I, here and there, read other blogs, and I pay attention to the news, probably too much. There are certain unsavory trends that keep popping up. Bloggers write of them, sometimes pro, sometimes against. Many of the supposedly spectacular productions seen on TV during award and big time sports, are chock full of these trends.
What are the trends? A sort of pagan revival. I say sort of because I am quite sure that they do not accurately repeat the ancient rituals, and let's hope they don't.
Humans like big showy spectacle. Our modern churches, let's be honest, are fairly drab affairs. So, folks seeing Lady Gaga or Beyoncé or any of a host of performers come out in costume, with lights and explosions and wild dancing, are drawn to it. I understand that, but I doubt most folks are aware that what they are seeing are ancient occult rituals being updated, albeit without most of the spiritual beliefs attached. Actually, when it comes to the performers, or at least those writing and producing their material, they may understand fully the spiritual aspect.
Funny thing about some kinds of spiritual practices; even if the worker doesn't believe a bit of the ritual, the ritual works. It is almost a mechanical thing and it serves the purpose it was designed for, the summoning of spirits. Yes, spirits exist. However, many of them are not the sort of beings you want to be summoning.
The performers who act out these occult workings have a habit of not ending up in very good shape, with alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual troubles, insanity and even suicide resulting. Well, they don't do the audience a whole lot of good either. In case you haven't noticed, the World has problems. That has always been true, but any objective analysis will show that our current issues have become downright bizarre.
These issue are pointed out all over the internet, by countless bloggers. Many count themselves as experts on and practitioners of occult ritual and speak of a great neo-pagan movement. Others, while pointing out the issues, are seemingly afraid to take a stand against this movement. I suppose they feel that to do so would make them seem old and very unhip.
Personally, I look at the days of yore, when the Mystery religions thrived and pagan rituals filled the eyes and ears of humanity. I know of the days when 'the old gods' were summoned, and I know how they were summoned. And, I know that as long as humans mucked about with these entities, whatever they are, dark times ruled the Earth and mankind struggled mightily to get along, to grow enough food, to deal with disease and the whims of nature.
With the rise of Christianity, things changed. Jesus is referred to as 'Logos,' the Word; but, keep in mind that Logos is also the root of logic. The Word is rational, logical. From here, we began to think of God as being rational in his Creation of the Universe. Anything rational can be studied and its governing laws discerned. From this, we began our understanding of this World and began our long slow crawl out of the muck and mire.
You will often see it written that the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, developed as a reaction against Judeo-Christian beliefs. Do not believe that. Next time, I will discuss the Enlightenment. Please check back in a day or two.
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