Modern pagans: well-meaning environmentalists and humanists, or are they a little bit over the edge?
A small group of about 20 pagans belonging to a religious organization known as Ellinais gathered at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens on Sunday to worship the king of the Olympian gods, much to the chagrin of many. This was the first pagan celebration known to have occurred since the Romans banned polytheism in favor of Christianity in the fourth century A.D.
The group, which formed about a year ago in Athens, preaches ecological awareness, world peace, and equality for all people. They follow a calendar at which time begins with the first Ancient Greek Olympiad, in 776 B.C. The worshippers, clothed in ancient Greek costume, burned incense, drank wine, and sang hymns in order to celebrate Zeus and his wedding to Hera.
There is much controversy regarding this group. The Christian church in Greece naturally rejects any of their practices because of their pagan nature. The group did recently win a legal battle in which its religion was recognized as a state religion, and they hope that the Greek government will formally recognize their offices as official places of worship soon. They feel that the Christian church destroyed most of their temples (albeit a long, long time ago), and that they should be allowed to worship at the sites that remain standing. Most of these sites are around 2,000 years old, are protected by the Greek Ministry of Culture, and are not open for public use, naturally.
And why should they be? These ancient sites are protected monuments that celebrate Greece's ancient heritage. Allowing this group to "use" them for their own purposes would be opening a great big can of worms to other groups that would feel justified in their own claims and demnads. Not to mention, it would put a huge physical stress on these already ancient and weathered monuments. This church should raise their own funds, and build a new temple to Zeus, one more in line with their beliefs and practices.
Agree or disagree?
