Druids in America?

[ravenfolk]

Here is an interesting link that has a little bit of everything in it about about Welsh people in America. Feel free to commnet on its content.

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/ ... icans.html

ravenfolk

[halfelf]

my question is, has anyone considered the simalirties of druid symbols and masonic symbols? Not saying they are the same, but just as the christians took our holidays and stories for their own, and persecured all others, it's just a thought that mabey the forfathers decided to incorperate other "secret socities" in effort to preserve our faith. Of cource, now humankind has twisted everything to their own benefit. I would like to have someones opinions at least to mabey explore a train of thought. I'm not saying druids became masons just they may have copyrited as did the "christians".

[Aitrus]

Very interesting discussion! I think that the core philosophies of both Native Americans and Druids, not to mention countless other native religions around the world, are much the same. A similar question could be, were there any Native Americans in pre-Roman Europe? Aside from the differences in art, language and other things, the religions are much the same in their basics and reverence for the Earth as a whole.

When people ask me my religion, I have a pattern answer I give the often blank looks I get. I usually tell them that Druidry is a lot like the beliefs of Native Americans, only it centered on the Celts and Gauls of ancient pre-Christian Europe. That, in essence, it's the beliefs of the native peoples of Europe before Roman times. If I explain it that way, I can usually get the idea across.

[ravenfolk]

my question is, has anyone considered the simalirties of druid symbols and masonic symbols? Not saying they are the same, but just as the christians took our holidays and stories for their own, and persecured all others, it's just a thought that mabey the forfathers decided to incorperate other "secret socities" in effort to preserve our faith. Of cource, now humankind has twisted everything to their own benefit. I would like to have someones opinions at least to mabey explore a train of thought. I'm not saying druids became masons just they may have copyrited as did the "christians".

This is an interesting little bunny trail on the subject of Druids in America...
Check out this link it has some interesting points on the Masons and Druids.

http://www.freemasonry.dept.shef.ac.uk/ ... 392&op=387

Personally, I would tend to think that those who founded and developed the order would have probably knowingly and maybe even unknowingly influenced its development with their own personal cultural beliefs. It seems to be a trend in history to blend rituals and beliefs when new religous systems and organizations would emerge. One also needs to take into consideration the reaction of the established church at the time of the Masons development. Any rituals or beliefs contrary to accepted doctrine would more then likely need to be done in seceracy. Anything seen as Pagan in origin would not have been accepted. I think many of the symbols they use can be traced to other cultures.

Thomas Paine seem to believe that the Masons and the Driuds were one and the same.

http://www.deism.com/paine_essay_masonry_2.htm

ravenfolk

[ravenfolk]

Very interesting discussion! I think that the core philosophies of both Native Americans and Druids, not to mention countless other native religions around the world, are much the same. A similar question could be, were there any Native Americans in pre-Roman Europe? Aside from the differences in art, language and other things, the religions are much the same in their basics and reverence for the Earth as a whole.

When people ask me my religion, I have a pattern answer I give the often blank looks I get. I usually tell them that Druidry is a lot like the beliefs of Native Americans, only it centered on the Celts and Gauls of ancient pre-Christian Europe. That, in essence, it's the beliefs of the native peoples of Europe before Roman times. If I explain it that way, I can usually get the idea across.

This too is an intersting bunny trail...

I tend to think that the early history of man and how many groups traveled from one place to another, and sometimes back to where they started well...that Native Americans ancestors could have maybe visited in Europe at some point in history. Isn't it a belief of most historians that the Native Americans originated in Asia and migrated across the Bering land bridge, then down into North America? One thing I think historians have learned is what may be true one day could end up being totally wrong the next, so with that said and with the way people to tend to move around, I guess anything could be possible.

I think many tribal societies share similar beliefs because of their perspective of the world around them. They learned by what they observed and experienced. An understanding and respect for nature,animals weather and so on became part of their belief systems. It is interesting to note how these societies understood the circle of life, the way everything is connected. It is kind of sad to think that many people have losted this connection.

ravenfolk