1. On a scale of 1 – 10 (1 = most central part of my life and 10 = not central to my life) please rate the place of religion in your life.
I would say my religion is number 9 or 10, it is the most important thing in my life besides my wife and kids. It provides a sense of fullness I can’t get anywhere else.
2. To what church or religious organization do you belong? What is the tradition and what specific denomination?
I am a Druid senior priest from ADF [A Druid Fellowship]. I lead a grove [Three Cranes Grove] with 300 to 400 members in Columbus, Ohio. Our traditions are all over the place; we believe there is not a single authority over us, rather many things that interact with us. I am at the same level of my congregation, I am not above …show more content…
We were founded in the eighties by some Midwest college students who were required to go to chapel, but found a loophole because the school didn’t actually say what chapel they had to go to. So a bunch of them went to a great oak tree near campus and worshipped it. Even after the chapel ban was lifted some of the kids kept coming back because they found a connection.
6.Describe your experience of worship. What is it like? What things are emphasized in worship?
Our rituals are very well prepared and very traditional as far as that goes, it always revolves around two elements; water and fire. We also practice outside, weather permitting in an open area. We want to prove we have nothing to hide, therefore we do our high days out in the open. You should come to our next high day May 1st, it is Beltane the celebration of new earth to cultivate and reproduce.
Do you guys have anything similar to the sacraments or …show more content…
Sometimes orgies happen sometimes they don’t. It is our way of celebrating fertility to the earth and hoping for a good harvest. Some people just offer their sacrifices clothed though, it all up to what the individual wants.
7. How does the church or the group govern itself and make decisions?
We follow the Constitution of ADF and what our arch Druid instructs of us, otherwise we just talk out problems. We are locally made, therefore we are autonomous in most things. We have a flat hierarchy, but we do elect our reverend the over arch Druid. [Kirk Thomas]
8. What is their teaching on sin and the human condition and free will? What is their teaching on salvation? What must one do to be saved?
We do not have the concept of sin. We all have complete free will, it is up to us what we make of this life. There is no “saving” anyone can do, we just want to treat people as we wish to be treated, all members must do mandatory community service work. We are just a loving group of people. “Give with an open hand” is our go-to saying with our grove. We do live by some virtues and not living by them is frowned upon.
What would be frowned upon things?
Racism, sexism.
10.What do they teach about life after
I would say my religion is number 9 or 10, it is the most important thing in my life besides my wife and kids. It provides a sense of fullness I can’t get anywhere else.
2. To what church or religious organization do you belong? What is the tradition and what specific denomination?
I am a Druid senior priest from ADF [A Druid Fellowship]. I lead a grove [Three Cranes Grove] with 300 to 400 members in Columbus, Ohio. Our traditions are all over the place; we believe there is not a single authority over us, rather many things that interact with us. I am at the same level of my congregation, I am not above …show more content…
We were founded in the eighties by some Midwest college students who were required to go to chapel, but found a loophole because the school didn’t actually say what chapel they had to go to. So a bunch of them went to a great oak tree near campus and worshipped it. Even after the chapel ban was lifted some of the kids kept coming back because they found a connection.
6.Describe your experience of worship. What is it like? What things are emphasized in worship?
Our rituals are very well prepared and very traditional as far as that goes, it always revolves around two elements; water and fire. We also practice outside, weather permitting in an open area. We want to prove we have nothing to hide, therefore we do our high days out in the open. You should come to our next high day May 1st, it is Beltane the celebration of new earth to cultivate and reproduce.
Do you guys have anything similar to the sacraments or …show more content…
Sometimes orgies happen sometimes they don’t. It is our way of celebrating fertility to the earth and hoping for a good harvest. Some people just offer their sacrifices clothed though, it all up to what the individual wants.
7. How does the church or the group govern itself and make decisions?
We follow the Constitution of ADF and what our arch Druid instructs of us, otherwise we just talk out problems. We are locally made, therefore we are autonomous in most things. We have a flat hierarchy, but we do elect our reverend the over arch Druid. [Kirk Thomas]
8. What is their teaching on sin and the human condition and free will? What is their teaching on salvation? What must one do to be saved?
We do not have the concept of sin. We all have complete free will, it is up to us what we make of this life. There is no “saving” anyone can do, we just want to treat people as we wish to be treated, all members must do mandatory community service work. We are just a loving group of people. “Give with an open hand” is our go-to saying with our grove. We do live by some virtues and not living by them is frowned upon.
What would be frowned upon things?
Racism, sexism.
10.What do they teach about life after