Druid-Humanist Hybrid - Do such beasties exist?

[emmao1111]

Hi All,

Like most people, my views and beliefs have changed constantly as I have progressed along my path. I have identified strongly with Druidry for some time now, and still do, as I see it as a celebration of life and nature that honours existance in it's entirity. However, I find myself being drawn more and more to more humanist ideals. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Emmao

[DJ Droood]

However, I find myself being drawn more and more to more humanist ideals. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Many people.

Maybe this link would be of some interest:
THE DRUIDIC ORDER OF NATURALISTS
http://caerabred.wikispaces.com/

Druidic Naturalism holds that there is only Nature and that the scientific method is the best suited to determine the nature of Nature. This is balanced with an aesthetic response to the world that is in line with that shared by the Druid community as a whole. Druidic Naturalists will probably tend to be Pantheist, Agnostic or Atheist, yet see in Druidry an appropriate philosophy that allows one to honour ones Land and Ancestors in a way that establishes a healthy, and ethical, relationship with them and with ones fellow creatures.
Druidic Naturalism, as it has developed so far, embraces ritual, art and celebration as effective and satisfying ways to express this secular spirituality.

[emmao1111]

Thank you so much for that. I'm glad to find that I'm not the traitor to druidry I thought I might be.

[DJ Droood]

Thank you so much for that. I'm glad to find that I'm not the traitor to druidry I thought I might be.

no worries...you are on the bleeding edge of druidry...it is for the stout-hearted.

[emmao1111]

I was quite enjoying reading through the link, but by the time I got to Don's and Mob's i'm afraid they lost me. It all seems like silly little boy stuff.

I do think there is room within druidry for people who cannot relate to the idea of archetypes and deity as such, who find nature awesome not because it was created by a god / goddess but because it is divine in it's own right. I like that things have rational explanations, but I also like the fact that some things don't - I enjoy the mystery of that.

Here is a link to something you may find amusing - it's a 9 minute beat poem written by comedian Tim Minchin. Listen until the end. I agree a little more as every year passes. Not entirely, but still...

Be warned - it contains swearing and you may be insulted on the way to the end, but I think the point he makes about our incredible, complex, amazing natural world, kind of makes up for the areas I don't agree with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQibRZSGREM

[wolf560]

...I do think there is room within druidry for people who cannot relate to the idea of archetypes and deity as such, who find nature awesome not because it was created by a god / goddess but because it is divine in it's own right. I like that things have rational explanations, but I also like the fact that some things don't - I enjoy the mystery of that.

I have been a 'Druid' since the mid 1980's and follow this path where 'Deities' and 'Archetypes' are not more important than 'Nature' and that not everything has a rational explanation.
The Celtic Gods and Goddesses are important in their own right and have meaning for me, but they are not the 'Deity' in my Pantheon.

It makes me 'Different', but still 'Druid'....... and that is the 'Magic of Druidry' I think...

[DJ Droood]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[cursuswalker]

I was quite enjoying reading through the link, but by the time I got to Don's and Mob's i'm afraid they lost me. It all seems like silly little boy stuff.

As one of the founders of Caer Abred can I urge you to read on. The whole mob thing is an in-joke that makes a serious point about the differences between us and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

[Dendrias]

However, I find myself being drawn more and more to more humanist ideals.

What exactly do You mean by "humanist ideals"?

[Nicholaas]

I think she is referring to secular humanism, a concept (in short) that deals with defining human ethics in naturalistic terms, ie. without reference to supernatural sources of morality and such.

And kudos for posting Tim Minchin.

(And yes, we do exist, emmao1111.)

[Dendrias]

That clears some thing up. Ta.

[cursuswalker]

We do exist indeed. And we're coming out of the laboratory...

[DJ Droood]

We do exist indeed. And we're coming out of the laboratory...

[Dendrias]

Hey, You're a bunch of Elite-Druids, aren't You?
Work on Your appearance.

[btnewberg]

Hi emmao1111.

The Druidic Order of Naturalists (DON) is probably the closest match, as others have pointed out. There's also a new blog dedicated to combining humanism with mythology called Humanistic Paganism. It's mission is to provide a place for naturalistic points of view within paganism, druidism, and other similar paths. We're slowly building a community over there. And the resources page has numerous other places to look to find like-minded fellowship.

Long story short: no, you're not alone!

Humanistic Paganism can be found here:
http://humanisticpaganism.wordpress.com/

Fans of DON please check it out too!

[Nicholaas]

btnewberg,

Interesting site. I'll be keeping an eye on it. Always good to see more humanist thought in the neo-pagan circles.