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ETHNIC RELIGIONS
The article is by Gintaras Beresnevicius, a popular
intelectual figure in Lithuania, doctor of humanities. He is also a productive
scholar of religion, the author of “Dausos” and the “Reforms of Baltic
Religion”, and of countless articles. His position in regard to Romuva is very
important, because his opinion is valued even by Catholic authorities.
The article was published in a political newspaper “Atgimimas” (Rebirth), October 25, 2002
Gintaras Beresnevicius (Studija)
Acausal synchronization. In one corner of Europe, the
Celtic Irish, irritable and envious, melancholic and hotheaded, much like the
Lithuanians, vote against their own interests, biting their fingernails and
gritting their teeth. In another corner of the same continent, on the fateful
day of October 19th, upon the Gediminas burial hill, the Lithuanian
pagan Krivis is consecrated. After six hundred years, the pagans of Lithuania
begin a new calendar, and this new pagan era begins chronologically with the
vote cast by these descendents of the Druids. Both voices are heard at this
time, a time when we can already begin the countdown to our entry into Europe.
Europe and paganism. The Celts embodied by the Irish;
the Balts embodied by the Lithuanians. Though both the Celts and Balts
historically covered half of Europe, neither of them created great historical
kingdoms or empires, but instead became withdrawn and diminished – the Celts to
Ireland, Wales, and Brittany; the Balts to the miniature plots of land known as
Lithuania and Latvia. But despite their limited numbers, both now find
themselves at the center of attention, deciding the very destiny of this
continent.
Neither is the consecration of the Krivis a simple
game in the panorama of Europe. He received the krivule, a bent staff with a
coiled grass snake, consecrated like the elder Druid of the Celts. All is good,
and Europe thrives. These roots, these nuclei, these profound structures communicate
and reluctantly take the road to a common Europe. However, Europe today is such
a place where both of these strange and insanely sincere Christian nations can
meet. Inspired by the breath of
Druids and Kriviai, touched by Christianity, these nations of mages and
wizards, casting their spells and ballots, nations of fierce Catholics, still
believing – radically believing, and still poor, and now marching forward with
the strides of the tigers that they are yet to become.
Lithuania into the EU and with a Krivis? Of course,
otherwise they’ll tear us to pieces. There are pumas and hyenas, but there are
also internal processes, which give Europe focus. There is Athens, Jerusalem,
and Rome. There is steel, coal, and the Northern oil. There are Italians and Norwegians,
Lithuanians and Spaniards; nations that unite on the basis of Greek and Roman
legacies, the legacies of democracy and justitia, legacies which, by
their own right, rest upon Egyptian wisdom and Babylonian learning, the gnosis
and religion of Alexandria and Jerusalem. And yet, a profound, common stratum –
the potential for freedom- unifies all of these tribes, all of these nations,
which are grinded, mixed, but still not yet blended. The cunning barbarian, fit
for alchemy, medicine and astronomy; virtuous in his own freedom. He whom so
many empires tried to enslave, but none of which succeeded. The Franks created
what was one of the most liberal empires, along with the similarly expanded
Lithuania to the East. And Rome, who left to the barbarians its administration
and justitia, was absorbed by them like a goose’s egg, so refreshing to
a Langobard warrior with a hangover on the morning after the storming of
Ravenna, or perhaps Brindisium. Such freedom could only be curbed by powerful justitia
(I use the Latin term, justitia, for the justice, because in the
Lithuanian language, the word for justice, teise, is far too closely
associated to another kind of justice, tesingumas, a term that implies
punishment, an association that has been ingrained into our hearts and minds
through the years of our imperial subservience). Although justitia put
the barbarian commotion in order, not everywhere does the halter of political
correctness bridle it. The barbarian understands organization and the
components therein. He knows the significance of harmony, the disturbance of
which unravels organization and is therefore forbidden. He understands that the greatest
freedom is achieved through harmony with one’s surroundings.
The consecration of the Krivis can be scoffed at if
one so desires; it is easy and modern, postmodern and democratic. And yet this
acausal synchronization… it is of essence. If in this new Europe we do not want
to be drowned, trampled and admixed, we must stand on a common foundation with
small nations; ones that are still alive, ones of whom there is something more
to than just names, and Ireland is one of such countries.
Of our Lithuanian pagans, we have about two thousand.
We will not count the sympathizers, or the unsympathetic, of which there are
probably more. But this chronological coincidence is a reference, as all
coincidences are, to the fact that our future power rests on the many,
countless groups, which, though small as they are, have strong spines. These
are groups bound by something more than economic and corruptive interest. I
cannot be sure; perhaps such national corruptive groups are as unavoidable as
reality. These groups ensure a certain living standard for themselves and their
children, in education, work, international ties, and perhaps (??) their
interests, like the interests of feudal warlord coalitions, will eventually
serve their roots here in Lithuania.
These groups would not be so dangerous, if not for their dealings with
the far more dangerous international clans of modern nobility, the so-called
elite. Entangled in global capital and notwithstanding dubious interests they
would not only themselves perish with regard to Lithuania, but also drown the
country in ever-deeper mires.
In the meantime, the Lithuanian pagans with their now
inaugurated Krivis – Jonas Trinkunas, are also a group. A good, strong group,
which also has international ties, but these ties are decisively
favorable. Their religious
community has very good relations with Iceland, Latvia, Germany, England, Ireland,
Scotland, and etc. The groups in each of these countries respectively are ever
so similar to our pagan group in their outlooks and activities. The goals of
these groups include the need secure ethnic identity in the EU melting pot, and
they do this peacefully, mobilizing various sections of society, working
alongside Greenpeace and other ecological movements. Those movements orient
themselves towards one amity, which is not drafted in official papers and
treaties, but towards the one that is found under the layers of Athenian,
Roman, and Jerusaleian influence.
All these movements inching towards the common destiny of nations and
tribes settled here after the great migrations; giving body to that substratum
which was later to take and incorporate the Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem. This substratum could take those
influences because it was firm, disciplined, and virtuous. Otherwise, it would
not have taken or given anything, but turned Europe into a Scythian steppe.
This is our barbarian Europe, Latinized and Byzantified, has still preserved
her face, on the basis of which she still builds herself today. This is a
multicultural, multiethnic Europe. She was never anything else. And now,
at this time of tectonic convergence, we are beseeched to remember this
substratum, for it is on its base that Europe shall settle its entire
perimeter. Rome was not that substratum; Rome just gave it form.
There are forces stronger than the ones that manifest themselves
through economic structures. These forces can manifest themselves through many
things, but now time has come to recognize them and clutch onto them, that
which in Europe is our own, and will not weigh down on us like a bag of cement.
The consecration of the Krivis turns out to be a sign; a sign that the time has
come to kick and to preserve ourselves in all forms by all available means.
Even such means, or perhaps – precisely such means; Europe is becoming
unavoidable, and this is an opportunity (the last one in history) to strengthen
and create a cultural and religions backbone and identity, which can someday
overgrow with the muscle of a free and persistent nation. It all sounds very emotional moment,
but this is also a moment from which there is no place to hide. It is time,
because our defensive position no longer holds.
Translated by Martin Shetty
Presented by Federazione Pagana – Italy
November
12th 2002
WORLD
CONGRESS OF ETHNIC RELIGIONS
LA CONCEZIONE DEL MALE NEL PAGANESIMO POLITEISTA
ISTITUTO MEDITERRANEO DI STUDI POLITEISTI