Just wondering. Don, got data?

I think they come from Druidistan or somewhere...


Most voted for Hillary....

I'm not one but here is an interesting map.

https://www.danaan.net/druidry...map/#4/40.31/-104.15

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Just wondering. Don, got data?

I know of 3.....

But who's counting.

Don

Sorry for my ignorance, but what the fuck is a druid?

These are not the Druids you are looking for...

Are you speaking of mass downloaders? Why would anyone bother?

Gale, Gale my man! Have you not heard of the ancient and mysterious Druids?

A druid (Welsh: derwydd; Old Irish: druí) was a member of the educated, professional class among the Celtic peoples of Gaul, the British isles, and possibly elsewhere during the Iron Age. The druid class included law-speakers, poets and doctors, among other learned professions, although the best known among the druids were the religious leaders.

Very little is known about the ancient druids. They left no written accounts of themselves, and the only evidence are a few descriptions left by Greek, Roman, and various scattered authors and artists, as well as stories created by medieval writers.[2] While archaeological evidence has been uncovered pertaining to the religious practices of the Iron Age people, "not one single artefact or image has been unearthed that can undoubtedly be connected with the ancient druids."[3] Various recurring themes emerge in a number of the Greco-Roman accounts of the druids, including that they performed animal and even human sacrifice, believed in a form of reincarnation, and held a high position in Gaulish society. Next to nothing is known for certain about their religious practices, except for the ritual of oak and mistletoe as described by Pliny the Elder.

The earliest known reference to the druids dates to 200 BCE, although the oldest actual description comes from the Roman military general Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico (50s BCE). Later Greco-Roman writers also described the Druids, including Cicero,[4] Tacitus[5] and Pliny the Elder.[6] Following the Roman invasion of Gaul, the druid orders were suppressed by the Roman government under the 1st century CE emperors Tiberius and Claudius, and had disappeared from the written record by the 2nd century.

In about 750 CE the word druid appears in a poem by Blathmac, who wrote about Jesus, saying that he was "... better than a prophet, more knowledgeable than every druid, a king who was a bishop and a complete sage."[7] The druids then also appear in some of the medieval tales from Christianized Ireland like the "Táin Bó Cúailnge", where they are largely portrayed as sorcerers who opposed the coming of Christianity.[8] In the wake of the Celtic revival during the 18th and 19th centuries, fraternal and neopagan groups were founded based on ideas about the ancient druids, a movement known as Neo-Druidism. Many popular modern notions about druids have no connection to the druids of the Iron Age and are largely based on much later inventions, misconceptions, or pure fantasy.[9

Gale, I too don't know what a druid is, but if this helps, and I doubt that it does, it's diurd spelled backwards.

I know a lady who claims to be one. does that count?

Grizz

Well whatever they are we need to stop them from entering the USA or at least make them register.
Peter.

I'm with Peter.

thank you for the excellent description Bill, I was so uninterested I only read the first sentence

I know a lot of pagans but I don't believe they're practicing pagans. Completely unaware of any druids or wiccans.

I believe that practicing Druids and Wiccans show up at Stonehenge at the various solstices. if you Google it you should find something about their activities on December 21. Druids played a huge part in the resistance to the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain. The Roman invasion of the island of Mona and the slaughter of the Druids there is a fairly well known historical event (for those who are interested). Merlin was a Druid.
Peter

Gale, you have a merry Christmas, too!

You also Bill, take care

Is there a "Druid Slam" or an inner circle of druids?
If not, we can send a suggestion to SCI!!!!

That's funny she didn't look Druish.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
I believe that practicing Druids and Wiccans show up at Stonehenge at the various solstices. if you Google it you should find something about their activities on December 21. Druids played a huge part in the resistance to the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain. The Roman invasion of the island of Mona and the slaughter of the Druids there is a fairly well known historical event (for those who are interested). Merlin was a Druid.
Peter

Thank you Bill and Peter.

Quote Roman invasion and occupation of Britain. Quote
Ahem, Although the Romans made an effort and a little headway to get into Bonnie Scotland, we chased the fugger's out.

Hadrian then built his famous wall to protect themselves from the marauding scots (and DRUIDS)lol
There are many places which carry the Druid title and association here in Scotland, Ireland ,Wales and England, usually close to where there are standing stones.
The history of any European influence in your land is very recent, in comparison (certainly with western Europe) and long after the times of the Druids, you'll be pleased to hear. Although there are still a few thousand who profess to follow their ancient customs and rituals. jc

Sorry, John you are correct. The Romans never made any inroads into Scotland. York was about as far as they got. However, the Romans DID refer to "Britain" as "Brittania" as I recollect!
Peter.

Peter, My knowledge about the subject (Druids) could easily be documented on the back of a postage stamp and I thank you for posting some of it.
The Romans adventures in Britain however have left us with an interesting history whose treasures and artefacts continue to be discovered to this day. jc

I am a fan of Bernard Cornwell. He has written a series of 3 books (The Warlord Chronicles) dealing with the events around the time of Arthur. He has quite a bit to say about the Druids!
I am, of course a BIG fan of Boadicea (Boodica)!
Peter.

Wasn't that them out celebrating a few days BEFORE Christmas?

I wonder if any of those who claim to practice today have any link whatsoever to the ancient practices or just wing it because no one has any idea of the old ways and so anything is acceptable.

In fact I wonder the same of the Native American practices that they were forced to abandon. s

quote:

Wasn't that them out celebrating a few days BEFORE Christmas?

Er! Yes! the Winter solstice - December 21

"just wing it because no one has any idea of the old ways"
Hmm, let's see Christianity is 2000 years old, Judiasm is 3600 years old, Buddhism is 2500 years old, Shinto is even older. None of their adherents seem to have any difficulty remmbering "the old ways" or even coming up with new ways!
Peter

I have thought about converting to Reform Druid so that I could pray to bushes.

I've always been extraordinarily fond of bushes myself, and I suppose you could call it praying.

Nice subject start there Bill, I am amazed at the vast amount of ignorance concerning this.This is history after all + therefore important.One does not need to be a member to understand what something is about.Just as one single example;they celebrated the winter solstice that the christian priests changed to Christmas as well as too many others to name.Sorry Peter I know I am being redundent. I love all of Bernard Cornwell's books as well; just finished the last one of the Saxon Chronicles. (you know he is a devout athiest)+ for good reason if you have read his life story.Oh + just for what it's worth the pronunciation of Boadicea is BODAKY.

Bill,

Trump won, you can drop the socialist "E" now.

Modern Druids are a sect under the umbrella religion called paganism.

Other pagan religions include Wicca and similar earth-based beliefs.

Just as all Methodists are Protestants but not all Protestants are Methodists, likewise all Druids are Pagan but not all Pagans are Druids.

There are probably more practicing Wiccans than any other Pagan religions.

And some folks just identify as Pagan, without belonging to a particular sect.

I don't know about Druids, but Wiccans have different denominations also: Correllian, Gardenerian (sp?), etc.

All the Pagans I have encountered are peaceful, very unassuming people who just want to practice their beliefs and be left alone.

There is no "devil worship" in Wicca, for example, as they don't believe in the devil. Their basic "Golden Rule" is "If it doesn't harm anyone (yourself included), do what you will." Might be a lesson in there for everyone.

I know all this because I have relatives who are Pagan. It's not for me, but then no organized religion appeals to me anyway.

But I have learned a lot about Paganism, and have respect for those who practice what is essentially a totally benign religion.

You still see a lot of Wiccans and Druids in the UK. They sorta go hand in hand with the Gothic folks there.

Pagans typically are very devout, peaceful people. They just never found a better religion. Sort of in the same vein as Buddhists and Hindu.

"the pronunciation of Boadicea is BODAKY"
Sorry buddy it is pronounced "Boodica", at least in England. Don't know about the colonies! I have not read Cornwell's life story. I will try though, now that you mention it. However his love, and knowledge, of history is quite refreshing. I have read some of his Sharpe books, some of his Saxon books, and some of his Agincourt era books. Great reads!
Peter.

quote:

Pagans typically are very devout, peaceful people.

Hmmm, not sure why we are getting all loosey, goosey! Back in the day, 2000 or so years ago, human sacrifice was not uncommon and there is considerable evidence the the Druids practiced human sacrifice eg. "Lindow man". Then of course, there is the fairly widespread following of Mithras and Isis.
Peter

I may be a druid and not know it. My brother always has his "Christmas" Party on the winter solstice. I thought all the guests looked pretty normal, but who knows. A lot of the people on the Political Forum probably look fairly normal too, but we know how deceptive that is.

As far as Pagans, I knew of a few Puerto Rican Pagans. There was Jose Pagan and Angel Pagan. I have a few of Jose's cards. I don't worship them, and certainly wouldn't sacrifice them, but for the right price I would probably sell about anything I own.

I guess in truth I'm just a back-sliding Methodist married to a devout Catholic, surrounded by a bunch of agnostics. I hope to get to heaven through a side door.