It has been my observation that my colleagues cannot believe there are
valid, real, traditional religious systems in modern cities that are outside
Judeo-Christian, Islam, or Buddhism. Any pagan beliefs are tossed-off as teenage
junkies, heavy metal rockers, wanna-be neo-pagans, or outright charlatans. Oh
sure, they might accept a Santeria cult in Mexico or an immigrant group
practicing Voodoun, but Anglo Europeans carrying on ancient beliefs..nah uh! This
bias carries over in the ruined buildings they study, or even standing
buildings. I think archaeologists just can't accept that pagans walk the streets of
their own cities, or that pagans are carrying on family traditions (as
opposed to the neo-pagans who have rejected Catholicism etc.). That bias even
causes folks to filter what they see through their own church up-bringing
(witches, devils, hell-spawn, etc.), rather than simply observe what they see. And
really, should we be drawing a line between recent converts and descendants of
ancient religions (as scientists, I mean)?
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
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