Copyright 2007 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
Did you ever wonder how many people claim to be Pagan ro Heathen, but are really living out a science fiction fantasy? A couple of decades ago, Sword & Sorcery fans and “Society for Creative Anachronism” folks started to make themselves known around Paganism. They brought their bizarre costumes and fantasy personas. Mixed in were “Dungeons and Dragons “ gamers and ardent readers of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Granted, much of science fiction takes from the old beliefs. Tolkien based his fictional creatures of Celtic and Norse myth. Sword & sorcery novels did the same. Fantasy role-playing games used creatures that had been based on myth, but had been altered to fit into the games. It may sound like magick, but it is all fictive entertainment.
Recently, a discussion was started about rituals in Klingon and Elvish. Klingon was invented in the 90s for Star Trek fans, and Elvish is the fictional language Tolkien devised for some of his characters. Both languages have one thing in common: entertaining fiction. They are not real languages. People who study them are fans of their respective stories. Both Star Trek and Lord of the Rings have a large following. There are enough fans to warrant large conventions and an awesome amount of products. Some of their fare has become part of our modern English language. Phrases like “Beam me up, Scotty’ and “Live long and prosper” are found in modern slang. Most people know what “hobbit” means. These fictional themes are so widespread that almost everyone knows them.
Nonetheless, all of these things are pure fiction. There is no alien race of Klingons, there are no hobbits, and there are no elves as Tolkien described them. You will only find Vulcans, Romulans, Man-Orcs and Sauron in works of fiction. They do not exist in the real world. Just as Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics was a paradigm invented for his series of science fiction books, so is the Prime Directive of Star Trek. Proof? One example is the use of robotics by the military in weapons systems. The fictional robots of Asimov’s books could not wantonly kill, yet the robotic devices being pioneered by the Army do just that.
There have even been science fiction works where Gods are characters. During the original Star Trek series, the space crew found themselves confronted by a Greek deity on his own planet. Thor and other Norse Gods are regular characters in a Marvel comic series. You can find allusions to myths in the Stargate TV series, as well. These depictions of the Gods are pure fiction.
Fiction. Entertainment. Yet as Heathens and Pagans we know that our Gods are not fiction, nor are they there to entertain us. Our Gods are divine entities who are immensely vast. They are the guardians of existence itself! Though interesting tales of them are found in the allegorical myths, these Gods are not just big men and women. Our Gods are spiritual beings. They are so vast as to be above human pettiness. As we stand today ,we are incapable of fully grasping their immensity. Anything that powerful deserves our respect. More so, because the Gods are our friends.
Especially in view of the confusion caused by fictional sources, we need to reaffirm our relationship to the Gods. They are friends and we enjoy a greater familiarity than do monotheists with their gods,. However, we cannot let familiarity become contempt. We must maintain a attitude of respect. The Gods are not a joke. To gain their respect, we need to show ours. This is not the fawning sycophancy of Christianity, but the respect that acknowledges greatness and the reverence that appreciates divine largesse. Our religion is serious. It is not a toy. We ought to bring only our best to our worship. The Gods deserve that which is real. It is not very reverential to spike their worship with fictional affectations.
The language of our various Pagan sects is the language we use every day. This is the language of the real world. Some of us may include part of the earlier ancestral languages, such as Old Norse, Icelandic, Gaelic, etc. These were the real languages of the ancestors who worshiped the Gods. To invoke in Klingon or Elvish or other play languages is to inject an element of fiction. That trivializes the Gods. Paganism is a religion, not a place to play Sword & Sorcery or Star Trek.
Ask yourself: Would you be here if the religion did not coincide with your favorite fiction?
We have too many instances of people who think that a flip attitude shows closeness to the Gods. In actuality, it shows that the individual should not be taken serious. Referring to Odin as “The old bastard” shows stupidity, not familiarity. Would you referred to your friends in such caustic terms? I am sure at least some of them would object. Would you talk to your employer that way? I would guess not. If the Gods are so much greater than friends and employers, then respect is the order of the day.
Remember that the elves, elementals and other etheric beings are very different from the ones described in fiction. Fiction alters characters to fit the story. Games alter them to make the game exciting and playable. An elf is not a pointy-eared, slender humanoid with excellent archery skills.
To maintain reverence for the Gods, here are some suggestions:
1) Invoke in the language you use everyday. No other language is more real to you ,and so no other language keeps it as real when invoking. Adding ancient languages is fine provided they fit, but use your regular language most. Do not use Klingon, Elvish or other fictional languages.
2) Dress appropriately for your worship. If you worship in everyday clothing, good. If you prefer robes or other attire, make sure it is right. Pagan robes ought to be Pagan, not Lord of the Rings. Do not bring any affectation from fiction into your worship. No elven swords or Klingon daggers or other such things. Leave that for the next sci-fi convention. Your magickal attire, demeanor and equipment must focus on the spiritual. Just because it looks cool does not mean it is appropriate.
3) Separate religion from fiction. A good idea is to assure that the things for worship do not perform double-duty as sci-fi accouterments, re-enactment garb, etc. One is not the other. For example, a Heathen sword should be a sword, not a light saber. A Wiccan athame should not double as part of an Elf costume. Religious things and entertainment things are not the same things.
4) Give the Gods respect. Speak of them better than you speak of your friends. Do not be flip or cute. You need not take up fawning reverence, but you should always respect their power and their generosity toward you. An attitude of gratitude works far better than a trivial one.
The Gods give you what you give them. If you give them trivia and silliness, do not expect much. If you give them the respect they deserve, the Gods take you seriously and respond in kind. This is a religion, after all. Keep reverence for the Gods and leave games in the gaming shop.
