Originally Posted by
Óttar
It is a matter of worldview. The Roman gods existed in the same way that Rome existed. Religion and culture was inseparable. Everything, trees, rocks, springs, abstract concepts (Victory, Libertas, etc.), organizations, occupations, you name it, had a deity associated with it. In this way, everything was imbued with Divinity. Meals, rising, sleeping, all had rituals associated with it. Civic occasions and festivals were associated with, and presided over, by gods, and these gods were a part of the fabric which brought the people together.
Notice that the belief, or rather practice, of veneration of the gods did not interfere with Romans and other ancient peoples' scientific discoveries.
Traditional Christianity has a Judaic, Abrahamic, superstratum; a superficial veneer, placed over Greco-Roman, Germanic, Celtic, Eastern Mediterranean, originally "pagan" cult sites, practices, festivals, etc. I am advocating that we wash off the Judaic veneer and return these things to their original "pagan" context.
This thread started with Christians, quite a few even who are lukewarm in their practice, or even using it as a mere prop for a political agenda, bashing polytheists as silly, "effeminate", etc. We did not attack them or their positions until we were provoked by ad hominems and defamation.
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