Offering Beauty

Hellenic polytheist Sannion has posted a new essay that describes what Hellenismos can offer our modern society. What do the ancient religions, culture, and philosophy of Greece offer us today? According to Sannion it is beauty.

“Our culture lacks any deeper, defining morals, has no greater world vision, and allows itself to be manipulated and controlled by those who perpetuate the greatest atrocities in our name, with never a word of criticism, so long as our basic human needs are met, and the scoundrels can convince us that they are protecting our national security and traditional way of life. That seems to be what passes for the American Dream these days – a secure, if unfulfilling job, so that I can surround myself with things I don’t need, and watch amusing things on television until I finally keel over dead. No tough questions, no quest for deeper fulfillment or a richer relationship with one’s surroundings, no desire to accomplish great things and leave one’s mark on the pages of history. Hellenismos stands in opposition to this by asserting the central value of beauty. Beauty is truth, a reflection of things as they authentically stand and also their relationship to higher powers and an exalted, visionary order.”

The essay seems synchronistically appropriate considering the recent efforts by Hellenistic polytheists in Greece to worship at pre-Christian holy sites. For those inspired, you can find out more about Hellenismos from the very in-depth Wikipedia entry.

Tags: Paganism