Zach Kimbell
ENGL 1020
Definition Argument
Final Draft
October 15, 2011
Philosophies of a Picture Book Artist
(Monotheistic Bliss)
What if Maurice Sendak had it right; that there indeed exists a “wild thing” within all of us; an aimless, godless heathen, dancing naked in the wilderness, sacrificing virgins to one of a multitude of gods? Pagans are constantly belittling the foundation of patriarchal monotheism by plastering each and every living organism with a spirit, by worshipping a vast host of deities that request egregious acts. These hedonists put value in deeming feral animals and disease ridden rodents with character, animals with moral conscious, what an outrageous concept. Paganism is any unfamiliar religion upholding flagrant idealisms that lack the moral parameters of monotheistic creeds.
. The multi faceted, multi divinity religion roots itself approximately five thousand years in the past, prior even to the derogatory expression “pagan” coined by the Roman invaders throughout Europe. Ancient as it was, paganism was disparaged amongst the aggressors. Ignorant to the structure behind the present culture, they attempted to superimpose their own ideals unto the native European tribes. These ever powerful Roman soldiers feared what they misunderstood and so, they deemed these inhabitants as savage, sin riddled sub-humans. Apparently the irony of the term “pagan” was lost on the Roman legions. Though utilized by soldiers to demean the natives, this hedonist synonym is defined as, “a follower of a polytheistic religion” (Merriam Webster), a polytheistic paradox, how catchy.
Cue Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus (better known as Constantine I or Constantine the Great) and the renovation of Rome’s religious ideology. With Constantine came a patriarchal system, that ever so popular religion, Christianity. Prior to his reign, it was those daring few who opted for the belief of a solitary god who suffered brutal maltreatment from the European and Roman sectarians. All of a sudden, the Edict of Milan that turned the tides, allowing citizens to pursue the faith of their choosing. Yes even after all the misplaced mistreatment of his fellow Christians, it was a monotheist who devised this concept of equality between heretic and devout alike.
306 until 337 CE exemplified the paramount of what it was to be an ideal Christian and monotheist in general. Pagan intolerance fled from the street and was replaced with a subconscious, money back guarantee that this solo deity would shelter his disciples no matter their transgressions; permitting they repented for said misdemeanors. It was an offer that couldn’t be refused, and never in the very extensive history of paganism had there been a similar comforting assurance; the spirits of the earth had made no pledge to provide for their followers. Instead heretics were told to appease their deities with literal sacrifice, of their fellow humans. It was a classic case of the blind leading the blind.
The blind acquires a walking cane, a seeing-eye canine and begins to notice an ironically hypocritical theme emerging from monotheism. Holidays from the trio of heavy hitting patriarchal religions find themselves stumbling onto dates which used to host pagan festivals, even the notions of annual celebrations discover that they too have been tainted by hedonism. Commemorations of self rebirth and resurrection of the supposed savior reflect spring rebirthing rituals, derived from the pagan jubilees. Christmas and Hanukkah began a greedy ritual of gift giving, which But why change the basis of these holidays? There was clearly something sinister looming about the air of the replaced celebratory days; else there would have been no necessity for the alteration. Change with good intention typically results in change for the better.
Leave the sacraments of paganism be and you’d still have innocent humans being sacrificed to appease the hedonist gods and spirits. Rite killing is simply a metonym for murder, a way of disguising brutality as something religious. While it may parallel the animal sacrifices of monotheistic religions of old, the barbaric slaughter of humans resulted in cannibalism and headhunting as sport. There is hardly a history of gaming for craniums in Judaism’s past. All of this lowbrow sadism eventually caused ignorant, fear driven persecution titled Blood libel, a biblical allusion to Matthew 27:25 “ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children’” (Holy Bible, Matthew 27:25). The proof is in the history, absolute murder resulting in murder, absolutely. These pagans, these heathens metamorphosed into a portrait of homicidal maniacs through their ritual killings, if that’s not proof enough of the true malevolence of paganism, what is?
Religious persecution is a vicious circle not meant for the weak of heart nor stomach. Monotheists belittling polytheists, polytheists insulting monotheists, it is the circle of strife, and it moves us all. There exists an unsaid animosity between the two religious idealisms, and constantly it results in the near genocide of a people, in best case scenario the ostracizing instead. Modern pagans have a tremendous amount of misdirected acrimony for the general monotheistic body. Past misdeeds avenged unto innocent recipients, a verbal human sacrifice. It is almost as if these contemporary hedonists refuse to let an ancestral grudge go. Is it another thousand year itch? Soothed only with the aloe of unnecessary hatred?
Apparently heathens remain heathens no matter what era they reside in; both present and past pagans utilizing, albeit different methods, sacrifice to appease themselves and their gods. They rely on ignorant fear to keep their patriarchal enemies at bay, while the few well informed sit idly by and watch as yet another religious war steeps. When the brew is black enough, add a little sugar and milk, and watch as monotheist and hedonist tear themselves verbally limb from limb. One can only imagine that it will be the pagans who fire the first oral shot, boys will be boys and, sinners will be sinners.
Sweep the term paganism and all its pagan heathens where they belong, under the Neolithic rug. Let these barbaric heretics collect dust, unable to sacrifice another guiltless person to their deities. As they turn into dust bunnies let them continue to believe that there exists a spirit in every living organism, let them practice their supposedly evil ways. Polytheism may not be wicked in itself but these pagans paint it with a coat of malevolence, giving way to apprehensive persecution of entire religious ideal. Unfamiliarity causes disagreements of moral parameters, contemporary society leans toward the ethical restraints of monotheism. Can 6,968,809,996 people really be all that wrong? When it comes down to it, it is best to let sinners lie.
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