Personally, I believe that the home is ultimately the center of worship. This makes each indivdual or head of the household, responsible for their own spiritual management. This was true for our ancestors as well. Naturally of course, there is also public worship which include community rituals and festivals. These types of events obviously require organizational management and leadership. This is where having knowledgable and experienced individuals to lead the rituals and these events is very useful, but these are just facilitator roles, not necessarily clergy.
So, why my opposition to the idea of clergy?
Philosophical Argument
For most of us, the draw to any Nature based religion is the idea of spiritual freedom. We want to have a direct and unrestricted connection to the Gods, Nature, our fellow human beings, and to ourselves. I would argue that this is the natural right of all humans and anything otherwise is simply based on false, man-made constructs. We don't need other people mitigating our relationships with the Gods.
Practical Argument
The role of spiritual leadership has historically been a very sensitive issue. Too many individuals and institutions have taken advantage of the spiritually weak, vulnerable, and ignorant. This reality applies to all time periods and has occurred in all religions. Unfortunately, the community itself often takes a passive role in their spiritual management and allows others, those in leadership, to guide them which leaves them vulnerable in the first place.
So, what role should spiritual leadership play in Hellenic religion?
We must first determine exactly what it is that the community actually needs in terms of spiritual leadership. Here are my views on actual needs and the percieved roles, based on actually having been a part of the spiritual leadership within a local pagan church for several years here in the U.S.:
Actual Needs
A. Ritual facilitation.
This is probably the most significant role. We do need knowledgable and capable people who can facilitate and lead rituals during public worship events. This requires a knowledge of public speaking and group management techniques.
B. Life Events
This is an issue I initially did not support philosophically, however, I do understand the practical necessity for such things. However, I still think that the limitations need to be understood. We do need people who can LEGALLY facilitate weddings, funerals, and other significant life events that may require knowledge of ritual and State law. This is a form of technical expertise, similar to that of a notary public or lawyer and has very little to do with personal spiritual matters.
Percieved Roles
A. Counselors
While Christian clergy often act as counselors to their membership, I believe that it is imperative that Hellenic polytheist spiritual leadership limit their activities regarding spiritual counseling. Why? Simply put, unless that clergy person is a trained psychologist, there are already many secular professionals that are better suited for such work. Often times, individuals who seek spiritual counseling may actually be dealing with issues of mental illness as well. In this case, spiritual counseling may only exacerbate these types of issues. The reality is that most ritual facilitators and/or scholars are simply not trained clinical psychologists and would not be able to recognize many of these issues much less help them.
Assisting a friend or acquaintance with a problem is one thing, but counseling someone from a position of religious authority is a whole other matter.
B. Spiritual Intercessors
This matter is perhaps the most problematic in my opinion. I understand that not everyone is an expert in religious matters. In this matter, people need more experienced and knowledgable individuals to turn to. However, education and spiritual intercession are very different matters. Leaders should be teaching others how to approach the Gods for themselves as opposed to approaching Them on their behalf. Our religion does not promote spiritual laziness and leadership should not encourage such behavior. This is exactly where education becomes the best way to promote personal responsibility in others.
Final Thoughts
My view of spiritual leadership is one that limits individuals to the role of technical facilitation, as it applies to matters of ritual and legal issues. Anything beyond that is dangerous and should be approached very cautiously in my opinion.
This is certainly a complex issue that will not easily be resolved, but if we are to have clergy in our religion, we need to really take time to define their role and limitations within each of our communities. Also, because there are no real checks and balances that can be implemented, (nor should there be necessarily), I would urge that each community hold their leadership to the highest standards and remember that these individuals serve the people and not the other way around.
In order to approach the values of Equality and Freedom that are so fundemantal to our religion, we must first look at ourselves and our own approach towards spiritual self-responsbility.
I believe there is confusion between clergy and leaders. Over the last ten years I have been part of the pagan community, first as a solitary, then as part of two local churches. Earlier in my life, during the christian phase of my spiritual path, I was drawn to leadership, so on the path shift to paganism, the skill set I had gained in ecclesiastic leadership was put to use.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, any time there is a "class distinction" between people in a religious tradition, a "worthiness" or "superiority" factor comes into play. "My word is better than yours, because I am holier, I hold a priesthood, I am more devout, and therefore better than you" makes the group a "worthiness cult" -- the more worthy, the better the person. Mix that with bad aspects of human nature and ecclesiastic abuse is right around the corner. Add to that the perceived role of intercessor between one human (not themselves) and the Gods, and it's already a lost cause.
It gets clinically frightening when untrained ecclesiastic leaders take on the role of psychologist. As Evritos points out, spiritual problems may be manifesting as part of a psychological disorder -- far beyond the capabilities of lay or academic clergy. Religion is important, but it does not mean that clinical treatment and medication aren't also important -- even imperative. Leave professional counseling to professionals.
In reality, there are several needs within a spiritual community.
One is a need for teachers, to assist in paths of learning. Some possess this skill naturally. This does not make them better nor less than others.
Another is a need for facilitators. This covers areas such as ritual practice of the group. Some feel drawn to this, others are satisfied with passive participation in rites, some a combination of the two. Again, just different.
There exists a need for legal authority for "Life Events" because we live in a society where civil functions (such as marriage) can be carried out beyond City Hall. I like Evritos' comparison to a notary public. This does not make them better than anyone else.
There is another need that comes to mind. There is a privilege granted to "clergy" that is unique. The right to visit the infirm and the incarcerated. This privilege crosses all lines and can surpass the rights of blood or legal relatives.
Although my study is still new, the concept I'm seeing in Hellenismos is that of household and family. As Lykourgous of Sparta is quoted, "Begin with your own family." Ancient Greeks did not have clergy -- the head of the household held that responsibility. If you think about it, aren't spiritual communities like families? I believe if they are treated like them, many "clergy" issues would not exist. Is the mother or father better than the other? More important as a person than the children? One child better than another? Absolutely not.
If our spiritual community is a family, why not have many (if not all) with the rights to these functions. There is nothing but long standing practice that says that only a select few have those rights and responsibilities.
I agree that the complexity of this issue makes it one not to be taken lightly. Strong leadership is a fine balance, and the roles and responsibilities to help build and maintain the foundation of the group need to be defined by the entire community, and revisited over time. Those who choose to accept that role have the added responsibility of leading by example, but not by social, academic or spiritual intimidation, however well intended.
We need to remember that the spiritual group is there for the benefit of the member, not the other way around. The terms "clergy" and "title" with all their historical and social baggage are anathema to me. How are the tenets of Equality and Freedom sustained if one class of member is considered better than the other?
Honestly, I think the Gods sometimes get a good chuckle from our actions; and their tears flow when those actions diminish even a single individual.
Well said.
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