Re: Social Cult Ranks or Devotees vs Initiates

Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by thread ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
Other mail archives: !!!!!!> Visit the Search Engine of Lhankor Mhy <!!!!!!

From: Mark Galeotti <mark_at_...>
Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 18:45:02 -0000

> I realize that perhaps our difference is a fundamental take on
what
> teh devotee's time is used for. I guess my take is that it is all
> about sacrifice, and the devotee sacrifices some of his or her
> individuality and free will as well as time, both better emulating
> his or her deity and better embodying him, her, or it.

I think this point about sacrifice is spot on. A Dureving fixing his own roof because it leaks is not IMO carrying out devotional duties. OTOH, he is when he fixes someone else's roof for no recompense* or teaches the youngesters how they can fix their own roofs when they are grown-ups...

or rather, the recompense is the intangible goodwill than ensures that the community supprts him, perhaps exempting him from fyrd duty because he is more useful elsewhere

All the best

Mark