Association of Polytheist Traditions

[Blackbird]

Well folks,

I've just returned from the first AGM of the Association of Polytheist Traditions (APT).

For those who haven't come across APT yet, it is an organisation that has been formed for polytheists, in order to network, educate and provide resources for polytheist traditions. It's mostly UK based at the moment, though we do have a small international membership.

The website for APT is here: www.wyrdwords.vispa.com/APT/index.html

[siaron]

Annwyl Blackbird,

I went to the site and checked it out...great info! On the links page, you seem to be THE resource for Brythonic information. So, congratulations!

I'm curious, as far as the whole group is concerned, how well represented are the Brythonic traditions? I mean percentage-wise, I guess. I had no idea there were so many variations of polytheism running around...like Roman pagans?! I was especially intrigued by the article "What the Brutally Repressive Romans Did for Local Paganism", though being a purist have some problems with the conclusion (but then I have ties to the Iceni, so that would be understandable).

Anyway, thanks for the information.

Pob Bendith,

Siaron

[kern]

Thanks For sharing Blackbird....I to enjoyed the "What the Brutally Repressive Romans Did for Local Paganism" article and the one about the Wheel of the Year.

[Blackbird]

Well, we began the APT last year and presently have 30-40 members. Of those, the majority are Heathens of various types. That is not unexpected, as Heathens would constitute the largest polytheist grouping in the UK. However, the policy of APT is that no tradition should hold a dominant position.

The Brythonic contingent is as small as would be expected, but when you are talking with polytheists, this can be hard to define. Generally, our experience is that the Gods do not respect the pantheons and cultural groupings that humans try to put them in So it is that polytheists often encounter the Gods of other traditions. I know many polytheists who have a relationship with Gods that I might define as British - but these people are not working in a strictly Brythonic tradition. So things can get very blurry very easily

The Roman pagans actually have much in common with us in some ways. We are often using the same sources and indeed, honouring the same Gods. As the article points out, many 'Romans' would have been from Celtic speaking tribes.

[Brochfael]

For my money the best part of the APT site is in the humour section entitled "the gods total quality management questionaire"

Had Me rolling on the floor!

[marcodubnos]

Siaron,

I'm responsible for the APT website article 'What the Brutally Repressive Romans Did For Local Paganism': if you'd like to take issue with my conclusion, I would welcome a discussion either here or privately.

Nicolaus Moravius Vado Marcodubnus
Civis Romanobritannicus :-)

[Brochfael]

I'm going to doing a dissertation on religious change from the Iron age into the Romano-British period so if you'd like to recommend any good sources for research I'd be grateful