A DISCUSSION OF SOME NEOPAGAN
RELIGIONS AND THEIR ETHICS
by Jolandra
This essay consists of my own
opinions and general information paraphrased from multiple sources, except where specifically quoted or cited. I am by no means an authority on Pagan
religions, only a casual scholar. If you
feel I have made an error or misrepresentation, or if you have a suggestion for
a website or resource to include, please email me at Jolandra6@yahoo.com with
suggestions or corrections, preferably with sources I can use to verify
such.
Definition of terms
I'll try to define
terms as I go along, but there are some words I need to define for the sake of
communication, so that everyone knows my meaning when I refer to them.
Ethics
The first term I
must define is ethics. I believe
everyone here has a good concept of its meaning, but I just want to make sure
we're all using the word the same way in order to ensure communication. Ethics comes from the Greek ēthos,
meaning character.1 The
dictionary defines ethic as a rule or
standard governing the conduct of a person or persons,1
or the science of human duty. 2 This differs from the term moral in that the word moral indicates a value judgment.1 If
I say something is moral then I am saying that it is the right thing to do,
whereas if I say it is ethical than I am simply saying that it is within the
rules of the society, without placing a judgment on those rules.
Pagan
The definition of Pagan is a little stickier, for many
reasons. First of all because there are
so many definitions, secondly because the definitions used by self-identified
Pagans are not always the definitions found in the dictionary, and finally
because neither the Pagans' definitions nor the dictionary's always resemble
the word's origins. So let's begin at
the beginning, shall we? The Roman Paganus had
roughly the same usage as the word hick
today. It meant someone who lived in the
country or in a small village, a rustic. 2 Since any change in the
character of a society takes time to filter down to rural areas, the Paganus were the last people still practicing pre-Christian
religions when Christianity had converted the rest of the society. 2 In the
northern parts of Europe the word Heathen
(one who lives in the heath, or country) underwent a similar evolution, and is
used today to identify Pagans practicing pre-Christian Scandinavian, Norse or
Germanic religions. With the growth in
power of the Christian church which denied the validity of other Gods the words
came to mean someone without the
religion, then someone without any religion.
You can still find this "atheist" definition in both
dictionaries and common usage by non-Pagans.
Today the word
Pagan is used by those who self-identify with any of thousands of religions,
both pre-Christian and recent. By
itself, Paganism is rarely used to define a single religion; the most commonly
accepted usage by Pagans is as an umbrella term to identify a large group of
separate, independent religions. In fact, Pagan religions are so diverse that
the only way to define the term so that it includes all of them is to say that
a Pagan is anyone who self-identifies as a Pagan. Any attempt to isolate defining
characteristics results in excluding a large number of Pagans. One example is the common definition of a
Pagan religion as one that is not one of the monotheistic Levantine religions,
such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Ba'hai or Zoroastrism. This
definition is commonly used by Pagans as the most descriptive, but there are a
large number of Pagans that reject its use because it both reinforces the
"us vs. them" divisiveness between Levantine and Pagan organizations,
and it leaves out a number of self-identified "ChristoPagans"
who worship Christian or Jewish deities through Pagan ritual and symbolism and
"MesoPagans" who follow a Pagan religion
that has been heavily influenced by Christian symbolism (i.e. Santeria). So truly the only means of understanding
Paganism is to understand a number of different Pagan religions.
Pagan Ethics
Since Pagan religions are so diverse, there
is no single statement of ethics that can possibly be made to apply to all of
them. Furthermore, since so many Pagan
religions rely on subjective, individualized ethics and there is rarely a
centralized church or authority to issue doctrine, there will often be a marked
difference in ethical beliefs and interpretations within each religion
itself. Many rely on a broad ethical
statement, and then each individual must, through personal introspection and
communion with deity, choose how to interpret and apply it in their lives. In short, nothing should be taken as
universal to all Pagan religions, or even universal within each Pagan religion. What this article does is outline a few
examples of documented Pagan religions and examples of what some members of
those Pagan religions define as their ethics.
I have included at the end of each section a short list of resources (both
print and internet) for those who desire to research further on their own.
In the interest of saving space, most of the
internet links actually lead to lists of other informational links on the
religion. I have only included
informational links where the site is not mentioned on the link sites, or where
the informational resource is particularly recommended. The lists are not meant to be comprehensive,
merely introductory. Please be aware
that not all books or websites out there are reputable, and someone new to a
religion may misdirect you to a website or book that gives misleading or
inaccurate information on a religion.
This list contains sources recommended to me by experienced
practitioners of the individual religions as accurately portraying the beliefs
and practices. There are many practitioners
of the religion that do not agree that these are the best sources, and there
are many excellent texts and websites out there that are not included on this
list. My recommendation would be to read
everything, question what you read, and find primary sources to confirm any
facts. Questions are the obligation of
the thinking mind.
General Pagan Resources
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler, ISBN:
014019536X. This Book gives general
information on the history of the Pagan movement in America, with descriptions
of some of the larger groups as of the 1980's.
Pagans and Christians by Gus Dizerega,
P.H.D. ISBN ISBN:
1567182283. This is an excellent book for anyone seeking to understand the
essential difference in philosophy and thinking between NeoPagans
and Christians.
http://www.ecauldron.com This website contains
descriptions, links and articles on various Pagan religions and includes a
message board if you wish to ask more questions of actual practitioners.
http://www.swordnshield.com is an excellent website
full of information on various Pagan Reconstructionist religions.
Wicca
I begin with Wicca
partly because it tends to be the non-Pagan's first contact with Paganism, but
primarily because the ethical statements of the Wiccan religion are often
mistaken for something all Pagans believe and follow. For background purposes, Wicca is a religion
based on the form of a witchcraft religion first made public by Gerald Gardner
in England in the 1950's. It is duotheistic, honoring a God and a Goddess, and the
symbolism is agricultural, cycling around the growth and harvest seasons of
plants and animals. The witchcraft
aspect includes the casting of spells in a combination of Hermetic and folk
magic (traditionally the folk magic found in the British Isles and Western
Europe). The religion's rituals and
hierarchy (initiatory degree system) are similar in structure to that of many
lodge groups of the late 19th century, including the Masons and Golden Dawn. There have been many denominations or "traditions"
of Wicca formed, as theological and liturgical splits occurred in the original
group. Recently, primarily due to the
books from Llwellyn publishers by authors such as
Silver Ravenwolf and Scott Cunningham, a looser, informal
and personalized form of Wicca has come into popularity. These "neowiccans"
(new wiccans) often take spiritual and ritual
practices from a wide range of cultures and combine them into their own
personal religion that bears little resemblance (other than the name) to
traditional Wicca. The ethical basis of
Wicca is defined by two concepts: The
Wiccan Rede, and the Law of Multiple Return.
The Wiccan Rede
The definition of
"rede" is wise advice or council.1 It is not, therefore a set law, but it
is accepted by most Wiccans as part of their ethics. The Rede Of The Wiccae was originally
published as a 26-couplet poem by Lady Gwen (Gwynne) Thompson in the magazine Green Egg in 1975.3
The shorter statement of
ethics, ” An ye harm none, do what ye will" was originally meant to apply only
to the use of magic, 4 but has evolved into a positive philosophy of
living for many Wiccans. There are many
interpretations of the Rede as an ethical statement. Most Wiccans will acknowledge that it is
impossible to actually "Harm None", as the acts of eating, drinking,
and breathing require the destruction of certain life forms. They generally deal with this contradiction
in one of two ways: First, they may
concentrate on the first part of the Rede, "Harm None" and while
recognizing it as an impossibility, treat it as an ideal of ethical behavior
and try to do as little harm as possible in order to accomplish their goals; or
second (and less common), they may concentrate on the second half of the Rede,
"do what ye will" and believe that if you follow your true will (i.e.
do not do what you know is wrong, do not fail to do what you know is right)
then you will automatically do the least amount of harm possible. Each individual Wiccan must come to their own
understanding of the Rede and its application in their life.
The Law of Multiple Return
This law is often
called "The Law of Three" or "The Rule of Three". It also appeared in the Rede Poem as
originally published, as the line "Mind the Threefold Law ye should –
three times bad and three times good." 5 It is an application
to the physical laws of cause and effect which states that everything you do or
say (in particular the energy you emanate) will come back to you
"threefold". Hence, if your
thoughts, actions and energy towards others are negative, then negative things
will happen to you, and likewise with positive energy. This is, of course a Westernized, simplified
interpretation of the Eastern concept of Karma, but it does encourage the
individual to take personal responsibility for the results of their words and
actions.
There are other
ethical concepts, such as pacifism, Vegetarianism, and environmental activism
that are often embraced by Wiccans, but they are not an integral part of all
traditions.
Wiccan Resources
Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton ISBN:
0192854496. This is a scholarly look at
the evolution of witchcraft and the Wiccan religion in the British Isles.
The Witch's Bible Complete by Janet and Stewart
Farrar ISBN: 0919345921. The Farrars were of the Alexandrian Wicca tradition and quite
accurately portray Wiccan beliefs and practices, including rituals and
symbolism for Sabbats.
Witchcraft Today and The
Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca. These
are both out of print but are often available on Ebay
and in bookstores as a set.
Wicca: Old Religion
In The New Milennium ISBN: 0722532717 And Principles Of Wicca by Vivianne Crowley.
Excellent, highly recommended beginners books.
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
ISBN: 0062516329 is an exploration of Wicca from the feminist viewpoint. A powerful book for those
who wish to touch their feminine element through Wicca.
http://www.witchvox.com The Witch's Voice is a
vast, respected source for articles, information and networking for Wiccans and
NeoPagan witches.
http://www.pagan.drak.net/sheathomas/
The Wiccan
Rede Project is an exploration of the origins and interpretations of the Wiccan
Rede, the guiding ethical statement of the religion.
DRUIDRY
Many groups
self-identify as Druid, whether they be Christian, Atheist or NeoPagan.
NeoPagan Druidry or Druidism is a
revival of the religious beliefs or practices of the pre-Christian Celtic and
Indo-European cultures. The original
Druids consisted of the Priest class of the Celtic culture. They were divided into three grades: The bards were the keepers of the lore, the Ovates were the diviners and prophesiers, and the Druids
were the counselors and judges, equal in authority to the ruling class. 6
Since they taught by oral tradition comparatively little is known about them
today. Modern Druids rely on
Archeological research, surviving Celtic mythology, and the writings of
classical authors that came in contact with the Celtic Civilization to
understand the Celtic culture. Due to
the lack of actual teachings of the Druids, there is a wide range of
interpretation amongst the many diverse self-identified Druid
organizations.
Ar n'Draiocht Fein
One
of the largest Druid organizations in the U.S. is the Ar
n'Draiocht Fein (arn re-ocht fane), meaning
"our own Druidry" (ADF for short).7 ADF
describes itself as a "Pan-Indo-European" organization of Polytheistic
nature-worshippers. 8 There is a great deal of independence
and flexibility amongst individual groups (called Groves) of ADF as to their exact
beliefs or ethics. ADF members are
encouraged to be aware of how actions impact those around them (including
nature) and this fosters an awareness and respect for both community and the
environment. They believe that all
living things (including the biosphere of the earth itself) are divine. Their
website sets out other examples of their ethical beliefs: "We believe that
human beings were meant to lead lives filled with joy, love, pleasure, beauty
and humor;" "We believe that
human interdependence implies community service;" and "We believe
that people have the ability to solve their current problems, both personal and
public, and to create a better world..." 9
The Order of Bards, Ovates
and Druids
The order of Bards,
Ovates and Druids is an English organization which
traces its origins to 1717.10 It is not specifically NeoPagan but is heavily influenced by Celtic mythology and
Wiccan symbolism. The Order does not
have a set religious structure so membership consists of followers of a wide
range of religions. The only specific
ethical statement they offer is: "Druidry
encourages us to love widely and deeply.
It fosters: Love of the Land, the
Earth, the Wild, reverence for Nature; Love of Peace; Love of Beauty; Love of
Justice; Love of Story and Myth; Love of History and Reverence for the
Ancestors; Love of Trees; Love of Stones; Love of Truth; Love of Animals; Love
of the Body; Love of the Sun, Moon, Stars & Sky; Love of Each Other; Love
of Life." 11 Individual Druids incorporate these concepts into
their personal religious beliefs.
There are other NeoPagan Druid Groups whose beliefs closely resemble each
other, in that they believe in the sacredness of life and nature as well as
respect for individuals and their religious beliefs. Druids tend to be more active politically and
environmentally than some other Pagan groups.
Druid Resources
http://www.ADF.org The website for Ar n'draiocht Fein, the largest
Druid organization in the U.S.
http://druidry.org
The order of Bards, Ovates
and Druids
http://www.geocities.com/nemetongwynvyd
Trefn Gwyddoniad is a Druidic group following a Welsh ritual structure who trace their presence in the US
back to 1792.
http://www.siliconglen.com/scotfaq/2_8.html The IMBAS
mailing list is devoted to Celtic
Reconstructionist Paganism
http://www.keltria.org/ The Henge of Keltria
web site
ASATRU
Asatru is one of
the Reconstructionist religions, meaning that they literally attempt to
reconstruct as accurately as possible the religious practices and beliefs of an
ancient culture. In most Reconstructionist
religions, there is an emphasis on historical accuracy in practice, and while
personal gnosis or non-native additions to the religions are accepted, they are
expected to identify such and not present the later material as historically
accurate.
Asatru is the
reconstruction of the religious practices of the pre-Christian Germanic and
Northern European cultures. They tend to
be very strict in their efforts to preserve the historical and cultural
accuracy of their modern practice. In
the interest of that ideal they usually refer to themselves as "Heathen,"
rather than Pagan. They are proud to be
able to tract their religion to original archeological texts, such as the Norse
Sagas and Eddas.
At its historical peak Asatru spread over all Northern Europe, and
Sweden continued to be ruled by a Heathen king until as late as 1085 CE. 12
Modern Asatru find
their ethical structure in the ancient texts and sagas. There are many rules for living, parables,
and examples of conduct by the heroes and gods of the sagas. In the late 1970's, the founder of the British
"Odinic Rite" set out Nine Noble Virtues
for Asatru to live by (presumably derived from parts of the ancient texts). These
virtues, as set out by the Indiana Asatru Council in 1994 are: Courage, Truth,
Honor, Fidelity, Hospitality, Discipline, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and
Perseverance. 13 While the virtues have been accepted as
a guiding ethical statement by many Asatru groups, the historical validity of
them is widely contested. The stricter
Asatru only accept those virtues described in the Eddas
and Sagas (i.e. Honor, Hospitality) as their religious ethics, although they
may choose to follow the rest out of social, rather than religious
motivations. In Asatru there is a great
importance placed on family and community, as each individual's honor can
affect that of those associated with him/her.
Of utmost importance, of course, is communion with and honoring the
Gods.
Racism
In the early part
of the 20th Century, the Nationalist Socialist Party in Germany under Adolf Hitler stole symbolism of the Asatru religion and
grafted them on to their racist beliefs.
The meanings of the symbols were twisted and changed to fit a political
agenda. The Asatru religion is one that
emphasizes courage, honor and national/community pride, but the major Asatru
organizations in no way tolerate racism.14 Modern Neo-Nazi and other racist groups
continue to hide behind Asatru symbols in order to gain legal validity as a
"religious" movement, and thus encourage false stereotypes on the
practitioners of Asatru.
Asatru Resources
The Poetic Edda and The Prose Edda are the holy books
of Asatru, and are available in many different translations.
The Agricola and the Germania by Corneleius
Tacitus Translated by Harold B. Mattingly, out of
print, but still available in some used bookshops or ebay.
Sagas of the Icelanders by
Jane Smiley, the Sagas are another important source of information on the
ancient practices.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/4178/asatru/asalink.html is a website with links to
many major organizations and smaller kindreds as well
as articles and information pages.
KEMETICISM
Kemet means roughly "Black Earth" and
was the word used by ancient Egyptians to describe their land. Modern
Kemetics seek to reconstruct the religious beliefs and philosophies of the
ancient Egyptians and adapt them to modern civilization.
Not everyone using
Egyptian symbolism in their religious rites is Kemetic. For example there are Tamerans,
people who mix traditional Wicca with Egyptian deities or symbolism; there are
Egyptian Pagans such as the organization "Fellowship of Isis" who
believes that all goddesses are manifestations of the Egyptian Goddess Isis;15
and there are also Setians, who honor the God Set,
seen by some as a deity of chaos or evil, by others one of individuality and
expansion of the mind.16
While all these are Egyptian in appearance, they usually acknowledge
being new interpretations of the ancient structure.
Kemetics use
ancient texts and archeological research to determine how religion was actually
practiced in Ancient Egypt, and attempt to reconstruct it. The major division in Kemeticism is between
the polytheistic Kemetics and the Kemetic Orthodoxy, which is monolatrous.
Kemetic Orthodoxy
The Orthodoxy define their monolatry as somewhere between Polytheism and Monotheism. "A monolatrous religion professes one divine force (Netjer in the Kemetic language, meaning "divine power") that is in turn comprised of other separate, yet interlinked aspects, like a team can be defined both as one entity (the sum of its parts) and by individual members themselves." 17 They are one of the few Pagan religions with a single authority figure, the Nisut-bity(t), or Nisut. The Nisut is seen much like the ancient Pharaohs, as the physical incarnation of a God, specifically Heru (Horus) and is honored as divine.17 The religious practices revolve around formal ritual, personal daily devotions, and ancestor devotions.
Kemetic Reconstructionists
Kemetics who aren't part of the Kemetic Orthodoxy often worship as individuals or smaller groups instead of as one organized body of worshipers. There are individual "cults" who are devoted to one God/ess or another within the faith. There is some room for personal gnosis and interpretation in Kemetic Reconstructionism, provided that it is not mis-identified as authentic ancient practice. 18
Ma'at
Both the Kemetic Reconstructionists and the Kemetic Orthodoxy believe in the concept of "ma'at" as part of both their religious and secular lives. According to Siegfried Morenz in his book Egyptian Religion: "Maat is right order in nature and society, as established by the act of creation, and hence means, according to the context, what is right, what is correct, law, order, justice and truth. This state of righteousness needs to be preserved or established, in great matters as in small. Maat is therefore not only right order but also the object of human activity. Maat is both the task which man sets himself and also, as righteousness, the promise and reward which await him on fulfilling it" 19 Ma'at is a word that is almost untranslatable, but works out roughly to mean balance, order, justice, and truth. The mythology says that ma'at came into being at the creation of the universe, and there has been a struggle ever since, on every level of existence to maintain ma'at. The cohesion of the universe, order of the natural world, and relationships between all living things depend on ma'at. Both priests and judges were considered her servants.
Ma'at was also a Goddess of ancient Egypt, who serves as the judge of souls in the Egyptian underworld. While Kemetics have concepts with at least a surface similarity to sin, judgment and afterlife, they do not have an equivalent to the Christian Hell. Kemetics believed that the prosperity and morality depended on the actions of the individual. Actions that were considered "against ma'at" often had immediate consequences, but could also prevent an individual from entering the afterlife. When a Kemetic dies they believe they are sent to the "Halls of Ma'ati" (translated roughly as the Halls of double, or intensified ma'at).21 There the individual's heart would be placed on a scale opposite the ostrich feather worn by Ma'at as her symbol. They then made forty-two confessions to forty-two Gods concerning how they had lived their lives. 20 Depending on the truth of the confessions, their heart would grow heavy or light. If it were heavier than the feather it would be eaten by a demon and the individual died a final death. If it weighed the same or was lighter than the feather, they were allowed to proceed to the afterlife. The forty-two confessions have many translations, and some have been adapted to fit our lives today. Others are still applicable today and cover issues such as honesty, fairness, correct religious and family behavior, work ethic, etc. 20
Kemetic Resources
http://www.kemetonline.com/links2/Kemetic_Websites/ Kemet
online has a list of other websites with articles and information on Kemetic Reconstructionism
http://www.kemet.org/home.html is the home page for
Kemetic Orthodoxy
http://www.hethert.org/reading.htm has an extensive reading
list on Kemeticism
http://www.inkemetic.org/index.htm - International Order of
Kemetics
HELLENISMOS
Hellensismos is also known as Greek or Hellenic Reconstructionism. They attempt to reconstruct the religious
beliefs and practices of ancient Greek cultures. Primary sources of information used in
re-creating the rites include both modern archeological and anthropological
research on Greek cultures and historical authors such as Homer and Hesiod. There is
some room for personal gnosis and interpretation, provided that it is
identified as such and not as authentic historical practice. There is a heavy emphasis on historical
accuracy, while acknowledging that some practices must be adjusted to be
spiritually relevant today.
It is important to
note that, like the Kemetics, not everyone who includes Greek Gods or symbolism
into their religion is a Hellenic Reconstructionist. There are many eclectic Wiccans who have
incorporated areas of Hellenismos into their worship
without concern for the historical or cultural accuracy of what they do. Since Hellenes believe in Orthopraxy
(right practice) as opposed to Orthodoxy (right belief) they sometimes view the
eclectic approach as impious and disrespectful to the Gods themselves and highly
object to attempts to adapt the symbolism of the Greek Gods to Wiccan ritual
forms, or to make them more "politically correct".
It is difficult to make any general statements about Hellenismos because the religious practices of the Hellenes varied widely by region and patron God/ess. The Hellenics are generally polytheistic, and primarily worship the twelve Olympian Gods (Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaistos, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, Dionysos, Hermes, Ares, Poseidon and Aphrodite) while honoring other Gods, heroes and beings present in Greek mythology.22 There were also many mystery cults outside of mainstream religious practice, the most famous of which were the Eleusinian and the Orphic. The religious ethics of the Hellenismos were/are based wholly on the worship of the Gods. The concept of Eusebeia, or Piety emphasizes correct religious observance as necessary for the health and prosperity of both the individual and the community. 23
The religion is thought to have been based on prayer and
petition to the gods, and there is very little evidence that the ancient Greeks
used any form of actual magic in their religious rites. Very few modern Hellenics incorporate
"spells" and other NeoPagan magical
practices into their religion, but there is nothing disallowing it. Since
cultural life is so entwined with religious practice, social ethics vary
widely, since standards of behavior could depend on the deities one worships
and the Greek school of philosophy one ascribes to. One of
the best-known set of ethical guidelines embraced by modern Hellenics is the
Delphic Maxims. These were phrases
carved around the doorway of the temple at Delphi. The three famous Maxims are: "know thyself", "nothing too
much", and "give surety, get ruin" 24 An example of how this advice has been
incorporated into modern practice can be found in a statement of ethics of the Reconstructionist
organization Hellenion: "know thyself, nothing in excess, and respect for oneself,
others, and the gods." 25
Hellenismos Resources
The Odyssey and The Iliad
by Homer,
available in many translations
Theogony, Works and Days
by Hesiod, available in many translations
http://www.hellenismos.org/ Is an Italian Hellenismos organization with plenty
of English information.
http://sannion.bravepages.com/ Sainnon's Sanctuary. A personal website with
many essays on Hellenic Rconstructionism.
CONCLUSION
The one statement I
hear more than any other when discussing how to portray Pagan religions is that
there is nothing that applies to all Pagan religions. There is no single book or person, or opinion
that can serve as an authority on or in Paganism. The examples I have given are a scant handful
compared to the enormous variety in existence.
Many are religions of one, and are difficult to even put into
words. The followers of Pagan religions
are sometimes in conflict, but that is to be expected considering the wide
range of beliefs and ethics found between them. They are unique individual
faith systems, and I believe we need to take the effort to avoid homogenization
when attempting to join together and form a greater Pagan community. I for one am in agreement that we should not
be willing to sacrifice that individuality for the sake of public opinion.
OTHER RESOURCES
Man and His Symbols by C.G. Jung. Many Pagans believe in the Gods as
Archetypes, rather than actual beings.
http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/ I did not have time to
include Religio Romana
(Roman Reconstructionism) in this essay, but here is a link to a Roman
organization.
www.imbas.org is an excellent site on
Celtic Reconstructionism (a different religion than Druidry)
http://www.religioustolerance.org/santeri.htm is an introductory page on
the Caribbean religion of Santeria.
***
1
The American
Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin
Company.
2 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
3 Thomas, Shea. The Wiccan Rede Project.
4 Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft. Aquarian Press.
1971; London.
5 Thompson,
Lady Gwen and Adriana Porter. "Rede Of The Wiccae." As published
in Shea Thomas's The
Wiccan Rede Project. http://www.pagan.drak.net/sheathomas. 2000. Green
Egg Magazine, 1975.
6 The Druid Grove. "Bards, Ovates and Druids". http://druidry.org/obod/text/OBOD.html
7 Bonewitz, Isaac. "What Is ADF?" 1999; http://www.adf.org/identity/what-is-adf.html.
8 http://www.adf.org
9 Bonewitz, Isaac. "What Do NeoPagan
Druids Believe?" 1998: http://www.adf.org/identity/beliefs.html.
10 The Druid Grove. "Frequently Asked Questions." http://druidry.org/obod/text/OBOD.html
11 http://www.druidry.org
12 http://www.keltria.org
13 Elder Haxton. Indiana Asatru Council. 1994:
http://www.pagansunite.com/article.php?sid=240
14 Heathens Against Hate: http://angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/hah.html
15
The
Fellowship of Isis: www.fellowshipofisis.com
16 The Temple of Set: www.xeper.org/
17 The House of Netjer. "What
is Kemetic Orthodoxy?"
http://www.kemet.org/kemexp1.html
18 Thomas, Denise. "Kemeticism."
International Order of Kemetics website:
http://www.inkemetic.org/index.htm
19 Morenz, Siegfried Egyptian Religion. Cornell University
Press. 1992: Thomas, Denise. "Kemeticism." International Order of Kemetics Website: http://www.inkemetic.org/index.htm
20 The Egyptian Book of the Dead. Trans. by Sir
E.A. Wallis Budge. Appendix. No. 10477, Sheet 22: http://www.lysator.liu.se/(a2)/~drokk/BoD/tcond.html
21 Seawright, Caroline. "Ma'at, Goddess of Truth, Balance,
Order..." Tour Egypt: the Official Site of: The Ministry of
Tourism of Egypt; The
Egyptian Tourist Authority. http://touregypt.net/godsofegypt/maat2.htm
22
Campbell, Drew. "About Hellenismos: Some
Frequently Asked Questions". http://www.nomos-arkhaios.org/faq.htm.
23 Mikalson, Jon
D. Athenian Popular
Religion. University
of North Carolina Press. 1983:
Chapel Hill/London. From Drew
Campbell: "Eusebeia: Principles of Hellenic
Piety" http://www.nomos-arkhaios.org/eusebeia.htm
24 Translation found on http://www.swan.ac.uk/classics/staff/ter/grst/What's%20what%20Things/delphic_maxims.htm
the site mentions that "surety" referred to a practice of pledging
one's self as surety for a bet or loan, if one could not fulfill the obligation
they would become the slave of the other.
25 Hellenion Mission Statement
found at http://www.hellenion.org/mission_statement.html
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