[MR] Religion in the Society (was: heraldry)

[Phillip Jones]

But Corpora does NOT say that "religion is forbidden", nor that there can be
no religious observance at an event, only one held "in such a way as to
imply that the ceremony is authorized, sponsored, or promulgated by the
Society or to force anyone at a Society event, by direct or indirect
pressure, to observe or join the ceremony. If people want to get together
over a soup bone at midnight and talk to dogs they are welcome to, so long
as they are discreet about it.

Now, if you feel -forced- to observe or join the Mystical Dog Calling, I'd
say that is a problem of yours, so long as the Whistlers in the Dark are
making a reasonable effort to be discreet; no one likes it when The Dog
humps your leg, right?



Phillip Jones
Triplette Competition Arms
101 East Main Street
Elkin, NC 28621
336-835-7774
phillip at mindless.com
www.triplette.com



-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org]On Behalf Of Velsthe1 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 3:27 AM
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: [MR] Religion in the Society (was: heraldry)


>Ok, the SCA will not *endorse* a particular religion.
>The SCA is a non-religion society (like your High
>School chess club or the Friends of the Public
>Library).  It does not forbid religion.  We are a
>society of medievalists, and to study the Middle Ages
>without religion is just plain foolishness.
>Eogan

Actually: (From Corpora)
"6. POLICY ON RELIGION (June 1980, revised July 1988)
Having no wish to recreate the religious conflicts of the period under
study, the Society for Creative Anachronism, Incorporated, shall neither
establish nor prohibit any system of belief among its members. No one shall
perform any religious or magical ceremony at a Society event (or in
association with the name of the Society) in such a way as to imply that the
ceremony is authorized, sponsored, or promulgated by the Society or to force
anyone at a Society event, by direct or indirect pressure, to observe or
join the ceremony. However, this provision is in no way intended to
discourage the study of historical belief systems and their effects on the
development of Western culture.

"Except as provided herein, neither the Society nor any member acting in its
name or that of any of its parts shall interfere with any person's lawful
ceremonies, nor shall any member discriminate against another upon grounds
related to either's system of belief."

So, You may study all you like, but religion within the SCA is forbidden.
There are three occasions where this Policy is not adhered to, but they are
all for extenuating circumstance.
1. Weddings- so long as a wedding is performed in a period manner and it is
not a 'mandatory' function of an event, then there is no problem with it
occuring at an event.
2. Wakes- Considering that a SCAdien wake is as much like many other
"celebrations" they are rarely, if ever commented against. Firstly, so long
as it is not mandatory for all to attend; secondly, who's going to say that
anyone may NOT mourn the passing of a friend.
3. AA meetings- not really religious per se, but the belief in a Higher
Power and the commonality of group prayer at such meetings places them in
the general realm. However, attendance is only on a voluntary basis, such is
the principle of AA. And further, who in their right mind is going to tell
recovering addicts that they cannot gather together and help each other, no
matter where they are.


Vels


========================================================================
                   The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside
    List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/
  Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia