User talk:1234567: Difference between revisions

::Any examples of that artwork on a temporary upload or external link? Thanks for adding that image. --[[User:Axius|Axius]] ([[User talk:Axius|talk]]) 09:10, 21 April 2013 (PDT)

::: Okay, that wasn't a no, meaning you would consider it. But wouldn't neo-Pagan (i.e. contemporary pagan) artwork be the same as you considering graffiti artwork if it was of a pagan goddess? Unlike the other image provided by 1234567, it wouldn't have any historical connection to the subject. It would just be for "illustrative" purposes (something the new policies say no to).[[User:Sahabah|--Sahabah]] ([[User talk:Sahabah|talk]]) 09:18, 21 April 2013 (PDT)

::::I was just wondering what it looks like. --[[User:Axius|Axius]] ([[User talk:Axius|talk]]) 09:25, 21 April 2013 (PDT)

:::::A google search brought up this - everything both ancient and modern. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Al-Uzza+Al-Lat+Manat&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=K2N0UcPHLdCYiAeh8oDwAQ&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=621

:::::Yes, I see what you mean about neo-Pagan artwork being a modern reconstruction that would probably have only tenuous links to the original paganism. (''Pace'' those modern pantheists who think otherwise; but neo-Pagans do not sacrifice their infants to Molech!) The spirit of the reconstruction is not too difficult to hit off in the case of the Arabian trinity, since Al-Uzza is Minerva/Athena and Al-Lat is Ceres/Demeter. Manat has no obvious European parallel (the Graiai? Nemesis?), which explains something about the differences between the two cultures; but she is nevertheless a recognisable "type".[[User:1234567|1234567]] ([[User talk:1234567|talk]]) 15:12, 21 April 2013 (PDT)

::::::Thanks for the link and info. That is definitely way above my level of expertise/knowledge in that area, but it sounds really interesting. --[[User:Axius|Axius]] ([[User talk:Axius|talk]]) 10:54, 27 April 2013 (PDT)

:::::::Yes, very interesting, but somewhat academic. If Ancient Semitic paganism were still being practised today, we would have to start a WikiSemitism site and write about all the evils of human sacrifice, ritual prostitution and violent raiding. But it isn't. The few Neo-Pagans I've met have been very gentle people who try to disbelieve the dark history of the ancient religions and focus on back-to-nature pantheism, healthy eating and meditation. There is no real connection between their beliefs (as shown in the pretty artwork) and the original religions that indirectly inspired them.

:::::::By contrast, the problem with Islam is that there are Muslims alive to day who try to be exactly like Muhammad.[[User:1234567|1234567]] ([[User talk:1234567|talk]]) 02:07, 29 April 2013 (PDT)