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1. By what name do you like to be called?
Familiarly, probably Gwynn. For proper usage I think of myself as Gwynn Aaron. In religious matters I typically refer to myself as Gwynarion, which is a combination of "Gwynn" and "Aaron," or Gwynarion Elessacar. I also will occassionally simply use Elessacar, which is "star seeker" translated into Quenya. Though I intend to change my name to legally inlcude Gwynn, I think that I will still try to use Aaron in work (meaning employer) related situations. It serves to help differentiate different portions of my life, I think.
If you asked me what my full name was I would probably tell you Gwynn Aaron Gareth Peabody. At some point in the near future I will be adding my wife's surname to my own since she did the same with mine. Then I will be Gwynn Aaron Gareth Halley-Peabody. My parents named me Aaron Gareth [Peabody]. Later on when I began to get involved with the SCA I chose Gwynn for my persona name. Over time it began to become more and more a part of me.
2. Of what religion do you believe, or do you?
answer omitted
3. What led you to this faith?
In part it was books. In large part it was books. A lot of books. It was also a great sense of dissatisfaction with the faith I was raised in. But here's the part many pagans don't want anyone to ever say: Dungeons & Dragons. Yep, playing D&D led me down the path away from Xianity. It was also fantasy novels that talked about wizards and magick and powers beyond the realm of sight. All of these things made me want more than what was available where I was at, so I decided to go out and look for it. And though I did not find exactly what I thought I wanted I found what I needed.
4. What God/Goddess/pantheon do you believe in if any?
answer omitted
5. How powerful is your faith/belief in God/dess?
Quite powerful, I would say, though not as powerful as my belief in myself and my convictions. While the gods are something that I believe in and respect, I feel much more sure of myself and could never accept anythingÑno matter what source its authorityÑif it strongly contradicted what I hold within myself to be true or important.
6. Are you confident or fearful of the future?
Confident and wary and fatalistic by turns.
7. Is this expectation of the future faith-related or based on prophecy
Based on my own faith in the universe and confidence in myself.
8. Do you feel that there are evil people on earth that you must fight?
Yes. I think anyone who does not believe this to one extent or another is hopelessly naive. Of course I'm cynical and often paranoid.
9. What text or doctrine do you believe in?
The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion for a start. Flowing from there though in different directions The Notebooks of Lazarus Long and the works of Edward Abbey. No, I don't worship Varda nor do I pray to Woodrow Wilson Smith. And I don't errect altars to George Hayduke, though I might piss off a high bridge in his honour. But this question meant religious texts, "holy writ" if you will. The answer in this case would be "none." There is no single source of written material that governs my beliefs, just as there is no single tradition that rules all. Of all that makes up my beliefs only Discordianism and Deep Ecology has any defining texts, and these are not the strongest of my foundations.
As for doctrines, hmm, I don't know. There really isn't any one, and of the many that I could point to none are strong choices. I have a variety of things I might say, but many of them are contradictory and apply to whatever mood I am in at any one moment. "Do unto others as you feel like." "An it please me, do as I will." "Though shalt not let others make thine choices for thee." Those are just my modifications of three well known doctrines, thrown in for examples sake.
10. Do you believe this doctrine is infallible or just a guideline?
Infallible? Nothing is infallible. And "guideline" is too strong of a word. I would call them "suggestions" or "seeds." You could say that I have a religion with many aphorisms and no doctrines.
11. Do you like to discuss your faith with others or try to convert?
I love to discuss my faith because one of my strongest beliefs is that if you don't deconstruct your beliefs regularly then you have no business holding them, let alone discussing them. Another aphorism of my faith would be "question everything; trust nothing." Or perhaps "don't let sleeping dogs lie." I thrive on debate and honour rhetoric.
As for conversion... Conversion is one of the few and greatest sins that any man or woman can commit against another. There is a special place in my hells reserved for missionaries throughout the ages.
12. What do you or your faith feel the world needs?
Less people and more intelligence. I can't really say that this is a belief of my faith, but it certainly is of mine. What I think the world needs very badly is for the stupidest 50% of the population (population density distribution) to suddenly die (hopefully after already climbing into a deep hole). Oh, and for oil, coal and tobacco to cease being flammable.
13. Do you pray regularly?
Down on my knees with my hands clasped and sweat beading on my forehead? No. In places of worship surrounded by my brothers and sisters in faith? Hardly. In quiet and with thoughtful reverence? Nope. Do I converse with my gods, talk to them and think about them? Yes. Do I share my thoughts and feelings with spirits and trees and animals? Certainly. So does that qualify as praying in your view?
14. Do you believe in an afterlife?
answer omitted
15. What regular practices do you adhere to as a part of this faith?
Doing what strikes me as right, best, and of the greatest benefit to whatever goals I may be striving for at the time. I also usually try to do or observe something on a few special days each year. I also strive to maintain the information on my site in the hopes that I am somehow helping to raise the level of discussion and debate throughout religious communities and gatherings. Finally I do my best to be politically informed and active.
16. Do you feel persecuted on this path?
Frequently, though less often than I used to when I was in high school.
17. What other paths have you been on?
Roman (Latinate) Catholicism and for a short while Agnosticism.
18. Why did you leave these paths?
Because it was wrong for me and because I had learned to see the hypocrisy and mendacity present not only in the clergy, but in the very foundations of the religion all the way up to the sadistic, spoiled-child deity at its head. I really do despise that little shit-fucker Yahweh. I feel very bad for those who haven't seen through his veil of crap yet.
19. Are there any taboos for you in this faith?
I'm not really sure I understand this question perfectly. I suspect that it is asking whether there are any things that my faith forbids or prohibits. If that is the case then the answer is no.
20. What will people of your faith be doing this holiday season in celebration?
I will be observing December 21st as the Winter Solstice; the shortest day of the year; and a time of great significance in the turning of the wheel of the year. I will also be celebrating Yule (how I call Xmas) as a secular holiday which celebrates generosity and friendship.
21. What would you say to someone just starting on the same path as you?
Stop following me! Seriously, though. I would tell them to read. Read, read, READ! And please don't think that you can get away with only reading things that come from the occult and philosophy sections of the library. I believe that before any one be allowed to lay claim to being a pagan they should study history and anthropology and archeology. They should study many of the worlds major religions and philosophies. They should also meditate upon the universe and pray to the universe to show them the right path for their feet. To my mind you cannot claim to follow a religion rooted in ancient peoples if you do not exhaustively study those people and all the historical eras through which they passed, as well as the peoples and cultures they came into contact with. I'm not saying that you need to get a degree in history or anthropology, but I wouldn't say it's a bad idea either.
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