tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post8069304837161686871..comments2024-03-27T09:04:12.454-07:00Comments on Baring the Aegis: The girl who kicked the hornets nest (again), part 3Elani Temperancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05611003885755154591noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-91259492137704857722012-12-27T00:15:42.926-08:002012-12-27T00:15:42.926-08:00Thank you, too, for your candor and your willingne...Thank you, too, for your candor and your willingness to share details of your personal life. This discussion has been very enlightening, and I have--in no way--been offended, either by you or anyone else. I fully understand your reasoning when it comes to my practice. If I had your background, I might feel the same. I do not, however, so making this choice is logical to me.<br /><br />Again, thank you, I appreciate the respect you have shown in the face of something so alien to you.<br /><br />May the Theoi grant you blessing.<br /><br />ElaniElani Temperancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05611003885755154591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-51845372492661623562012-12-27T00:10:14.161-08:002012-12-27T00:10:14.161-08:00Dave says:
December 26, 2012 at 10:52 pm
http://al...Dave says:<br />December 26, 2012 at 10:52 pm<br />http://allergicpagan.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/the-role-of-faith-and-hubris-in-paganism/<br /><br />I cannot reply directly to your site due to the comment system. Feel free to cross post this reply to your own post if you so desire.<br /><br />To clarify my own position, I have a preexisting obligation to my people to adhere to our ways as dutifully as possible. I am from a nomadic culture which sees freedom and personal responsibility as values to live by. We interpret this as it being incumbent upon each individual person to live as well and as ably as they can, for the sake of the well being of the group as a whole.<br /><br />While I’m am the last living representative of my culture and therefore it technically “doesn’t matter” how I live, I feel I owe the memory of my people the respect enough to carry on our ways. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to pursue a relationship where I abdicated my personal authority without -exceptional- justification.<br /><br />My original reply was actually written assuming the reality of a literal interpretation of classical theism, despite my own personal theological opinion.<br /><br />Additionally, my original reply was not meant to disparage people who voluntarily enter into relationships with an asymmetrical balance of power, whether religious or sexual or whatever kind of power. Only to assert my opinion that, for myself, it would be inappropriate. While I think that it is an undertaking open to a high degree of abuse on the part of the person or god or whomever receiving the greater share of power in the relationship I do not feel it is inherently immoral to be in such a relationship if entered into as an informed, considered free choice.<br /><br />I do also recognize the validity of the experiences of spirit workers and shamanic practitioners who are taken up against their will. This is a complex issue, morally speaking, and I stand by my assertion that it would be hell for me. I do want to clarify that when I said the only appropriate moral response would be to refuse the divinity in question worship I meant that for myself.<br /><br />I cast no judgment upon those people who continue in relationships of that nature rather than suffer painful consequences. Had I not come from a culture that so valued freedom I would likely not have the motivation to potentially withstand those consequences. Further, I cannot assert, even in the face of that obligation, that I would have the ability to withstand those consequences.<br /><br />Finally, I want to commend you for your commitment to open and honest dialogue. You are a credit to the worthiness of worship of the Theoi that their practitioners should adhere to tolerance and pluralism. Thank you for this discussion. It has been most enlightening.<br /><br />May the wind be at your back.<br /><br />DaveElani Temperancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05611003885755154591noreply@blogger.com