So I have talked about this before, but cant seem to find a source for it so do take this with a massive grain of salt.
I always get the impression germanic religion is almost a direct rejection of 'Celtic' religion.
Not necessarily. Though the accuracy of these claims is nowadays highly disputed, the chronicle of Peter of Dusburg describes Baltic religion as organized with a center in the temple of Romowe and a single religious head, the Kriwe (or Kriwe of Kriwes, sources vary).There was no equal to the Pope, Caliph, or Dalai Lama in any of the European pagan traditions (the Celtic druids probably came the closest to this sort of system, but they were more like sorcerors/seers, or witchdoctors, AFAIK).
Not necessarily. Though the accuracy of these claims is nowadays highly disputed, the chronicle of Peter of Dusburg describes Baltic religion as organized with a center in the temple of Romowe and a single religious head, the Kriwe (or Kriwe of Kriwes, sources vary).
Though it is much more likely that Dusburg invented much of what he wrote to make Baltic paganism seem more threatening than it actually is, there's most likely at least some historical basis behind his text. The concept of a "Kriwe", an elder religious leader or a priest, is a recurring concept in descriptions of Baltic paganism from the period, even in legends which come from the Lithuanians themselves - for example, the Iron Wolf myth, which shows a Lithuanian pagan religious head, the kriwe Lizdeika.
What would one's motivation be for creating a church? More importantly, what would anyone's motivation be for joining this church? Invented religions never last long - you need to have "true believers" who are willing to devote their entire lives to the religion, propagate it, and die for it if necessary. Germanic paganism, like every other form of paganism, was a shared set of rituals of superstitions, unlike Christianity which calls for its followers to change their entire worldview and live their lives for a higher purpose.Maybe there could be a Frankish king who decides to create a church based on the religion with like a pope figure. I’m not really sure tbh
The religious and political leaders were often the same people in Germanic societies.The Germanic and Norse Pagans relied on oral tradition to pass their faith from one generation to the next. There was also next to no religious hierarchy, which, frankly, a religion needs to be 'organised' in the same manner the Abrahamic faiths and Buddhism are organised. There was no equal to the Pope, Caliph, or Dalai Lama in any of the European pagan traditions (the Celtic druids probably came the closest to this sort of system, but they were more like sorcerors/seers, or witchdoctors, AFAIK).
The Abrahamic and some eastern religions had the benefit of being written down. It was only after the Norse world was Christianised that we got the Poettic and Prose Edda, which describe the myths associated with Norse Paganism (I don't know just how severely Germanic Paganism differed, but there was nothing similar). I suppose you'd need a historical figure who was literate but still pagan to try and make some kind of written record of the Germanic faith that could be distributed and referenced. Of course, you would also need a priestly class, which simply wasn't there (again, to my knowledge).
I don't subscribe to the usual Christian Determinism stance of the board, so I don't believe what you want is impossible, but I do accept that it is extremely difficult.
What would one's motivation be for creating a church? More importantly, what would anyone's motivation be for joining this church? Invented religions never last long - you need to have "true believers" who are willing to devote their entire lives to the religion, propagate it, and die for it if necessary. Germanic paganism, like every other form of paganism, was a shared set of rituals of superstitions, unlike Christianity which calls for its followers to change their entire worldview and live their lives for a higher purpose.
Perhaps there could be a "Cult of Thor" where followers attempt to make Thor into a sort of messianic figure. But again, I feel like it would attract few followers.
I think you are somewhat underestimating invented religions. There have been a few with a large for over a century for instance.What would one's motivation be for creating a church? More importantly, what would anyone's motivation be for joining this church? Invented religions never last long - you need to have "true believers" who are willing to devote their entire lives to the religion, propagate it, and die for it if necessary. Germanic paganism, like every other form of paganism, was a shared set of rituals of superstitions, unlike Christianity which calls for its followers to change their entire worldview and live their lives for a higher purpose.
Perhaps there could be a "Cult of Thor" where followers attempt to make Thor into a sort of messianic figure. But again, I feel like it would attract few followers.
I think you are somewhat underestimating invented religions. There have been a few with a large for over a century for instance.
Sure religions dont come from nothing, but that doesnt mean they are not invented religions, as a disqualifier from the idea of incented religions I think that is flawrd because it could literally nullify every clearly invented religion (i.e. pastafarianism).Such as? Religions don't appear out of nothing. Islam came from Judaism and Christianity along with local Arab traditions. Mormonism largely came from the Second Great Awakening. Even Scientology came from increasing belief in aliens, UFOs, and New Age sort of stuff in the 50s onwards.
Sure religions dont come from nothing, but that doesnt mean they are not invented religions, as a disqualifier from the idea of incented religions I think that is flawrd because it could literally nullify every clearly invented religion (i.e. pastafarianism).
And not sure if I should say which religion I was talking about, only on the grounds that I have mentioned it in the past and got some moderater shock, which is fair enough as its sort of hard to say "your religion is objectively fake" without coming across as an ass.
Im not saying all religions are invented but that some are. As its the least contreversial, somethiny like scientology clearly is, whilst Christianity etc is impossible to know and/or distinguish from relevation. What I dont understand is why you are bringing up the idea that there needs to be a tradition; unless im missing something it seems your saying something not in disagreement with what I have said?Well yes, every religion is "invented", but religions generally need some sort of tradition to base themselves on, which depends on the cultural context of their time. For instance, the Heaven's Gate cult almost certainly could not have arisen based on some other comet.