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[Marcus S]

As there is no such thing as a stupid question I thought I'd share something that has been on my mind. Why are followers/practitioners of Druidry referred to as Druids? A Druid is a particular role and also an aspect of Druidry along with the Bard and Ovate.

If Druidry/Druidism roughly means philosophy or way of the Druids, should that make it's followers/practitioners Druidic or Drudist?

Thanks,

Marcus

[Marcus S]

Generally I mean labels, such as in various world religions:

Christianity - Christians
Judaism - Jewish
Islam - Muslim
Buddhism - Buddhist
Hinduism - Hindu
Doaism - Doaist
Wicca - Wiccan
Heathenism - Heathen
Paganism - Pagan
etc

[Whitemane]

Sometimes a label can have a generic and a specific use, e.g dolphin.

In a case like this, don't worry too much about labels. It's what you believe that matters.

[treegod]

Self-identification. I think that's what it boils down to.

I used to refer to myself as a "freelance Druid". Now I'm part of OBOD, and am currently working through the third grade, I call myself an "OBOD Druid". I don't generalise "druidry" because I don't see it as a particular thing; the "brand" is specific to context. My "druidic context" I see as OBOD, if you want to make it official.

[Jack Greenman]

Generally I mean labels, such as in various world religions:

Christianity - Christians
Judaism - Jewish
Islam - Muslim
Buddhism - Buddhist
Hinduism - Hindu
Doaism - Doaist
Wicca - Wiccan
Heathenism - Heathen
Paganism - Pagan
etc

Marcus,

FIrst nitpick: in your second example, I'd put "Jew" rather than "Jewish" on the right (all the other right-hand items are nouns: a Christian, a Musilim, a Daoist, etc., whereas "Jewish" is an adjective).

Then I'd try to order each pair of words to put the basic one first and the derived one second, e.g.:
Christian - Christianity (a Christian is a follower of Christ; Christianity is his belief system)
Jew - Judaism (a Jew is a member of a certain people; Judaism is his belief system)
Heathen - Heathenism (a Heathen is a believer in the Old Gods; Heathenism is his belief system)

That is, the belief system is defined via the believer.

BUT:
Daoism - Daoist (Daoism is a defined belief system; a Daoist is someone who follows this system)
Buddhism - Buddhist (Buddhism is defined as the teachings of Buddha (et al.); a Buddhist is someone who follows this system)

Here, the believer is defined via the belief system.

And what about Islam - Muslim? Is one of these "labels" derived from the other, or is it rather that "Islam" is the religion founded by Mohammet, and "Muslim" is a person who follows Mohammet? It follows - logically, rather than by definition - that Islam is the Muslim's belief system.

In the case of "Druid - Druidry - Druidism," the basic word is obviously "Druid," and the "labels" for the belief system / spiritual Path are derived from it. But does this make "Druid" analogous to "Christian," "Muslim," "Jew" or "Heathen?" These terms apply to the entire community of adherents to the respective religion, whereas "Druid" designates a member of a certain profession in pre-Christian Celtic society.

So is "Druid" perhaps better seen as a parallel to "Clergyman" (in Christianity), "Rabbi" (in Judaism), "Imam" (in Islam) or "Lama" (in Buddhism)?
"Druidry" would then be the activity of Druids, and "Druidism" the belief that Druids and Druidry are essential to spiritual life - irrespective of whether your notions of the Divine and polystheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic or otherwise.

Just some thoughts, based more on linguistics than on comparative religious studies! Do they make sense?

Blessings,
Jack Greenman

[Marcus S]

Thanks Jack, yes it makes perfect sense to me.

[Gwion]

While I was thinking about your question, Jack Greenman has posted and explained my thoughts on grammar and linguistics much better than I could.

I’d take one point further though. From my reading, a large number (majority?) of Druids seem to practice alone and, as far as I can tell, all believe that we each make our own, independent contact with our deity. In many versions of the “religions of the Book”, and possibly other religions, the priest acts as the intermediary and pathway to deity. Thus, I’d argue, with each Druid acting as his/her own priest, it is quite appropriate to call all followers of Druidry by the name which designates “clergyman” (to use Jack Greenman’s example).

Many of the problems seem to arise from the Druid/Ovate/Bard grading system, introduced in the revival period and adopted by OBOD, where you progress through the courses from Bard through Ovate to Druid. This tends to create the impression of an hierarchy with Druid at the top. (I see that the BDO have now adopted this OBOD model.) I’ve not followed any of these courses so I do not know if the “Druid” course trains you for a priestly role as opposed to that of guide and teacher. From my own viewpoint, all start off as Druids, celebrating their own rituals and making their own contact with deity. Some may then train to develop specific skills (such as Bardic or Ovatic skills) and some may go on to take on a teaching/guidance role. It is this teaching role that needs a name of its own. (Any suggestions? Athro/Arhrawes? Múinteoir?)

[Marcus S]

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. My question came about because I am new to Druidry/Druidism and when thinking 'am I a druid' I wasn't sure of the answer. I'm not a Druid in the historical sense and I haven't done any courses offered by the different organisations/orders that name the different levels Bard, Ovate and Druid, so what makes a Druid?

I've posted this question on a few forums and groups, from the discussions my thoughts are now that yes I am a Druid in that I follow/practice modern Druidry or Neo-Druidry and that this is separate from the historic Druids and any level of training.

Hope my ramblings make some sort of sense.

Thanks,

Marcus

[LunarLiz]

Interesting thread so thank you to all who have contributed.

Being relatively new to the Druid path I am still trying to get to grips with what all the different labels and other terms mean.

I seem to fit into bits of all the 3 kinds, all be it in a un-official capacity at the moment.

I would like to study further and make some of it more official, perhaps, but I fear my special educational needs will call for some specialist 1-1 support, and I don't know if that would be available.

In the meantime, I guess I'll keep on doing what I've been doing and pick up what I can, where I can, and just hope none of it is leading me astray!!!

[BlazeLeeDragon]

I find at the end of the day labels are meaningless untill we put meaning behind them. I personally don't strictly identify with one label, however the use of the word Druid makes sense, bare in mind that within OBOD there are three classes of training. However as Jack was saying Druidry root word being Druid. Like in catholicism, catholic, though there are various ranks within, I think it's only ackward due to what a Druid was in the old days and the fact that Druid is also a class of training with in the Order. I also don't think all members of OBOD call themselves Druids, I think it's a personal choice and should be

[katie bridgewater]

Why are followers/practitioners of Druidry referred to as Druids? Marcus

Because the people in the 18th-19th century used the word 'Druid' to label themselves? The word has deep cultural meaning to the inhabitants of Britain and has been used by many people here conducting a range of activities over the last 2 centuries - cultural, social and spiritual. It sort of harks back to our prehistoric times (though even most British people have a wooly view of their past) and has connotations of nobility and autonomy (before waves of invasion and oppression, the most recent of which continues under the Normans). It's a nice romantic word that is deeply subjective due to lack of detailed information so it can be adapted to suit anything.

Had the early pioneers of radical socialism chosen to call themselves something else, and use a different image to identify themselves then I doubt anyone would be calling themselves a Druid in the 21st Century.