Conversation

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend tonight:

me: the three monotheistic religions -- judaism, islam, and christianity -- have been in holy war since christ's death.
me: they've been capable of some pretty gnarly things
and who knows what will happen next
Tiffany: well judaism- is because they didnt want to accept JC when he was here..
so as punishment
they got war..
:-/
me: and islam because they believed that Muhammad was the prophet, not Jesus
Tiffany: right..
me: so the three religions have been trying to convince each other for 2,000 years that they are right
Tiffany: and well christians.. let the catholics say they could go in a do whatever they wanted.... and have wars..
me: exactly
Tiffany: in the name of god.. :P
me: exactly.
Tiffany: stupid catholics..
me: i don't have much use for them
Tiffany: but ya it will be interesting to see what happens..
me: except to model their ritual. there is comfort in ritual, and that's why so many people go to mass, imo
Tiffany: yep..
me: and i like using ritual in my own practice
Tiffany: thats why they just changed the names of those they worshiped..
me: exactly.
i celebrate like three holidays that the catholics also celebrate
Tiffany: lol really..
me: yep
Tiffany: what
me: christmas, of course -- i celebrate the winter solstice on dec 21
imbolc, a candle festival for Brigid, the goddess of fire in Ireland -- catholics call it Candlemas and it's the feast of St. Brigid
or St. Bridget
Tiffany: huh..
me: and all hallows eve, which some follow as a day of the dead, and i celebrate it very similarly -- a rememberence of the dead. samhain (halloween) is the biggest baddest holiday of them all. :P
(not to mention Easter, which used to be called Ostara and wasn't about Christ resurrecting , and was celebrated march 21) so i guess that's four.
so those catholics just stole a bunch of ideas from someone else.
Tiffany: lol well ya..
Tiffany: since consantine couldnt get the people to follow christiany.. he just said well.. keep your stuff.. but well just call it this.. instead of that.. and just keep it mostly the same..
kinda smart if ya think about it..
:P
me: it is kinda smart
Tiffany: ok so i looked up st bridgt..
me: and exactly the kind of thing modern day americans would fall for
yep?
Tiffany: and she was a nun..
who like built a convent..
me: right
a Cill
it's called
Tiffany: and apparently loved god.. and did the whole normal nun thing..
me: she has an eternal flame in ireland
Tiffany: ysa its something like a church of oak..
me: (well, the goddess does)
a cill is traditionally 19
and then on the 20th day it's said that the goddess keeps the flame herself.
Tiffany: huh..
so why do you worship a nun?
me: well, it's not just her. but brigid, specifically? i love her creativity. i love that she was a self-made woman and built that nunnery up around her. i love that she was selfless, and giving, and caring. and i love that she used fire as a symbol of her love for the earth and it's creatures.
Tiffany: huh..
ok
me: on candlemas
i light a candle every hour
and say a different prayer
for a different person in the family.
for the whole 24 hours.
Tiffany: hmm
i love wikipedia..
That she shares both her name and her feast day with those of the earlier pagan goddess Brigid may indicate that Saint Brigid is partially or entirely a fictional creation based on the pagan figure in order to convert Celts to Christianity; the euhemerization of pagan figures and tradition was a common practice of Christian missionaries. However she may merely have been named after her. Given the struggle Christian missionaries faced in their efforts to preach the Gospel in Ireland, even though they Christianized some elements, the adoption of a pagan goddess into the Communion of Saints may have been an effort to Christianize one of the most enduring pagan goddesses. Most historians say that she was a real person whose life was embellished by imaginative hagiographers, and this seems the most likely scenario. Evidence for a political function of the stories comes from detailed political analysis which demonstrates that they have been created or at least manipulated to document the power of Kildare over surrounding regions..[2]
me: yep :)
me: (i also cook corned beef and cabbage, which is amusing to me at least.)
Tiffany: :) lol
me: i don't think brigid cares :p
Tiffany: lol
me: i have a much different relationship with my gods than a christian does with JC


... which will have to be a story for another time.