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Despite full-hearted attempts to correct them, the Reformed Dru-
from Chaos in the genesis myths of many religions.
ids proved to be incapable of meeting certain standards that he felt
were necessary for achieving the nebulous (but vitally important)
definitional status of a stable religious organization.
The Beginnings of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF)
The Beginnings of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF)
The Beginnings of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF)
The Beginnings of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF)
The Beginnings of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF)
On casual observation, there would seem to be no carry-overs
(Dec. 1981)
from Reformed Druidism to ADF except the title Druid, the Wa-
During Isaac s sabbatical from 1979 to 1981, he was putting to-
ters-of-Life, the Druid Sigil and Isaac himself; but a more careful
gether the foundations for a new Druid Organization that would be
examination proves otherwise. Without his experiences in the anar-
more stable, legally-recognizable and coherent than the anarchy and
chic RDNA, he would have probably made many (more) blunders
ridiculous egalitarianism of the RDNA and NRDNA. The major
in setting up a group formed in the way that he wished. In a sense
problem with the Reformed Druids, in Isaac s & other s eyes, was its
the RDNA provided a very accurate model for what Isaac wished to
obstinate refusal to allocate power to the leaders and its having a system
avoid in his new group and also what he did want included in his
that defeated any official attempt to improve the coherency and/or
new group. I recommend a close study of the ADF for those curious
functionality into a national organization. Isaac s liturgical or organiza-
did
about the RDNA, because what the ADF did
did do sheds a lot of light
did
did
tional changes from scholarly study of Celtic and/or Proto-Indo-Euro-
couldn t (or wouldn t)
on what the RDNA couldn t (or wouldn t)
couldn t (or wouldn t) do. Isaac (and others)
couldn t (or wouldn t)
couldn t (or wouldn t)
pean cultures would forever contend with the RDNA s multiple (and
was familiar from his past experiences (with AADL and Pentalpha)
possibly more enticing) systems of beliefs from around the world and
with the criteria needed for a religion to be considered respectable
from the members own devising. The RDNA, as a whole, would never
in a court of law. These failures on the part of the RDNA, and
resemble authentic, historical Druidism.
similar Neo-Pagan anarchic groups, were carefully corrected when
At best, Isaac could have formed and shaped one Reformed Druid
planning the new Druid Organization; and they were primarily:
grove in his vision and slowly founded others. However, each mem-
ber of those new groves would be constantly reminded by the Druid
1. Stable, effective, strong central organization.
Chronicles and Reformed Druid correspondence that they could do
2. Effective Clergy training and the controlled appointment of Lead-
anything and still be a Reformed Druid, regardless of what Isaac or
ership
any pseudo-governing body said to them. It was like sand slipping
3. Defrocking and excommunication
out of Isaac s fingers or King Canute trying to stop the tides. The
4. Concerted unity in court cases
RDNA and NRDNA would always be a loose federation of autono-
5. Financial stability.
mous groves operating in effective isolation; never a complex na-
6. Capability of steady expansion without lessening central power.
tional organization.
7. Official dogma and an ability to speak for a group and make
I don t mean to imply that Isaac wished to control people s lives
362 official alliances.
8. Willingness to ally exclusively to Neo-Paganism.
2. Effective clergy training and appointment of leaders
9. Willingness to adapt and change to accommodate scholarly facts
Once the issue of legislating by the majority s wishes had been con-
on Indo-Euro religion
ceded (i.e. that people need to be instructed and led by the (hopefully)
10. Respect for the group s goals.
better-informed-majority s wishes), the next issue to deal with was ap-
pointing good leaders to avoid tyranny and promote the group s goals.
All of these goals are carefully tied into eachother, with one lead-
The placement of term-of-office limits helps greatly, so is the need for
ing string leading to another. We shall therefore start with one of
election, but some power is always taken away from the individuals.
these strings in the Gordion Knot.
Unlike secular authorities, religious authorities (excepting Cults) can
not hope to control the lives of its members if the congregation
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