All the way from the Oracle at the home office in Delphi Greece, here are your Top 10 Lessons Every Hellenic Needs to Learn:

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In the great debate over what is and is not Hellenismos there tends to be two great factions. On one side, there are the Reconstructionists who base their practice on a historic definition, insisting that the religion embody the character, thought, culture, and ethical system of ancient Greece. On the other side are those who wish to take a Neopagan approach, identifying Hellenismos loosely as the honoring/worshiping/using/working with of at least some Greek Gods in some way. This approach favors and accepts Neopagan ideas of eclecticism and very individualistic forms of practice based on unverified (and often unreasoned) personal gnosis, and are often dismissive and have an exclusionary attitude towards traditional principles and values. It is hubris.

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“It’s a matter of ABC: When we encounter ADVERSITY, we react by thinking about it. Our thoughts rapidly congeal into BELIEFS. These beliefs may become so habitual we don’t even realize we have them unless we stop to focus on them. And they don’t just sit there idly; they have CONSEQUENCES. The beliefs are the direct cause of what we feel and what we do next. They can spell the difference between dejection and giving up, on the one hand, and well-being and constructive action on the other. The first step is to see the connection between adversity, belief, and consequence. The second step is to see how the ABCs operate every day in your own life.”

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This was the question posted on our Hellenic Polytheist Forum, “What are the main points of conflict in Hellenics? And what are your opinions on them?” My answer was rather simple. The biggest point of contention is answering the question who is and who is not Hellenic. Virtually every single one of the most heated debates can be traced back to that one question. In answering this query, the Neopagans are mostly on one side, while actual Reconstructionists sit on the other. In the end, most every Reconstructionist can be tolerant of the most liberal Reconstructionist opinion. We all draw from the same body of material, and use the same scholarly guidelines. Neopagans, on the other hand, do not want to “limit” themselves. They opt instead for free-flowing spirituality and practice, while at the same time insisting they be considered Hellenic.

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I have been doing some ruminating on the Pagan subculture in general, and how this relates to Hellenismos…specifically our ethics. I know we’ve been talking quite a bit about ethics, but I think it’s important…because ethics seem to be glossed over, or completely ignored by the Pagan (and Hellenic) community at large because people confuse ethics with “rules” and “dogma”.

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One of the words we often hear or read in discussions regarding Hellenismos is “virtue.” The modern use of the word means moral excellence and the living of one’s life by a set of moral and ethical principles. Greek ethics is not so much the condemnation of individual personal behavior, but is more in line with a set of guidelines of what one should do rather than should not. Virtue ethics emphasizes character, rather than specific rules, as the key element of ethical thinking, and the Greek concept of virtue is very closely linked to the idea of excellence and ideals. This is in a way that goes beyond what many would consider moral or ethical issues. Virtue is not a complicated concept, but it is one that every practitioner of Hellenismos must strive to understand.

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I have recently run across statements similar to the title of this blog where it was implied that people that don’t receive *messages* from the Gods, or are skeptical of other people’s gnosis are somehow not spiritual enough, not pious enough to have intense relationships with the them. There is a judgement that somehow these people must not be practicing correctly, because if you’re doing it right, you should be receiving ecstasy, messages, and personal gnosis out the wazoo.

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You may hear the comment when discussing Hellenismos outside Hellenic circles, “Hellenic Reconstruction is rigid and inflexible.” No, Reconstruction is not rigid, but it is also not easy. Hellenismos requires commitment, fortitude, and determination. It is not an effortless or uncomplicated religion, and does not provide instant gratification. Even if a person is not acting as a scholar, or participating in active reconstruction, there is an expectation of one being erudite, reasoned, and virtuous. It requires work, commitment, and perseverance, but the benefits are lasting and tangible.

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Despise A Slanderer

One of the Delphic Maxims…and one that I wanted to talk about because I’ve found it to be significant on a personal level.

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But I certify you, brethren, that the [message] which was
preached of me is not after man. For I neither received
it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of…
~ Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV) ~

Many reading this may be wondering why a Hellenic Polytheist, writing of the topic on Oracles and seers, would start his discussion with a biblical quote. The answer is simple. It clearly illustrates a point regarding self-anointed oracles, and their reliance on voices in their head above historically accurate information. Paul freely admitted he placed a greater reliance on the voices in his head than on the supposed eye witness testimony of Jesus’ teachings by Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, and others (the others later deemed heretical). Students of history will know that Paul’s conversion, and becoming a leader in early Christianity, caused a fundamental shift in the movement. In fact, it is the teachings of Paul, based on the voices in his head, that modern Christianity is founded, far more than the teachings of Jesus.

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