Comments on: The Exploitation of Native American Ceremony http://www.akesana.com/2009/10/13/the-exploitation-of-native-american-ceremony/ Social Conversation For Thinkers, Listeners, Doers and Creators Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:54:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alysson http://www.akesana.com/2009/10/13/the-exploitation-of-native-american-ceremony/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Alysson Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:16:00 +0000 http://www.akesana.com/?p=438#comment-130 I feel as you do about organized religion. It has been my experience that once a belief system becomes organized the focus turns away from the belief itself and toward the preservation of the organization and manipulation of the masses. I spent a lot of time in the Christian church growing up and, like you, found the unparalleled hypocrisy absolutely maddening. Since then I've researched a lot of different religions and belief systems ranging from Paganism to Islam. I have to say that Buddhism more closely resembles my beliefs more than any other. Eostre (often also referred to as Eostere or Ostara) is a Pagan Goddess of Spring. In the Pagan and Wiccan religions the Spring equinox is celebrated with a festival featuring a hare and colorful eggs that were said to symbolize rebirth or fertility. I feel as you do about organized religion. It has been my experience that once a belief system becomes organized the focus turns away from the belief itself and toward the preservation of the organization and manipulation of the masses.

I spent a lot of time in the Christian church growing up and, like you, found the unparalleled hypocrisy absolutely maddening. Since then I’ve researched a lot of different religions and belief systems ranging from Paganism to Islam. I have to say that Buddhism more closely resembles my beliefs more than any other.

Eostre (often also referred to as Eostere or Ostara) is a Pagan Goddess of Spring. In the Pagan and Wiccan religions the Spring equinox is celebrated with a festival featuring a hare and colorful eggs that were said to symbolize rebirth or fertility.

]]> By: Cre8pc http://www.akesana.com/2009/10/13/the-exploitation-of-native-american-ceremony/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Cre8pc Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:16:34 +0000 http://www.akesana.com/?p=438#comment-129 "Eostere." sounds interesting. Can you describe? I am not a member of any religion because there is too much hypocrisy among members and leaders. I've investigated so many religions and teachings and though I do attend a non-denom. church on occasion and am deeply spiritual, I find many traditions are too limiting and restrictive for me. “Eostere.” sounds interesting. Can you describe?

I am not a member of any religion because there is too much hypocrisy among members and leaders. I’ve investigated so many religions and teachings and though I do attend a non-denom. church on occasion and am deeply spiritual, I find many traditions are too limiting and restrictive for me.

]]> By: Alysson http://www.akesana.com/2009/10/13/the-exploitation-of-native-american-ceremony/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Alysson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:38:15 +0000 http://www.akesana.com/?p=438#comment-128 While my ancestry can't be traced back to any Native American bloodlines, I certainly empathize. There's nothing worse than having to witness others profiting from beliefs, ceremonies and traditions they've stolen from other cultures that they don't even understand. Unfortunately that is the modus operandi of "the white man" and Christianity in general. When people refuse to abandon their traditions and beliefs, Christianity simply steals them and passes them off as their own. That is the only tradition that truly belongs to Christianity. My mother and I enjoy a feast of Chinese food every Easter Sunday to raise the proverbial middle finger to Christianity for having stolen and bastardized the Pagan tradition of Eostere. It's a small thing that never fails to amuse us. :) While my ancestry can’t be traced back to any Native American bloodlines, I certainly empathize. There’s nothing worse than having to witness others profiting from beliefs, ceremonies and traditions they’ve stolen from other cultures that they don’t even understand.

Unfortunately that is the modus operandi of “the white man” and Christianity in general. When people refuse to abandon their traditions and beliefs, Christianity simply steals them and passes them off as their own. That is the only tradition that truly belongs to Christianity.

My mother and I enjoy a feast of Chinese food every Easter Sunday to raise the proverbial middle finger to Christianity for having stolen and bastardized the Pagan tradition of Eostere. It’s a small thing that never fails to amuse us. :)

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