Comments on KALLISTI: An Apple in Pandemonium: Modern Life and the Gods

I guess I feel like there's not actually that much...

2009-03-16T19:50:00.000-04:00

I guess I feel like there's not actually that much updating to do. Most modern life falls under technology, communication, or civilization, clearly in the provinces of Hephasteus, Hermes, and Athena.

The weather is powerful and always with us, and anyone who lives near or works in or around the sea can attest to the significance that it plays in our lives. Love, marriage, children, and the home may evolve, but the core doesn't really change all that much because of their deep roots in human biology. War is still with us, as is death. We still have agriculture, the changing seasons, etc.

I guess I'm just skeptical about the proposition that computers, while important and significant, have somehow eclipsed the essential building blocks of human existence.

RE Annyikha>>

Lol. . .could be intere...

2009-03-12T23:45:00.000-04:00

RE Annyikha>>

Lol. . .could be interesting. . .surveys for the divine. That would actually make a quite hillarious discordian "channeled" book. I can see it being gobbled up as fact. Could be a great Lokian prank, I know I would burst out in belly-busting laughs if I went into a circle and heard the High Priestess quoting such a tome whilst offering Kraft MacNCheese to the Goddess!

Yes, some concessions are made, but I think it is counter-productive immaturity to bemoan concessions regarding common praxis. Unity equals strength, and there can be unity without oppression. Instead of trying to be mirror opposites of xtianity (which in my mind is still validating their power over us) we should be looking to insular faith traditions such as Yoruban Ifa for cues on how to build our infrastructure. Ifa is a traditional tribal faith that has had little inculturation by Christianity. Their doctrines are safe and their tradition is thriving, especially in America. They are polytheistic *and* an organized religion with recognized hierarchy and elders. We as polytheists can be united under orthodoxy and still have freedom of personal gnosis.

Frith,
Bjorn

@ Pietra:

The "Storm" is very much based fr...

2009-03-12T19:05:00.000-04:00

@ Pietra:

The "Storm" is very much based from the very bleak outlook that Ragnarok offers, especially where Odin is concerned. Wednesday would of course be imbued with the same knowledge and foresight that Odin has, but as he was Wednesday (while Wednesday was not Odin) he naturally took the action he thought he needed to survive: Get more power. Going along with the whole Odin/Ragnarok thing, this is why he was able to convince the Others that the battle was inevitable and that they had better fight it sooner rather than later.

Note that the entirety of the Greek pantheon (was it all of them? It's been a while) stayed the hell out of it. They saw through Wednesday's BS.

Anyway, and this part of my post is for everyone, I couldn't feel stronger about American Gods (and Sandman for that matter). Neil Gaiman has DONE HIS HOMEWORK. American Gods is nothing short of the literary equivalent to this blog; not just this one but all others even remotely resembling it. It doesn't matter how you slice it or what your personal perspectives are - the man is telling the truth within the framework of his beautiful fictional narrative.

@Kaye: Where can I pick up my own iHerm and subscribe to ZeusCAST?

I found your blog and this if one of the First pos...

2009-03-09T06:10:00.000-04:00

I found your blog and this if one of the First post I read. I have to say,I have similar thoughts.Some Hellenists I find have a very static view of the Gods. we often forget these Gods re very real and breath in to are daily lives. Often When I see a Police officer or public servant I see Athena. In Her Glory She is the Protector of are society.
Very well thought out post!ada

Bjorn » I think that Wiccans already have a form o...

2009-03-09T00:43:00.000-04:00

Bjorn » I think that Wiccans already have a form of “orthodoxy” in the Traditional Wiccas (Alexandrian and Gardnerian). Wiccans might not actually come to an agreement about their unspoken common ground (ritual practice, conception of the divine, etc.) because many see imposing structure as a concession to the ways of monotheistic faiths (and some have voiced concerns for what the faith will look like in two hundred years because they already see these concessions).

I think that the first part of making our gods catch up should be the dreaded LJ questionnaires. I mean, what if the Deathless Ones like Kraft macaroni better than ambrosia?!

Really like your genetic metaphor. Makes a lot of ...

2009-03-08T10:40:00.000-04:00

Really like your genetic metaphor. Makes a lot of sense. May have to quote that one sometimes!

Hey there Annyikha, this is a great post! I really...

2009-03-08T00:06:00.000-05:00

Hey there Annyikha, this is a great post! I really like the ideas here and I think it is important for all Recons to really put a lot of thought into how their Gods have evolved through the fifteen-hundred years of so of neglect. We sure have a lot of catching up to do with them yes?!

RE your comment, thank you so much for the thoughts! I will have to research Julien, as I admit I haven't read much on him. I can see a Pagan Alliance. . .the Alliance of course would go over better with us Recons, but I was thinking of Orthodoxy for the wicca-sorts who can't seem to get their facts straight and spend more time bickering about their silly Rede than anything else, I think an Orthodoxy would give them the focus needed, because, let's face it, Recons need the eclectics, as there are more of them. . .they can do the grunt work ;-) j/k. . .love them despite their silly ideas :D

Frith,
Bjorn

nods I like the philosophy behind American Go...

2009-03-07T10:19:00.000-05:00
*nods* I like the philosophy behind American Gods, too --- in fact, the idea that we take our gods with us wherever we go is one of the most lasting things I picked up from it.

The book I mentioned is called: "Litterature and t...

2009-03-07T08:33:00.000-05:00
The book I mentioned is called: "Litterature and the Gods" by Roberto Calasso.

On Amazon:
First Sentence:
The gods are fugitive guests of literature.

First of all, I have to say: I love your blog!
2009-03-07T08:31:00.000-05:00
First of all, I have to say: I love your blog!

Having that said, I go for American Gods... I love this story... It is gripping... It is interesting... It gives food for though, much on the relationship we, politheists, stablish with our Gods and their cult. However, I do not see the storm comming, at least not for the Gods, because I do feel that they come into the news of time.

Roberto Calasso has a book on how literature helped keeping our Gods alive and kicking (lol) into the different centuries after the Ancient World.

And it is true: it is impossible not to see Hermes smiling as we blog, twitt or e-mail.

Comments on KALLISTI: An Apple in Pandemonium: Modern Life and the Gods

I guess I feel like there's not actually that much...

RE Annyikha>>Lol. . .could be intere...

@ Pietra:The "Storm" is very much based fr...