What A Druid Religious Organization Might Be

[ecosophia]

I'd like to thank everyone who took part in the discussion about why people joined the Druid organization Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF) and why they quit. All things considered, it was a thoughtful and serious conversation, and I know Steve T (the reader of mine who's interested in founding a new religious organization for Druids) got a lot of very helpful feedback from the discussion. 

As he processes that, we can move on to the next stage. Whether or not you were a member of ADF, dear reader, if you were looking for a Druid religious organization to join, what would you like to see in it, and what would you emphatically not want to see in it? Obviously there's going to be a lot of divergence in the answers to that question, but a conversation on the subject is well worth having as part of the search for perspectives and insights that precedes the work of building. 

Once again, this is a topic about which some people may have strong feelings, and may not express those with the courtesy and thoughtfulness I expect from my commentariat. For that reason, any attempt at trolling, concern trolling, derailing, flamebaiting, or other bits of online gamesmanship will be deleted. This post is a place for people who are interested in thinking aloud about a future Druid religious organization can do so. Those who don't want to participate in that conversation are welcome to go somewhere else -- and those who might want to interfere with that conversation are welcome to go shinny up a stump. 'Nuf said. 

Comments

My inputs

[(Anonymous)]

All,

-A mostly monastic solitary focus for training, after training, ordination options and participation in leading group ritual. Leadership or administration or "government" should be extremely limited.

-A focus on Nature, with room to develop relation with Deity of choice. Relationship with Deity perhaps springing forth from a focus on nature.

-Study of Druid revival

-Christians allowed, and welcomed.

-No Demons

-No discussion of politics.

-Mentoring system.

As far as setting up structure, one option is using Freemasomry as a loose template. After study and memorization/ work in the basics that all have to accomplish, other areas of specialization and focus within the organization and even other Druid Revival organizations encouraged. In other words room for specialization, with a strong network so that we can get people where they need to be or want to explore.