Folk religion-universal religion

[asahi]

Hes anyone noticed that most folk religion is pretty much the same whether it be Chinese folk religion through to Shinto, African folk religion, Celtic religion and so on. i.e, worship of nature, various deities etc. Also normally considered the oldest dform of 'religion'.Are these more natural forms of religion? Why do many people ignore this? Surelly the gods and ghosts are not too happy.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3260692950_a0793db640_b.jpg

[uncia]

Surelly the gods and ghosts are not too happy.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3260692950_a0793db640_b.jpg
Indeed not:

De 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

[asahi]

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Erm actually I was looking for a SERIOUS response.

[asahi]

Surprised noone has an opinion on the oldest form of religion going.

[shaivite]

I have lots of thoughts on this matter, too many for one post or to work out where to begin commenting on the topic. Instead here is a quote which I think speaks well to the original point. It is from a book I was re-reading this evening by Dr. David Frawley in his work Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses. When I read the original post this piece I had read early popped back into mind -

'The Hindu mind, like that of many traditional peoples, is able to personify what are to us mere abstract or spiritual truths, and worship them in the forms of Gods and Goddesses. What we might philosophically think of as the eternal, the Hindu mind will worship as the Goddess Kali, for example [or another deity depending on the path followed]. Spiritual ideas are clothed in a concrete imagery and approached as a living being. This does not reflect a lack of development of the intellect or an attachment to form. On the contrary, it demonstrates an experiential contact with higher truths as living realities...aimed a personal relationship between ourselves and cosmic reality, which is to directly experience truth in our daily lives.'

I think this gives a good insight into the philosophical and practical approach of many of the old religions.

[danceswithbunnies]

I have considered this myself...know where you are coming from.
(like shamanism myself)

But then several things occur to me.

1. What if we were planted here like seeds of consciousness and the 'natural' thing is to devolve to an animalistic state?

2. Just because a paradigm is older does not make it necessarily closer to the truth.(age does not imply truth otherwise we could argue that the view that the earth is flat is older and therefore must be closer to the truth)

3.Just because there is widespread agreement amongst folk religions also does not mean they are closer to the truth.(consensus does not imply truth)

I read somewhere that there are two paths, the lunar which is a spiritual devolution back from whence we came.
And Evolution going beyond the human.
Natural forces will try to keep us animalistic, and in fact to evolve we fight against these natural forces trying to hold us in Thrall..

Not posting this as "truth" just things for your consideration.

[octopusrex]

The truth of the spiritual world can be found in the old religions. Shinto, Shamanism of all kinds.. Wichery. That was before spirituality became big business. Back then it was mom-and-pop organizations with one or two shamans and shaman's apprentice doing all the woo woo.

My hunch is that old-time-religions will win out the debacle in the end. The Ancestor Spirits can't be denied forever. :D

[tjohn]

Indeed not:

De 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9SsYiYperk

[drakul]

The truth of the spiritual world can be found in the old religions. Shinto, Shamanism of all kinds.. Wichery. That was before spirituality became big business. Back then it was mom-and-pop organizations with one or two shamans and shaman's apprentice doing all the woo woo.

My hunch is that old-time-religions will win out the debacle in the end. The Ancestor Spirits can't be denied forever. :D

Yeah we can all devolve back to blood/human sacrifice then like in the ancient days when superstition ruled.

[octopusrex]

Yeah we can all devolve back to blood/human sacrifice then like in the ancient days when superstition ruled.

We still practice human sacrifice to the God of War.
And to Baal Mammon, of course. The God of Wealth.

[drakul]

We still practice human sacrifice to the God of War.
And to Baal Mammon, of course. The God of Wealth.

Are you required to take a lamb or _______ down to the temple then to have its throat slit in the name of Baal or Jehovah or ________???

Get real. Appreciate.

[danceswithbunnies]

Interesting..

This is an interesting read

MAN'S SEARCH FOR SPIRITUALITY..

you guys may be interested in it:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13397740/Mans-Search-for-Spirituality?autodown=pdf

[asahi]

The thing with folk traditions which are similar across the globe include

1. An acceptance of otherworldly beings who can guide/mislead.

2.Often geomantic points of the earth are considered for shrines which are points of focus/ concecration for devotion and worship.

3. There may be a docterine/writings but this must not be overshadowed by actual experience with spirit.

3. A system of healing/medicne may exist arouond the said tradition.

4.Ritual can be important.

5.Sometimes there are sensitives who are more in tune with this level of reality. i.e African Shaman, Indonesian seer or whatever.

Either way I wander if even the big 'Organized religions' are bastardizations of this format. Also, it seems this type of worship is both old, natural, and unintrusive. It is not in disagreement with what DI and others try to promote, only that the old ways need more research to bring together common themes. Even the saints and bodhisattvas are used in the pantheons of the folk versions of these big 'organised' religions. I.e. syncretic 'folk' versions of Christianity exist in Brazil, Islam in Somalia and so on.