by Horatius Piscinus on Fri Jul 11, 2003 3:30 pm
Salvete
In order to distinguish out Roman completely from Greek, or Egyptian, or Syrian culti deorum you must select a specific period of time. That is what reconstructionist seem to attempt. At a certain point Rome became a Hellenistic society, although not a Greek society. By Hellenistic I imply several things, among them that Roman society had become a cosmopolitan, Mediterrannean society that supported many peoples and beliefs, while tolerating still others. The same was true of the Religio Romana over its history. In Julian's time can a Religio Romana be distinguished out from Greek practices? Yes, there still remained certain aspects of the various culti deorum ex patria where celebrations were marked by local customs. But on the intellectual level where explanations were being devised you could say there was one generalized form of paganism. For today, in our societies, I think you can retain a distinct identity of following either a Roman, Greek or other path in the manner of your practice. But if you then try to discuss such topics as pagan theology you will primarily rely on the Hellenistic sources such as Julian, Proclus, Plotinus, and then for the Romans going back through Cicero perhaps but still to Plato and other Greek philosophers. Some reconstructions of the Religio Romana seek to avoid such Greek complications and appear to me to follow ritual practice without understanding or benefit. In other words, they are not practicing a religio at all but are merely reenacting. Religion is more than just a set of ritual performances and to limited any religious tradition to its rites alone is to debase it.
Valete
Moravius Piscinus
M Horatius Piscinus
Sapere aude!