From: newt@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Michael Steven Newton)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic
Subject: Re: Celts-Christianity-Catholicism
Date: 15 Oct 92 07:42:09 GMT
Organization: Glasgow University Computing Science Dept.

wb9tow@bluegrass.ecn.purdue.edu (Steven A Marquie) writes:

  This guy does appear to be serious.  I mean, even after our corrections,
  he persists in his delusions.  

>	As a Wiccan, I practice certain Celtic religious beliefs that predate 
>catholicism by several hundred years.  In particular tramsmigration.  (Matthew
>Simply put, one who believes in this accepts possibilities of previous and past
>lives, different gender and other species.  

  Well, transmigration, reincarnation, metampsychosis, etc are common
  beliefs amongst native peoples.  They aren't uniquely Celtic by any
  stretch, and while they may be necessary beliefs for a Celtic belief
  system, they are *certainly* not sufficient.

>	Certain dieties from Celtic religion were used by the catholics in 
>order to gain support "quietly" from the Celts.  After all, it is easier to 
>asimilate a race into another culture rather than conquor.  

  "Catholicism" is a later term for the earlier Christians.  Calling
  these early Christians Catholics is like the native Americans of the
  west coast "Californians".  A bit premature.

  Also, this statement in general is very misleading, and shows you don't
  understand the conversion process very well.

  As well as the fact that the Celts were not truly a "race", if such a
  thing exists at all, but a culture.

>	Next, the works I was refering to date from the 1800's and the early 
>1900's.  In particular, Celtic Myths and Legends, T.W. Rolleston, Harrap, 1917,
>Ancient Religions, Margret Murry, 1926, and Keltic Researches, Nicholson, 1904.
>All clearly explain the concept of the early religions of Celtica. (Which by 
>the way, Matthew, includes all Celtic people, not just Ireland.)

  These are really outdated texts, still under the shadow of Frazerian
  thought.  Try something more up-to-date, like MacCana's "Celtic
  Mythology".

  Besides the fact that no one *really* knows all the facts about Celtic
  religion - just scraps here and there that we try to piece together.

>books and ideas. But, this is my religion and it works for me, let alone feels
>propper.  I have been practicing it for 17 years and DONT need anyone to change
>me now.  I DONT TRY TO CONVERT OTHERS, NOR DO I WORSHIP THE DEVIL( that's 
>a christion deity, not mine)JUST DONT TRY TO CHANGE ME!!!

  Yes, this is clearly YOUR religion, not the religion of the Celts or
  ANY OTHER ANCIENT PEOPLE!  Please get that clear in your head and stop
  projecting on to other cultural groups!  And try reading some good
  scholarly texts!

>And I'm not better than others, just tring to be better for me.
>If we were livign a true Celtic life, Women would have true rights, and noone
>would care who you slept with last night.

  Woman's rights is an ambiguous issue - not as clear as some would
  believe.  Celtic society was, after all, a slave-owning aristocracy
  with democracy and law for the free peoples.

  And sex has never been *that* free in any society.  After all, we *are*
  human beings.  Try reading the "Ta/in Bo Cuailgne" sometimes.

  -- mn
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic