Why are there No Pagan Temples?
Jan. 24th, 2020 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
causticusSomeone I had been conversing with somewhere else on the internet brought up the question of why are there practically no pagan temples in the West today? Presumably he's asking why there are few, if any, despite the fact that there are sizable numbers of people who identify as pagan?
Yes, I certainly agree that it would be nice if people who identified as Pagan had their own public places of worship. In an ideal world, yes. But of course we are speaking in terms of shoulds rather than what is practically possible right now. Aspirational sentiments can serve as a good rallying cries but we have to balance this with reality.
Firstly, the idea that Neopagans somehow lack the civil rights necessary to build their own temples seems rather silly and divorced from reality. Absolutely nothing beyond the lack of funds and organization is preventing any self-identified pagan from establishing a religious site (here in the US at least. For Americans, it's not so much an issue of lacking the rights to build one, but rather it's the fact that pagans living an any particular local area are so few in numbers and so fragmented into different brands of neopaganism, i.e. Heathenry, Wicca, Hellenism, Druidry, ect. This state of organizational disarray really hard to form cohesive local communities based around any kind of general "pagan" identity, much less unified mode of worship or ritualism that a temple service would require. In my view, a solid community with a set of shared standards is a prerequisite for pagan religious institutions to become a thing. Yes, some degree of institutionalization is needed for very expensive projects like physical edifices (temples) to be possible.
Secondly, I think we need to differentiate the religious congregation of a confessional creed (like an Abrahamic religion) from that of actual/historical polytheistic institutions. The pagan temples of classical antiquity were pretty much civic in nature; and this is because they were civic extensions of the whole society. Each temple would serve a different civic function. These weren't places where popular congregations would gather for community-building or moralistic purposes. The Judeo-Christian concept of a religious congregation would have been a foreign concept in pre-Abrahamic societies. Actual pagan worship and practice for the common person was done in the home, like the Roman Lares (hearth altar).
On the topic of institutionalizing neopaganism, frankly, I don't really see the neopagan movement growing much in the coming years; in fact it will likely stagnate and possibly contract. Much of this is due to the fact that the focus of mass culture right now is on politics and away from spirituality/religion, and it will likely continue like this for the next decade or so. And secondly, (in my view) much of the neopagan movement has simply been a lifestyle accessory expression for the usual secular-leftist-progressive types who have used paganism as a means of rebelling against their Christian upbringings. And now there's a huge backlash against progressivism that will only grow stronger and those who do re-embrace religion will likely opt for going back to Church, even if their religiosity is shallow and done mostly for political reasons; but sure some will go pagan or take up an Eastern religion. I think broadly, the moral void will be filled by people veering away from secular materialism and embracing what's already out there and well-established as far as religion is concerned.
In summary, I don't think the establishment of pagan temples will really become a viable endeavor anytime soon. The mere mention of this wish immediately raises the obvious question: Just who will fund such an expensive endeavor? Maybe when there are neopagan billionaires and multi-millionaires out there, a few of them might decide to kick in the funds and build a few temples, even if these are just vanity projects.
And finally, the idea that building a temple is something that starts a community is putting the cart before the horse. Remember that long before there were physical temples, people largely practices their natural religions in open outdoor spaces and in their homes. Dedicated pagans today can set up worship spaces in their living rooms and then invite their local pagan friends over periodically for something resembling an official service or whatnot. Remember that the first Christian congregations took place in catacombs, cellars, private homes and other discrete locations. It was only when Christian communities grew to critical mass size that the resources became available for the construction of physical churches.
Pagans need Temples too
Most who read the things I write here can figure out quickly I'm no Christian. I was until I was 17. I left for many reasons. Though an incident at the church gave things a big push lets leave it at that. I still respect those that worship their religion. I just no longer walk that path and I turn to worship the gods of my ancient ancestors. Not any particular faith mind you I lean to the Greek and Viking gods the most. I like Celt and Wiccan as well.
A jack of all... Faiths?
However, I have noticed those that follow these beliefs don't have a place of worship.
A devoted Temple if you will.
Catholics, Jewish Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and even Buddhists have Temples and even get tax exemptions. But never those of Pagan followings. Druids I think are the only recognized religion so far by the united kingdom but that's it I believe. Term Pagan itself was made up by Christians as a blanket term for any group that didn't believe in their religion. That being said I highly doubt they many nations would allow a Pagan Temple to be set up anywhere. Even here in the U.S.A., it seems that we can't have a place to be safe from judgment and worship our gods freely without being called a cult or "Idol worshipers". Even told that it's a dangerous idea.
Why?
You're allowed to build Cathedrals and churches for your "God" why not us. Why can't we build a temple and statues of our heroes? For the most part Wiccan, Druid, and most earth-based religions are fine with being close to nature setting up shines in forest and fields. Their temples would be perfect in a greenhouse. I picture Hellenist(Grecian Gods) would set up in a greenhouse or farm to worship Demeter she is a goddess of the harvest after all. It would be very fitting. She one had large Temples devoted to her as did all the greek gods in ancient times.
Not anymore, the old temples are now nothing more the crumbling ruins.
One of my readers ask me if I would want to see a project were temple to serve as a place of worship for a pagan religion. I think it would be a good thing and should be considered.
I love to see a temple to the old gods to be built. That would be fair right? I'd build one in America as well as Europe maybe even Brittian and Germany.
After all, We have in the Constitutional a right to worship any religion we wish.
I that's true then Pagans have to same rights as anyone else to build places for our gods and goddess as well. What do you think? Even the leftist crazy death cult have a place here why not us?
It's long past time of Pagans to reclaimed our right for a place worship as well.
Yes, I certainly agree that it would be nice if people who identified as Pagan had their own public places of worship. In an ideal world, yes. But of course we are speaking in terms of shoulds rather than what is practically possible right now. Aspirational sentiments can serve as a good rallying cries but we have to balance this with reality.
Firstly, the idea that Neopagans somehow lack the civil rights necessary to build their own temples seems rather silly and divorced from reality. Absolutely nothing beyond the lack of funds and organization is preventing any self-identified pagan from establishing a religious site (here in the US at least. For Americans, it's not so much an issue of lacking the rights to build one, but rather it's the fact that pagans living an any particular local area are so few in numbers and so fragmented into different brands of neopaganism, i.e. Heathenry, Wicca, Hellenism, Druidry, ect. This state of organizational disarray really hard to form cohesive local communities based around any kind of general "pagan" identity, much less unified mode of worship or ritualism that a temple service would require. In my view, a solid community with a set of shared standards is a prerequisite for pagan religious institutions to become a thing. Yes, some degree of institutionalization is needed for very expensive projects like physical edifices (temples) to be possible.
Secondly, I think we need to differentiate the religious congregation of a confessional creed (like an Abrahamic religion) from that of actual/historical polytheistic institutions. The pagan temples of classical antiquity were pretty much civic in nature; and this is because they were civic extensions of the whole society. Each temple would serve a different civic function. These weren't places where popular congregations would gather for community-building or moralistic purposes. The Judeo-Christian concept of a religious congregation would have been a foreign concept in pre-Abrahamic societies. Actual pagan worship and practice for the common person was done in the home, like the Roman Lares (hearth altar).
On the topic of institutionalizing neopaganism, frankly, I don't really see the neopagan movement growing much in the coming years; in fact it will likely stagnate and possibly contract. Much of this is due to the fact that the focus of mass culture right now is on politics and away from spirituality/religion, and it will likely continue like this for the next decade or so. And secondly, (in my view) much of the neopagan movement has simply been a lifestyle accessory expression for the usual secular-leftist-progressive types who have used paganism as a means of rebelling against their Christian upbringings. And now there's a huge backlash against progressivism that will only grow stronger and those who do re-embrace religion will likely opt for going back to Church, even if their religiosity is shallow and done mostly for political reasons; but sure some will go pagan or take up an Eastern religion. I think broadly, the moral void will be filled by people veering away from secular materialism and embracing what's already out there and well-established as far as religion is concerned.
In summary, I don't think the establishment of pagan temples will really become a viable endeavor anytime soon. The mere mention of this wish immediately raises the obvious question: Just who will fund such an expensive endeavor? Maybe when there are neopagan billionaires and multi-millionaires out there, a few of them might decide to kick in the funds and build a few temples, even if these are just vanity projects.
And finally, the idea that building a temple is something that starts a community is putting the cart before the horse. Remember that long before there were physical temples, people largely practices their natural religions in open outdoor spaces and in their homes. Dedicated pagans today can set up worship spaces in their living rooms and then invite their local pagan friends over periodically for something resembling an official service or whatnot. Remember that the first Christian congregations took place in catacombs, cellars, private homes and other discrete locations. It was only when Christian communities grew to critical mass size that the resources became available for the construction of physical churches.
