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Quirkybird
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I am willing to bet that the Christians who believe in things which are just as fantastical but come from the Bible, would not accept the existence of fairies, for instance. What is the difference?
NiceCupOfTea
Pathetic earthlings
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I don't like fairies. They keep upsetting the pixies that live in my attic!
Q
Quirkybird
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Jayhawker Soule
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The source?
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Frrostedman
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It wouldn't surprise me if you can't see the difference, but, something tells me you are just trying to be provocative. Maybe just a little?
As a Christian, I suppose the first question I would ask is, what faeries are we talking about?
The 'common' fairy, as widely discussed today, largely the invention of Victorian Romanticism? Sweet and saccharin, as spoken of by Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg, Rudyard Kipling and C.S. Lewis.
Or the older forms from European folklore, which revolve around protection from their malice. Victorian Romanticism depicts them as winged humanoids of small stature. Originally they were depicted quite differently, tall, radiant, angelic beings, or short, wizened trolls being two common forms.
Another common theme among Celtic nations describes a race of diminutive people who had been driven into hiding by invading humans. When considered as beings that a person might actually encounter, fairies were noted for their mischief and spite.
It's the psyche that interests me.
The concept of 'fairy' in English folklore is a conflation of Germanic elves, Celtic and Gallic folklore. They shrank in size considerably in the Victorian era, with its taste for "fairy tales" for children. The English term "fairy" (from the French) can be applied to comparable beings in most European cultures, and even worldwide. 'Fairie' was originally used adjectivally, meaning 'enchanted' — as in a faerie knight (an enchanted knight), fairie queene (ditto queen), but broadened to include "enchanted" creatures — dwarves, goblins, trolls, Leprechauns, gnomes, sylphs, undines, salamanders — from as early as the Late Middle English period.
By far the most interesting form is the changeling.
But, not to go on too long, faeries would seem to be the fruit of the darker corners of the human psyche. Meetings with faeries always ended badly. Many old buildings in the English countryside reveal the bones of a dead creature, usually a cat, buried under the threshold or in the wall behind the cooking range, to ward of faeries and other malign influences.
Did you know, for example, that a woman who killed her baby, on the grounds that it was not her child, but a faerie changeling left in its place when her baby was kidnapped ... was a valid defence for infanticide in the Middle Ages? Post natal depression written all over it.
So, this Christian's view:
Your modern faerie is largely sentimental tosh of the birthday card variety, Victorian romanticism revisited by New Age Romanticism.
Your traditional faerie however, is another kettle of fish altogether. The projection of the human psyche; far darker, far more dangerous, and far more interesting!
The 'common' fairy, as widely discussed today, largely the invention of Victorian Romanticism? Sweet and saccharin, as spoken of by Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg, Rudyard Kipling and C.S. Lewis.
Or the older forms from European folklore, which revolve around protection from their malice. Victorian Romanticism depicts them as winged humanoids of small stature. Originally they were depicted quite differently, tall, radiant, angelic beings, or short, wizened trolls being two common forms.
Another common theme among Celtic nations describes a race of diminutive people who had been driven into hiding by invading humans. When considered as beings that a person might actually encounter, fairies were noted for their mischief and spite.
It's the psyche that interests me.
The concept of 'fairy' in English folklore is a conflation of Germanic elves, Celtic and Gallic folklore. They shrank in size considerably in the Victorian era, with its taste for "fairy tales" for children. The English term "fairy" (from the French) can be applied to comparable beings in most European cultures, and even worldwide. 'Fairie' was originally used adjectivally, meaning 'enchanted' — as in a faerie knight (an enchanted knight), fairie queene (ditto queen), but broadened to include "enchanted" creatures — dwarves, goblins, trolls, Leprechauns, gnomes, sylphs, undines, salamanders — from as early as the Late Middle English period.
By far the most interesting form is the changeling.
But, not to go on too long, faeries would seem to be the fruit of the darker corners of the human psyche. Meetings with faeries always ended badly. Many old buildings in the English countryside reveal the bones of a dead creature, usually a cat, buried under the threshold or in the wall behind the cooking range, to ward of faeries and other malign influences.
Did you know, for example, that a woman who killed her baby, on the grounds that it was not her child, but a faerie changeling left in its place when her baby was kidnapped ... was a valid defence for infanticide in the Middle Ages? Post natal depression written all over it.
So, this Christian's view:
Your modern faerie is largely sentimental tosh of the birthday card variety, Victorian romanticism revisited by New Age Romanticism.
Your traditional faerie however, is another kettle of fish altogether. The projection of the human psyche; far darker, far more dangerous, and far more interesting!
Q
Quirkybird
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I can't see the difference between the fairy stories in the Bible and those told by the Brothers Grimm, for instance?
Jayhawker Soule
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Therefore?
(Shallow Bash-the-Bible threads get more than a little tiresome after a while.)
(Shallow Bash-the-Bible threads get more than a little tiresome after a while.)
Q
Quirkybird
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The Bible's contents should be challenged and I make no apology for doing so. Sadly the literalists often use the nastier stuff therein as an excuse for abusing others!
stranger
the divine ignorance (and friends)
Thomas,
My first association when reading Quirky's post was to the poem by W.B. Yeats, "The Stolen Child". It seems to have a little more relevance after what you wrote here concerning the human psyche. This quote from the poem is what was on my mind:
"Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild,
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than ye can understand."
The poem is a beautiful piece of art that holds a dark pull for the sensitive soul.
Upon a second visit to Quirky's post I remembered the movie "Photographing Fairies".
It's been awhile since I've seen it, perhaps it's time for another viewing.
My first association when reading Quirky's post was to the poem by W.B. Yeats, "The Stolen Child". It seems to have a little more relevance after what you wrote here concerning the human psyche. This quote from the poem is what was on my mind:
"Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild,
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than ye can understand."
The poem is a beautiful piece of art that holds a dark pull for the sensitive soul.
Upon a second visit to Quirky's post I remembered the movie "Photographing Fairies".
It's been awhile since I've seen it, perhaps it's time for another viewing.A Cup Of Tea
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Sure, do that then
Gordian Knot
Being Deviant IS My Art.
Thomas said "Your traditional faerie however, is another kettle of fish altogether. The projection of the human psyche; far darker, far more dangerous, and far more interesting!"
"If you only knew the Powerrrr of the Dark Side." said in appropriate gravelly voice.
Nice overview of faerie's then and now. The original versions were indeed far more interesting critters.
These were stories meant to teach people to avoid the darker sides of their personalities. Which is why I believe they were set to always end badly for humans. Beware the dark side!
An attitude I have always disagreed with in religious doctrine. Balance in all things is more my belief. The darker side of our persona needs expression instead of suppression. Controlled, balanced expression.
Suppression of our darker sides breeds more sin than healthy expression would. In my opinion.
"If you only knew the Powerrrr of the Dark Side." said in appropriate gravelly voice.
Nice overview of faerie's then and now. The original versions were indeed far more interesting critters.
These were stories meant to teach people to avoid the darker sides of their personalities. Which is why I believe they were set to always end badly for humans. Beware the dark side!
An attitude I have always disagreed with in religious doctrine. Balance in all things is more my belief. The darker side of our persona needs expression instead of suppression. Controlled, balanced expression.
Suppression of our darker sides breeds more sin than healthy expression would. In my opinion.
Jayhawker Soule
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It deserves to be challenged with at least a modicum of intelligence and maturity. To compare, e.g., the Exodus narrative with your pixies is little more than juvenile trolling.
V
voiceofwood
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Which demonstrates that in you is a lack of ability to discern the difference
Atheists only believe in one less G!d than Christians....
OK ... but 'he who sups with the devil should bring a long spoon'!
My solution is simply ... don't do it. 'Controlling' and 'balancing' can inadvertently 'feed' and 'grow strong'. If you've got to 'let off steam', find a good way, not entertain a bad one. Channel the energy into a healthier pursuit. 'Accentuate the positive' and all that!
A focus on 'control' and 'balancing' can lead to lives riven by guilt and anguish.
Then again, this area is hard for us to discern, being 'in it' and thus the last to see it. This is why the emphasis on a need for external direction.
That rather raises the question of whether there's any intrinsic health to the dark side ... I would have thought it's considered 'dark' precisely because it's detrimental to health and well-being.
Maybe it's the attempt at suppression that leads to all the problems!
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Frrostedman
Guest
voiceofwood said:
Well said. That's the perfect angle, at least from my vantage point. It brings to mind the words of Christ Himself. Several times He spoke of people who, though they had perfectly healthy eyes, couldn't see.
As we will recall, the bible teaches that eyes that see, ears that hear, and the ability to discern, are gifts from the Creator. Looks like Quirkybird may have gotten a lump of coal in her stocking, but, that can always be turned around. I am confident that one day it will, and, those gifts will be lavished upon her in spades.
Aside: I just learned that discernmanship is not a word. Is there not a word with the root discern that describes the ability?
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voiceofwood
Guest
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear