Glad you enjoyed! I now realize that I had started the Librarian's post and then read another one on something similar, and didn't realize I hadn't finished it - I read it yesterday and am pleased that it's even more directly related than the other one I had in mind (which, checking back, turns out to be a continuation of the one above, so I read them backwards: https://librarianofcelaeno.substack.com/p/an-overlooked-masterpiece-by-c-s).
The main error that I think Librarian and Mark are making is the assumption that in the blending process, Christianity is the more correct, and therefore dominant portion. If you take away that assumption, a "syncretized Western religion" might be one where folks praise the Saints, their ancestors, and then Woden. Or where the Eddas and the Bible are treated as co-equal imperfect paths to higher wisdom. Or a crucifix sits next to a statue of Lugh. Or whatever.
As we've discussed before, for myself personally, it mostly comes down to using techniques or models from Christianity, or appreciating the more Christ-Agnostic aspects of the religion (like the virtues and vices), rather than directly incorporating any Christian worship. That's likely due to a lingering feeling of the "alienness" of Christianity from when I was closer to agreeing with the guy he excoriates in the first piece (not that I ever had the problem with the "Semitic" or "Jewish" aspects of Christianity, just it's far origins and very different viewpoints) along with a lack of personal "responsiveness" from Christian imagery and practice. I tried, and it just didn't work for me. Maybe if I tried again, in a very different headspace, or perhaps approaching other flavors of Christianity (like Orthodox or Catholicism rather than very American protestantism), I'd get something now, but it's not an experiment I feel particularly called to make.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2025-08-25 08:54 pm (UTC)The main error that I think Librarian and Mark are making is the assumption that in the blending process, Christianity is the more correct, and therefore dominant portion. If you take away that assumption, a "syncretized Western religion" might be one where folks praise the Saints, their ancestors, and then Woden. Or where the Eddas and the Bible are treated as co-equal imperfect paths to higher wisdom. Or a crucifix sits next to a statue of Lugh. Or whatever.
As we've discussed before, for myself personally, it mostly comes down to using techniques or models from Christianity, or appreciating the more Christ-Agnostic aspects of the religion (like the virtues and vices), rather than directly incorporating any Christian worship. That's likely due to a lingering feeling of the "alienness" of Christianity from when I was closer to agreeing with the guy he excoriates in the first piece (not that I ever had the problem with the "Semitic" or "Jewish" aspects of Christianity, just it's far origins and very different viewpoints) along with a lack of personal "responsiveness" from Christian imagery and practice. I tried, and it just didn't work for me. Maybe if I tried again, in a very different headspace, or perhaps approaching other flavors of Christianity (like Orthodox or Catholicism rather than very American protestantism), I'd get something now, but it's not an experiment I feel particularly called to make.
Cheers,
Jeff