Pagan traditions and cultural traditions?

Question

This is a question for Pagans only. How important is it for you to follow a tradition that comes from your cultural (and genetic) background; and if yes; why?

I'm a little sad some of you don't feel comfortable talking about this stuff here. My intention was to ask a question that was a genuine question rather that the posturing and opinionated statements posing as questions, that usualy goes on here. I do understand your reasons though...

Answer 1

Very important, to the point I feel it's the only religion I could ever follow. That is one of the major reasons I practice Asatru, the ancestor worship element.

And unlike everyone else, I have no problem explaining why. (Granted, it might give someone the wrong idea, but what the Hel.) Asatru is the ancient ethnic indigenous spirituality of the Norse folk. My ancestors hail from Denmark and Iceland;
I believe we are more like our ancestors than we are like anyone else. I inherited not only their general physical appearance, but also their predominant mental, emotional, and spiritual traits. I think and feel more like they did. The religion which best expressed their innermost nature - Asatru - is better suited to me than is some other creed which started in the Middle East. Christianity for example is an alien religion which does not speak to my soul. And the same really also goes for some of the other Pagan traditions (no offense intended), but I just could never feel any connection with the Greek or Celtic deities, like I do with the Norse ones.

The first Asatruar I ever met was an Folkish Heathen, I got into an argument with him about religion and he was actually trying to convert me to Asatru (Yes, there isn't the same taboo against proselytizing in Asatru as there is with Neo-Pagan religions). I remember being shocked that their were still people who worshiped the Old Norse Gods, it intrigued me. Now, while I obviously do not agree with the Folkish Asatruars; one thing he said did get me thinking, he asked why was I practicing a Middle Eastern religion when I wasn't Middle Eastern. It was a good point I thought. Like I said, I do believe we are more like our ancestors, so it made sense to me.

Take my story how you will. I'm not a Folkish Heathen but I do believe that ancestry plays a big role in how well connected you are to a religion.

Answer 2

That I follow a cultural tradition is, to me, more important than any actual genetic link to that culture. The culture and traditions provide context and meaning to the religion - you get a full tapestry of belief, instead of just threads of it here and there.

Delving into the past, it does appear that I've got Celtic and Germanic heritage, so I suppose you can cite that as being part of my background, though I'd say that my religious choices are more the result of the values I was raised with. Of course, those are values my current religion value, so you could say that I'm splitting hairs, but it was far more a question of how my heart beats, as opposed to what blood flows through it.

Answer 3

Not a pagan,but i have known a few; I think it goes back to either 1) the connection between race & spirit,or 2) the simple fact that the creator provides the different cultures of the earth/universe with different paths or approaches to spirituality. Sadly,adherents often confuse the two,leading to race substituting for culture. Anyone brought up in say Sweden is going to have a certain cultural outlook and their traditional religion will speak to them best. As far as genetics is concerned,you'd have to know how huge your genetic background is and how much went into to have any conception how silly that is. I'm a dead ringer for my great-great grandfather - one of them I mean - so where is the genetic content for the other great-great grandparents and everyone in between them and me?

Answer 4

My genetic background is quite diverse and I don't even know half of it! I follow a reconstructionist path of an area where some of my ancestors may have been. But I honor all of my ancestors regardless of where they lived. This is important to me. I follow a Celtic path and those are the deities that reach out to me and sometimes ancestors from that general area. Although no Lenape (NA) deities have reached out to me, my ancestors from those tribes do keep in contact with me. I honor them in ways that I think they'd like but from within a Celtic framework. It's important to me to honor my ancestors because they are the reason that I am here and they give me guidance and support. I can't imagine living without the strong family ties that I have with my ancestors. I'd be a bit lost.

I don't mean to sound confusing. It really isn't confusing to me. It's just the way things are. My deities and ancestors are just there and I honor them. I don't know if I could connect with deities from a culture that I didn't have ancestors in. I've never tried.

Answer 5

I am open to all traditions and I've come to embrace many that are not of my cultural or genetic background.

Answer 6

Agreeing with Vinslave I'll go so far as to say that there are reasons I follow certain traditions.

This is one of those "coffee house" questions that can lead to some amazing discussion and discovery. However Y!A doesn't qualify

:/

Answer 7

I'm sorry to say that I have to agree with Vinslave and Zimmia. It's a very good question, but such things are too personal to talk about on a forum such as this.

Answer 8

I know the answer but you said pagans only and I am not a pagan. I wish we all would grow up.

Answer 9

I'm going to have to go with Vinslave and Zimmia on this one. Excellent question, but this forum would do nothing but produce negative energy. Blessings be upon you.

Answer 10

Yes, long story that I'd rather not share for prying, unkind eyes.

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