What are Druids? Are there any on here?

Question

I was reading something online about Druidism and it sounded alot like Wicca with a few major differences. The holidays are the same along with some other things.

Please post some websites.

I don't want your opinion on the religion. I don't care what the bible says about it. I just want unbiased facts and websites!

Thanks!

I am a Wiccan so you don't need to give me stuff about Wicca. Just Druidism.

Answer 1

MM!

I agree with you. Neo-druidism is very similar to Wicca, but with some very important differences. I'm pagan myself and have moved to an area where ADF affiliated Druid groves seem to be relatively plentiful. The ADF website (adf.org) has quite a bit of good information. I have begun working through the ADF Dedicant program, so from my limited experience so far, here are the significant differences I've encountered:

1) No circle casting or quarter calling
2) Ancestors and other honored dead are on the alter and appealed to for assistance
3) The 3 crucial elements of an alter are a bowl of water or salt; a fire of some kind; some kind of tree - or representation thereof
4) The concept of "kins" which I have yet to thoroughly understand
5) Gods and Goddesses are not conceptual aspects of a single power or thought-forms (energy coalesced by our belief into an active force) -- they are real beings independent of us, but interacting with us.

I'm sure I've left out something important that I've forgotten or haven't discovered yet, but that's my take on Wicca vs Druid so far.

Answer 2

Druidism is a dead religion, BUT.. there was a college that required their students to have a religion, and a bunch of rebellious college students started up their own society naming it "The new druids of america" in order to get out of the religous requirement--they based their new religion on wiccan and pagan ideals and the religion took off, and that is what druids practice today--what the original druids did, nobody knows..........

Answer 3

The Druids were the priests of the Celts. They were the learned in the elements, magicians, doctors, astronomers, and go-betweens for the common people and the Gods. There has been a movement in Great Britain and now elsewhere to revive the traditions of the Druids.

P.S. I'm Christian and I find all this very fascinating.

Answer 4

Irememberonce a long time ago, being told or reading that Druidic life was more of a philosophy than a religion. They were advisors to kings and such and some were supossedly allowed to survive the christian converting amd such because that they were not a religion and did not blaspheme against the christian god stuff.

I can't tell you how the druidic life changed into spell casting witches in history by this memory, sorry.

Answer 5

Druids are priests of a religion followed in Britain, Ireland and France, especially in ancient times.

i have no idea about their existence now.

Answer 6

There are several kinds of druids today. Here are some websites:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/druid.htm
http://www.adf.org/about/qa.html
http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/femdruids/
This one's not druid oriented, but you can find a LOT of information here:
http://www.witchvox.org/

Answer 7

There are people who call themselves druids but it is doubtful if they have the same rituals and beliefs of the ancient druids

Answer 8

Yes, druids still exist.

Answer 9

I think Druids are the pagan equivalent of priests.

Answer 10

I think you will find these sites of interest.
http://www.neopagan.net/Contents.html
http://tcoto.klaxo.net/rel/DRUID.HTM
http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/druids/adf-faq.txt

Blessings )O(