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

[Velsthe1 at aol.com]

>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