Pagan Prompt

Acculturation or so-called "cultural theft" is an enormous source of debate in the pagan community.  There are some who feel acculturation is as natural as breathing and that every religion and culture has evolved by "borrowing" from others and thus ecceltic and neo-pagan paths are justified in their "borrowing".  Others feel that it has been taken too far and religions lose their meaning when they are diluted by other traditions.  Where do you land in the debate?

Honestly, I tend to think of this as something that people worry about so that they can take their minds off of things that are really important in their lives.  Rather than fighting whatever demons or battles that you need to in order to better yourself and your place in the world, people tend to focus on 'the other'.

If you are alive and practising your religion and passing your ways on to your descendants, then it isn't possible for someone to take your culture away from you.  You have it.  You are using it.  As long as you live and breathe, your culture and your religion are vital and real and done just how you like it.

This debate reminds me a lot of the 'You can't call yourself Wiccan' debate.  No one can take your culture away from you.  It doesn't hurt you for someone else to make themselves look foolish.

--Phae

And Before I Forget

For those on my FList who love Fraggles ... Check it out!

--Phae