Communication is a very important skill. Unfortunately, communication is at the root of many issues within the Hellenic religious community, when we attempt to discuss our religion with those from the greater Pagan community, and even when the greater Pagan community has discussions with itself. Words have meaning, and knowing the meaning of words is important to being able to discuss issues in a civilized manner, and being able to make your point. Of course, this is not a universal problem, but it is a big enough problem that it should be discussed. Therefore, I want to run down a few commonly used terms and phrases, used by Hellenics and Pagans alike, as examples of where communication starts to break down.

Let us start with two of the most common words being batted around: eclecticism and syncretism. These two words are a source of a lot of miscommunication and misunderstandings. What you have is some individuals using the word eclectic for describing their spirituality and personal religion, but what they are actually practicing is romanticism. Others use the word syncretism when what they mean is eclecticism. Let us list these words and their meanings.

• Romanticism: a complex, self-contradictory philosophical movement with an emphasis on imagination and emotions.
• Eclecticism: the theory or practice of selecting what appears to be best from various (often contradictory) doctrines, methods, or styles.
• Syncretism: the harmonization and reconciliation of two or more originally different principles, practices, or groups.
• Rationalism: reliance on reason as the basis in the establishment of religious truth.

I added rationalism in our list to provide contrast to romanticism. When a Reconstructionist makes a statement that some Neopagan groups use romanticized notions of the ancient religions, as the bases of practice, they are stating that these Neopagans are using an idealized image, rather than a historic actuality. Some Neopagans will also call their practice eclectic, implying they are choosing from various sources, when in fact their personal theologies are based on intuition, imagination, and feeling, rather than actually drawing from multiple theories, styles, or ideas. Their practice is therefore Romanticism, not Eclecticism.

Syncretism is a term more often used by self-identified Reconstructionist, but its misuse means that there are those who think they are Reconstructionists when they are not. Virtually every Reconstructionist religion will make use of Syncretism. I live in the 21st Century, and in the United States, therefore my reconstruction of the ancient Greek religion must be modified and adapted to the world I live in. Some misuse the word to validate culling from a variety of ancient practices, most often guided by intuition and feeling. They often do not reconcile contradictory beliefs or practices, making use of paradigm shifting, and are therefore eclectic. Just because a practice appears inspired by historically accurate information, it does not automatically translate into Reconstructionism if a new system is being created.

Another source of miscommunication is a lack of understanding when it comes to the word orthopraxy. Most people can tell you that orthopraxy translates to “correct practice” but some fail to see what that actually means. I read from one Neopagan, “You Hellenics spout off about orthopraxy, but all I see is dogma.” A fixed doctrine and dogma are aspects of an orthodoxy, not orthopraxy, and this individual believed that orthopraxy somehow meant unstructured practice.

• Orthopraxy: correctness in practice and adherence to religious obligation, including ritual style, interpersonal acts, and obedience to religious laws.
• Orthodoxy: belief or practice conforming to an established branch of knowledge or system of belief or a definite authoritative tenet.

Orthopraxy refers to accepted religious practices. It includes ritual style, but also the observance of both religious and interpersonal obligations. Orthodoxies place what is taught and believed, on a theological level, as the most important. Therefore, (as an example) Christians will have more diversity in practice but more rigidly hold to belief, while Hellenics overall will have more diversity in belief but less diversity in practice. For instance, Christians believe that the only true way to be “saved” from “sin” is the acceptance of Jesus as their Savior, while a Hellenic states the only salvation from “sin” is through virtue, action, and personal responsibility. Orthopraxy does not mean personal ethics and practices based on imagination and emotions. It is not about what “feels” right, but what “is” right.

Another set of words that causes some strife are scholarly and anti-intellectual, and the misuse of the words wisdom and knowledge. Reconstructionists use a scholarly methodology, but some misuse the word to mean only learned or well read. Additionally, some interpret statements of there being an atmosphere of anti-intellectualism in the Pagan Community to mean that Pagans are uneducated or stupid. Others have an over-inflated ego thinking their knowledge of facts is a sign of wisdom, but they have little understanding or insights into the information they possess.

• Scholarly: concerned with academic learning and research.
• Learned: of or showing learning or knowledge; to become well-informed.
• Anti-intellectualism: philosophy that ascribes intellect and reason as less important than emotions in understanding reality.
• Wisdom: the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.
• Knowledge: acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation.

Other words that some people do not have a clear understanding of are Hellenist, Hellenistic, Hellenism, and Hellenismos. There are some Neopagans who believe that one can be a Wiccan or NeoDruid, and (because they honor, “work with,” or “use” the Greek Gods or the names of the Greek Gods) that they are also Hellenists and practitioners of Hellenismos. These words have specific meanings and the Gods alone do not characterize them. This can link back to Hellenismos being an orthopraxy, where religious and interpersonal obligations most define the religion.

• Hellenist: (1) a devotee or student of Greek civilization, language, or literature; (2) a practitioner of Hellenismos.
• Hellenism: devotion to or imitation of ancient Greek thought, customs, or styles.
• Hellenismos: (1) the belief system of the Greeks; (2) the modern reconstruction of the ancient Greek religion.
• Hellenistic: relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization.

Of course, practitioners of Hellenismos do honor the Greek Gods, but in the context of being a reconstruction of the ancient Greek religion. It is not just that we honor the Greek Gods, but how we honor them and in what context.

If we go even a step further, we can see that lacking the understanding between terms like Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Greece, Hellenistic civilizations, and the Hellenistic period causes even more disharmony when discussing what is and is not the Ancient Greek religion and therefore, what is, and is not Hellenismos. Rome became a Hellenistic civilization, but Rome (while in many ways emulating the Greeks) was not Ancient Greece. The Hellenistic period is the time of Greek playing a dominant role and affecting the ancient Near East and Mediterranean region.

Beyond the misunderstanding of different words’ meanings, there is also a concerted effort by some people to undefine many words. There are those who want to identify as Reconstructionist because they are very knowledgeable about a particular cultural religion, but they fail to be scholarly in the reconstruction of that religion or traditional in the practices. They want the title because of the image, but are unwilling to do the work. It is the recon version of a fluffy bunny.

We also have this with people who try to undefine the specific Reconstructionist religions, like Hellenismos. Hellenismos is characterized by the adherence to Greek customs, thought, and ethics, but there are those who attempt to undefine the word to loosely mean any practice that honors, “works with,” or “makes use of,” the Greek Gods. Again, it is image over substance. They want the title of Hellenismos, and the association to one of the greatest civilizations in history, but want to practice something more akin to Eclectic Neopaganism.

Sentences and words have meaning. The meaning of the words, and the arrangement of the words in a sentence, determines the implication. The linguistic meanings of sentences, and the meaning of words, function to allow speakers and writers to create understanding. We must know the conventional meaning of words, and be skilled in the basic principles of language, before we use them, so we may communicate clearly. Speakers and writers must be clear. We must not use one word but mean another, when we attempt to discuss our religion with those from within and outside the greater Pagan or Hellenic communities. Those who do not understand the words they are using, or engage in intellectual masturbation, cause too much strife in our community.

Tags: eclecticism, Hellenism, Hellenismos, Hellenist, Hellenistic, Learned, Orthodoxy, orthopraxy, Rationalism, Romanticism, Scholarly, syncretism