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Reconstructionist Roman religion

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Ceremony of the Roman revivalist group Nova Roma to Concordia at Aquincum (Budapest), Floralia 2008

Template:Paganism (contemporary) Roman Polytheistic Reconstructionism, known variously as the Roman Way to the Gods in Italian and Spanish (via romana agli dei and camino romano a los dioses respectively), Cultus Deorum Romanorum (worship of the Roman gods) and Religio Romana (Roman religion) in Latin, and Romano-Italic Tradition, is a contemporary reconstructionist movement reviving traditional Roman and Italic religious cults.

Practices

The Roman Way to the Gods is a revived religion and way of life, revolving around the reverence and worship of Roman gods (in order to keep alive or reestablish the pax deorum, the balance between men and gods and the order of the cosmos), including household gods such as the Lares, the Penates and, for some, may include the veneration of ancestors, as well as the embracing of traditional Roman values and virtues of the mos maiorum – although adaptations to these values may occur to make allowances for changed social realities.[1]

Contemporary pagans practicing Roman religion may also venerate gods that are non-Roman in origin[2] – usually gods who were venerated within the Roman empire. Such gods include those that are indigenous to the Greeks, Celts, Germanic tribes, Egyptians and peoples of the near east. When this occurs the interpretatio Romana may in some instances be used to identify or conflate non-Roman gods with Roman deities.[3] For example, the Germanic gods Tyr, Wodan and Thor may be identified as Mars, Mercury and Jupiter respectively.

The main practice for adherents of the Cultus Deorum Romanorum generally involves setting up a lararium or altar in their homes where (usually daily) offerings and prayers are made to the gods.[4][5] The presence of a salinum (a container for salt - which purifies), a patera (used for food offerings), a gutus (for milk or wine offerings), the burning of incense as an offering and the maintenance or lighting of a sacred fire are generally typical features of these household altars, or larariums.[6][7][8]

Blood offerings in the form of animal sacrifice are generally not a feature of the contemporary Roman way to the Gods, following the tradition of Numa, flour, in the form of mola salsa, wine, milk, incense, herbs and flowers are the usual offerings.[9][10][11]

Pax Deorum

The core purpose of the Roman Way to the Gods is to gain the good will of divine forces and establish peace with the gods (the Pax Deorum).[12][13] Peace with the gods is established through the carrying out of rituals which demonstrate respect for their power.[14] These rituals generally involve communicating with the gods by the making of offerings (to give thanks and to facilitate divine good will), as well as by prayers and by vows to make certain offerings.[15][16]

The will of the gods may be interpreted by the granting (or not) of that which has been prayed for and by, inter alia, observing the natural world, for example, by looking at the behaviour of birds and being alert to the occurrence of prodigia.[17][18][19] Note, however, that superstitio, in the form of uncontrolled mysticism, excessive emotional devotion or a morbid dread of the supernatural, is discouraged.[20]

While ethical behaviour as an expression of pietas or philosophical beliefs is strongly encouraged, it is not necessarily required in order to obtain the favour of the gods, thus a preoccupation with sin as understood in the Abrahamic religions does not factor.[21]

Virtues

Many Roman polytheistic reconstructionists aspire to adopt ancient Roman values and virtues.[22][23] Regarding both men and women these include:

  • pietas (in the sense of an unswerving sense of duty, devotion and loyalty to one's family, friends, country and gods),[24]
  • gravitas (taking one’s responsibilities seriously and earnestly),[25]
  • diligence, energy and industriousness,[26]
  • steadfastness and patience,[27]
  • dignity, austerity and elegance in manner and dress,[28]
  • restraint and self-discipline (emotional control),[29]
  • syncretism, open-mindedness and tolerance.[30]

Numinism

Numinism is a relatively new neo-pagan form of Roman religion which has been around since the mid-1990s. Numinists strive to see divinity in all things and to honour divinity in its many and varied forms. It stresses the twin Forces of Mother Nature and Father Time and view the Roman God Vertumnus and Goddess Pomona as their head god and goddess. As there is an emphasis on primordial spirituality it draws additional inspiration from other ancient religious traditions such as Hinduism, Taoism and Shinto. Most of its adherents are solitary practitioners.

Groups

The most active followers of the Roman Way to the Gods can be found in Italy. However it is practiced worldwide. Adherents can be found across Europe, America, Australia and elsewhere such as Nova Roma.

References

  1. ^ www.patheos.com/blogs/religioromana/2011/06/mos-maiorum/ (2012)
  2. ^ M Beard et al, Religions of Rome (Vol 1), Cambridge, 2010 at 327
  3. ^ M Beard et al, Religions of Rome (Vol 1), Cambridge, 2010 at 344-346
  4. ^ www.cultusdeorum.org/english/beginner-s-guides/beginners-guide-basics (2012)
  5. ^ www.novaroma.org/nr/Household_worship (2012)
  6. ^ www.cultusdeorum.org/english/beginner-s-guides/beginner-s-guide-lararium (2012)
  7. ^ www.novaroma.org/nr/Lararium_(Nova_Roma) (2012)
  8. ^ romanpagan.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/pagan-altar.html (2012)
  9. ^ www.novaroma.org/nr/Sacrifice (2012)
  10. ^ www.novaroma.org/nr/Numa_tradition (2012)
  11. ^ romanpagan.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/offerings.html (2012)
  12. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 370
  13. ^ R Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome, New York, 2001 at 5 and 11
  14. ^ M Beard et al, Religions of Rome (Vol 1), Cambridge, 2010 at 217
  15. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 371-374
  16. ^ R Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome, New York, 2001 at 91-100
  17. ^ www.cultusdeorum.org/english/beginner-s-guides/beginners-guide-basics (2012)
  18. ^ R Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome, New York, 2001 at 7-8, 85
  19. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 375-376
  20. ^ R Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome, New York, 2001 at 10-11
  21. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 371
  22. ^ www.patheos.com/blogs/religioromana/2011/06/mos-maiorum/ (2012)
  23. ^ www.novaroma.org/nr/Roman_virtues (2012)
  24. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 292, 370-371
  25. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 2, 335
  26. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 149, 291-292
  27. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 2, 246, 296, 425
  28. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 2, 291-292, 335
  29. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 2, 294, 425
  30. ^ J Shelton, As the Romans Did (2nd ed), New York, 1998 at 417
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