismos. The knowledge of the Gods is intimate and private. It is difficult to demonstrate anything that could be called "evil" that cannot be shown to be gross foolishness in the long run. If you assume that the Gods will answer prayers to your specifications, you will be very disappointed; better to put oneself in the sphere of their will. HIM1 = Homer Iliad I: Books 1-12 trans. And to confirm Mr. Taylor's opinion, I suggest you read book ten of The Laws and see for yourself. Hellenistic Christianity is notable for its combination of Greek philosophy, ethics and morality with Christian belief. People confront me with such stories, stories which, by ordinary logic, would push the limits of what is considered reasonable. It may appear to us that we are not receiving their help, but that is because we are too close to our problems to clearly understand the solution to them. For the Greeks, much like many other ancient cultures, the deities were a part of daily life, not merely something to be chatted with in times of need. This can be perceived with logic. TTS XVI = Proklos' Commentary on the Timæus of Plato, Vol. But if you succeed in doing so, your life will change dramatically. XVI. The tradition and those in Greece who practice this tradition refer to Orpheus as a historical personage; therefore Orpheus is presented as such here. However, it is not wise to view science as creedal; the discoveries of science are somewhere on a continuum from ignorance to absolute knowledge; the same could be said of the discoveries of people on a genuine religious journey. The reason why a FAQ is even necessary is the accumulation and persistence of some 1500 years of misinformation regarding the ancient religion. We are using the 1999 edition published by Harvard University Press (Cambridge MA USA and London England), Loeb Classical Library LCL 170. I have read that the Greeks condemn homosexuality. I have no idea. In popular terminology, this is called "I'm okay; you're okay" or the "anything-goes philosophy" or "this is just your view," as if there is no possibility of an accurate, objective view. Pagan is a term which was applied to the practitioners of our religion by Christians, a term not used by the practitioners themselves. But I will say this. PGG1 = Pausanias Guide to Greece Vol. They do not have an evil or "dark" side, but are beings of immense enlightenment. Has there ever been a single sacred text of Hellenic Polytheism? Regarding your conclusions as to what is true or false, that is your personal journey. Actually, there are millions of people in India and elsewhere who worship more than one God. You likely know the first two which continue to inspire people even in modern times: Know yourself. So, from our perspective, it is fantastic. The achievement of virtue (ἀρετή) and compassion (ἔλεος) are great goals of our religion, for there is nothing more beautiful to the Gods than to behold a virtuous man who cares for others. Each author has his own opinion. We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology. The most general interpretation of Protagoras' statement is that there really is no actual truth, but that everything is in the eye of the beholder. We don't say, "I believe in rocks." Press (Cambridge, MA), William Heineman (London, England). Our religion is purely Greek, so we are not eclectic. Not a witch. The initiations of the Eleusínia have been lost. There are many terms currently in use: Hellenism, Olympianism, Dodekatheism, Hellenic polytheism, Hellenic paganism, Hellenic pantheism, Greek pantheism, Hellenic reconstructionism, the ancient Greek religion, or simply, the worship of the Hellenic Gods. But yes and very unfortunately, there are some in Greece who hold fascist views, even of those who practice the ancient religion, but we abhor such views and struggle against them as being contrary to the religion. Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods. Voltaire, Remember the dreams of the child. © 2010 by HellenicGods.org. And there are some individuals in our community who possess knowledge greater than what is generally known. We are practicing a living tradition based on the teachings of Orpheus. I was taught that polytheism is primitive? This relativism, when applied to religions or philosophical systems, becomes an absurdity and an insult when views within them are not compatible, but such incompatibility is glossed over for convenience sake. Charles E. Wilbour, 1862. I thought these beliefs vanished centuries ago? L&S = Greek-English Lexicon by H.G. 4: Euripides, translated by various authors. Therefore, we are not particularly evangelical, because to effect benefit for the world does not require belief in any God. It is a long and complicated subject, too extensive to be answered here. In particular, Martyr used the Greek concept of internal and external thought to illustrate Jesus Christ'… In fact the reason for this is because i was brought up by my father who was into ancient greek/egyption history, he was the kind of guy who rejected religion in favor of science (though i suspected he could be a wiccan). Benjamin Jowett, 1892.). Don't you think that science is a better way to understand the universe? This is the way it must be when presenting a tradition from the position of a practitioner, not an "outsider," so to speak. Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology. Share the load of the unfortunate. 1; we are using the 1990 Loeb Classical Library edition, LCL 121, Harvard Univ. All the deities, in particular the Olympians, work together and participate in the providence of Zeus, which has important significance for every person. We are using the 1979 reprint. Other terms often used interchangeably with Hellenic Polytheism are Hellenism, Hellenismos, Hellenic Reconstructionism, Dodekatheism, and Olympianism. Αἰθήρ), Freedom, and Mysteries. Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained. A good example of this is the dialogue Euthyphro by Plato where Euthyphro has very distorted ideas about religion. Although I greatly admire Plato and admire with many things he said, I am not a Platonist. One definition of evil could be the later: that which is unnatural and hurtful. LCD = Lemprière's Classical Dictionary of Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, 1788; Third Edition, 1984; reprinted 1987 Routledge & Kegan Paul edition (London, England & New York, USA). Because the author is presenting a tradition that has, primarily, been taught to him, you will not necessarily see every view presented on any particular subject. The ideas presented on this website are the responsibility of its author. I receive all applications and it is no secret that I am homosexual and have no attraction to women, young or old. Using your logic, Islam must be superior for it won the battle against all other religions in major areas of the Middle East and elsewhere. Particularly in our time, Hellenismos and Orphism have become identified with a noxious stew of every variety of superstition and nonsense. ... Why, as we are so miserable, have we imagined that not to be is a great ill; when it is clear that it was not an ill not to be before we were born? As already stated, all the Gods are completely good and their intention is inclined to our benefit. If any mistakes have been made in this regard, it is the fault of the author, and not those who taught him. In the example, we are spelling Ἐλελεύς thus: Ælæléfs, but the more common spelling is Eleleus. However, as previously stated, this is not actually a scholastic site; it is a site presenting the views of believers of the traditions it presents. Gradus = A New and Complete Greek Gradus, or Poetical Lexicon of the Greek Language: With a Latin and English Translation; an English-Greek Vocabulary; and a Treatise by Edward Maltby, Bishop of Durham, Third Edition (London), 1850. Someone told me that to take your course of study, applicants must be girls under the age of 18. I've been devouring Caprica and the Percy Jackson stories and thinking about the Greek myths. DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained. We are transliterating it thus because we believe that someone without any training will look at the word and pronounce it close to the way the Greeks pronounce the word. All of the translations gathered together in this 2003 edition by The Prometheus Trust (Somerset UK). March 13, 2010 11:43 AM Subscribe Is there an official bible for the Greek myths? Ap.II = Apollodorus The Library, trans. How do I start? Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. I am not saying that you are going to see a God in your bedroom, but you can learn to feel the Gods if you are a sensitive person and give them permission to touch your soul. This can be nicely answered by quoting Plato, who says that to please God is to be like Him, and becoming like Him is to become a great soul, while the opposite is to be a vicious person: "Then what life is agreeable to God, and becoming in his followers? Christianity is superior for it won the battle against your religion. I do not take things purely on faith. A typical entry in the Glossary, if it is a Greek word, will be similar to this example: Ælæléfs - (Eleleus; Gr. 2; we are using the 1989 Loeb Classical Library edition, LCL 122, Harvard Univ. The Mysteries are the means to liberate the soul. DGRG = A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography in two volumes, edited by William Smith, 1872; original 1872 edition by John Murray.

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