One of the most common habits of neo-pagan and wiccans today is the "cross pollinating" of Gods and Goddesses from one culture to the next. Often these deities are worlds apart and their rituals vary drastically. They come to this because of the mass production of material out and about in the pagan community that was mish mashed together for the sole purpose of having enough content to publish something (aka - laziness). And one of the primary defenses for this gross practice is a trend that leans towards Christianity, monotheism.
The neo-pagan perspective on monotheistic views is simplistic. They sometimes claim that all of the Gods and Goddesses were birthed from a singular source and that their individuality is secondary to the over ruling power of this singular source. So, in their view, it doesn't matter what name you gift to the gods or goddesses if you even grant them a name at all. Some just go with the vague "God and Goddess" and attribute these hollow titles to masculine and feminine energy or the duality trends of nature. It's much easier to hold onto a belief system that allows room for and encourages stupidity.
The Gods and Goddesses of the ancient world that some have come to love and honor so much with the rhyming prayers and baskets of seeds with all the colors of the rainbow flapping in the wind, were all very individualized with their own identities, personalities (that often went to the extremes on the grim), and they all had their own temples and rituals dedicated to them and them alone. They could be petty and cruel and a blessing from one may just bring you a curse from another.
The Gods and Goddesses, in a more realistic perspective, mirror many mortal attributes and not all of them were those we view as being positive. So, why anyone would think that stripping one of them of their identities and titles is a good idea remain beyond me.
One of the most common of these mistakes happens between the Greek and Roman Pantheons. One God or Goddess is viewed as the "equivalent" of the other. And when it comes to general roles or positions of authority that may hold some weight. But in reality we are still talking about two very different cultures, pantheons, and religious practices.
Within the studies of the Heraion of Samos one can find that most of the votive offerings to Hera were stolen from her sacred temple by the Romans in the first century B.C. The Romans had no respect for Hera's temple nor did they fear reprisal from her "Roman Equivalent" Juno because Hera was considered to be an "outland goddess" with no power or authority in the lands of Rome.
The point of view of "outland" Gods and Goddesses seems to be something unique to Denian teachings. I've yet to run into another area of "pagan learning" were the view has even been conceived.
Mortals put so much pride in their gifted names and titles. They wear them like shiny new armor and sometimes demand respect for their position. All with names, identities, personalities, and often very sensitive emotions that they want respected regardless of their actions (or lack there of). They strive for integrity, honor, and respect as well as blessings from the Gods and Goddesses they are free to worship but fail in gifting integrity, honor, and respect to the identities, positions, and lineage of the very Gods and Goddesses they claim to love so much. They love them, call to them, but don't know a damned thing about them as individuals. And many of these same people claim the titles of High Priest or Priestess of the very Gods and Goddesses they disrespect and gain only the hate of. I know, I listen to it every freakin day.
So, with some prodding I continue to put out the message.
Don't disrespect the individual because of something some mortal taught you. You wouldn't like it much if someone stripped you of your name, title, position, or any other attribute that makes you who you are as an individual.
Don't do it to them.
Angel Snowden - 2011
