Comments on: Purpose: Meet the Gods

By: This is my beginning « Rogue Priest

This is my beginning « Rogue Priest — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:01:24 +0000

[...] know that I will seek those gods wherever I go; I know I’ll try to learn a thing or two about heroism. Maybe I’ll even [...]

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:07:17 +0000

I feel it’s a socially constructed definition, so I think we’re on similar pages. To whatever extent Teh Gods are real, they’re the spirits of a wholly sacred universe, with no exceptions or exemptions. But there are certain contexts where we humans are most likely to feel them, or feel like them, and that’s what we label divine.

By: Rua Lupa

Rua Lupa — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:25:57 +0000

lol, I don’t think anything is divine.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:42:16 +0000

Okay, I’l bite. I have my own tentative answer to that but first I’ll ask you – what do YOU think makes something divine?

By: Rua Lupa

Rua Lupa — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:09:18 +0000

To pursue them necessarily spurs the pursuit of our own divine nature.

What makes anything 'divine'?

By: Valentina

Valentina — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:09:23 +0000

You misunderstand. But that’s okay. You’ll figure it out on your own. I am not talking about using imagination at all or reason or anything. In fact, I shouldn’t have to explain. You have to experience it.

I just did not have to take the long way around the barn like you’re doing.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:48:02 +0000

Unfortunately I'm not well versed enough in the different editions to say which one is best. I used to own a version which was awkward to read and understand but I enjoyed getting through it anyway. Now I don't own many books at all, just one or two to read as I travel, so I don't really have a good comparison of which translations are best. There's a free online translation here, too. A reading list would be a fun post to do... I might have to get on that.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:44:36 +0000

A lot of the time readers suggest that prayer, visions or contemplation are how to meet the gods. That is what I hear echoed in your statement, “You have to see with your imagination and your reason and without judgement.”

That’s definitely not what I’m after.

That kind of inner “meeting” the gods is beautiful, and I do pray that way. But I plan to meet them.

By: Purpose: Find the Heroic Life « Rogue Priest

Purpose: Find the Heroic Life « Rogue Priest — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:08:39 +0000

[...] As June 21 draws near I confront my motivations for the journey ahead. This is the final installment of a three part series on why I’m going on the Adventure. Find Part I here and Part II here. [...]

By: Valentina

Valentina — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:09:57 +0000

If Drew doesn’t mind, I want to add that, besides Gilgamesh, the value and virtue of fame has many examples in the Homeric Epics; my favorite is the Iliad.

For the Greek heroes, the reward for great honor and virtue was fame (kleos). To die without fame (akleos) was the ultimate disaster, like the concept of going to Hell, and they would do outrageous deeds and stunts in order to avoid living/dying in obscurity or infamy. If your deeds are noteworthy enough to be sung, then it was assumed, no matter what your personal flaws, there was something noble, perhaps even immortal, and heroic about you.

In one tale, Achilles knows, after being given a prophecy, that if he fights he will die young, but if he stays home he will live a long life. The second possibility, no matter how comforting it would be to enjoy that long life, would mean living an unremarkable life. To die young in a blaze of glory meant his name would live on in fame. To have fame was a virtue for a hero because it meant his life was worth its weight in honor.

“For my mother the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, telleth me that twofold fates are bearing me toward the doom of death: if I abide here and war about the city of the Trojans, then lost is my home-return, but my renown shall be imperishable; but if I return home to my dear native land, [415] lost then is my glorious renown, yet shall my life long endure, neither shall the doom of death come soon upon me.”
Iliad 9.410