Historical Vs. Modern Syncretism

I try to start by looking at history, and historical syncretism. It's clear that there was cross-pollination between a lot of European polytheistic cultures. So I'm not opposed to worshipping Brigantia among my otherwise-Gaelic household deities, or even sometimes honouring Roman or other European deities. (If they were worshipped in the British Isles, I'm happy!)

But, as my British-Asian friend says, "The cultural appropriation has already happened. So what are you going to do with it now?" Many deities and traditions have been brought to modern Britain. I have no issues worshipping them in an appropriate cultural context (that last part is key).

For example, I went to the Hare Krishna temple with my partner (who is doing a project that involves going there) for Rama Navami, last week. I was blown over by how wonderful the temple was. I don't think I was culturally appropriating when I went in to honour Krishna and Rama in front of their statues. However, if I'd put them on my Gaelic altar and worshipped them in a Gaelic context, I would have been. I made sure I also spent time sharing in the practices of the other worshippers, which mainly involved chanting. It was a beautiful experience and I'd love to go back.

The Hare Krishna temple is a ten minute drive from me. I could ignore it, and say that I'm not going near it. But Indians and Hinduism alike have made a major contribution to modern British culture. I think that, as a polytheist, it's more respectful for me to go and honour their gods sometimes, in their own cultural context, than to ignore them entirely and say that I only like 'white people's' gods.

I think whatever you practice is going to evolve naturally and adapt to the current culture(s) that surround you, your environment, lifestyle etc. I've lived in the Midwest most of my life, so that makes it hard to connect with gods of the sea, for example. I'm more familiar with Mexican Catholicism than Irish Catholicism (Someday I want to go to Mexico during the Dia de los Muertos- Day of the Dead celebration!) based on what I've been exposed to culturally. I live in a city that has a broad mix of cultures, like Leithin. We have a Hindu temple here too, though it's rather far from where I live (I get around by bus) but I have visited it, it is quite beautiful! I am trying to figure out how these different cultures influence me spiritually, and how to incorporate or acknowledge that without stepping on anyone's toes. One big way I do that is by honoring spiritual/cultural ancestors, for example activists from various social movement. I try to do so in a way that does not disrespect the historic person's beliefs.

For me, a big clue on whether a certain syncretic practice is appropriate or appropriative is "who else does this?" If I'm the only one, or if only outsiders do it, that's a BIG red flag, but if people in the original culture(s) do it as well, that's a positive sign...especially if the practice was originated and/or popularized by them. My example of the latter would be my own personal path, Honji Suijaku: Buddhism syncretized with Shinto.

Are we discussing historical religious syncretism or modern neopagan eclectism?

Most polytheistic religions and Abrahamic faiths are syncretic, they contain elements of pagan folkways from cultures they have interacted with throughout their history. Just because neopagan reconstructionists avoid eclectism does not imply their aim is cultural purity, such a statement is a misunderstandinding of reconstructionism. Reconstructionism, aims to apply the world-view of a specific folkway to modern day to day lives, not reenact ancient cultural practices or provide a rallying point for a specific racial profile. White supremacists are neither reconstructionists nor are they cultural purists, that assertion is a stereotype and abhorrent to the vast majority of Heathens, it conflates racism with reconstructionism.

Germanic reconstructionists, in common with other forms of reconstructionism, do avoid eclectism but cultural purity in reconstructionism is impossible, cultures cannot be resurrected but to a certain extent world-views can and that is the aim of reconstructionism in general. We also recognise the role individual and group UPG plays in spirituality but it is seldom discussed, simply because it is personal and largley irrelevant to the wider discussion of the history, linguistics, archaeology and the mythology of our folkway.

Reconstructionism also recognises the regional locus of ancient pagan folkways, unlike the Abrahamic faiths and some forms of neopaganism they are not monolithic, they were tribal and closely tied to local enviroments. So my Heathenry will differ let's say from the Heathenry of someone living in Texas because our kin, climates, fauna, flora, agriculture and local histories are very different, we will share a world-view but there are factors we do not share.

We also, largely do not care when those outside our folkway revere our gods, we welcome all those that wish to honour our deities, where things often get a little tricky is when individuals assert ancient roots for modern practices and cannot, or will not support their claims with evidence. Our deities are evolving? Evolution is a theory that relates to the earthbound natural plane, it is a human concept which does not automatically equate to our deities or to religion in general.

Just some thoughts from a reconstructionist.

I understand where you are coming from, Heathenry in particular is dogged by Wotanists who expound folkish, neo nazi views but the majority of us are universalists, we firmly disavow such ideology and do not regard such people as part of Germanic Reconstructionism.

The stinking stain that Nazism placed on Norse Mythology still looms large in some peoples minds, a pity as we are unrelated tracing our begginings from Asatru rather than from the 19th century Wotanism of Germany.

Cultures certainly do change overtime but that doesn't necessarily translate to the Gods changing overtime, why do they need to?  That seems like an imposition of human values on the divine.

Christians historically defined themselves in opposition to pagans and Heathens, so can any aspect of the Christian world-view be incorporated into a pagan world-view without it becoming unrecognisable as a pre Christian form of worship?