Comments on: Old-Timey Religion in Austria http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/ By Common Consent is the pre-eminent Mormon blog. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:54:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peter LLC http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178937 Peter LLC Tue, 13 May 2008 06:31:50 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178937 MattG: The Austrian Federal Forests log about every square inch of land that isn't tilled, so you are right, the forest isn't very old. In fact, some suspect that back then the hilltop was bare, giving the rock formations much more prominence. And the holidays do seem to bring the worshippers out of the woodwork--at Easter it was standing room only. Steve: I suspect France and Austria have a lot in common (but I've only spent a few months in the former learning how to say things like "je ne suis pas d'ici," so my views are under-informed to say the least). Researcher: my first exposure to New Age beliefs (that is to say, contact with real people who believed in it) was as a missionary in Austria. Jonathan: Indeed. The Celts remain shrouded in mystery (which is half the fun, I suppose) and any signs of continuity are more the result of the author painting with the widest brush in his inadequate palette than anything. MattG: The Austrian Federal Forests log about every square inch of land that isn’t tilled, so you are right, the forest isn’t very old. In fact, some suspect that back then the hilltop was bare, giving the rock formations much more prominence. And the holidays do seem to bring the worshippers out of the woodwork–at Easter it was standing room only.

Steve: I suspect France and Austria have a lot in common (but I’ve only spent a few months in the former learning how to say things like “je ne suis pas d’ici,” so my views are under-informed to say the least).

Researcher: my first exposure to New Age beliefs (that is to say, contact with real people who believed in it) was as a missionary in Austria.

Jonathan: Indeed. The Celts remain shrouded in mystery (which is half the fun, I suppose) and any signs of continuity are more the result of the author painting with the widest brush in his inadequate palette than anything.

]]> By: Jonathan Green http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178936 Jonathan Green Tue, 13 May 2008 05:58:36 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178936 How much actual continuity is there between modern New Age-ish spiritualism, 19th century superstition, and prehistoric beliefs? My best guess: not a lot. The records are too spotty to say much about what the local Celts believed and practiced, and the later Romanization and Germanization and Christianization of the areas involved were too thorough, at least in terms of culture, to leave many remains. Tracking down Celtic cites in the forest makes for some great hiking, though. How much actual continuity is there between modern New Age-ish spiritualism, 19th century superstition, and prehistoric beliefs? My best guess: not a lot. The records are too spotty to say much about what the local Celts believed and practiced, and the later Romanization and Germanization and Christianization of the areas involved were too thorough, at least in terms of culture, to leave many remains. Tracking down Celtic cites in the forest makes for some great hiking, though.

]]> By: MattG http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178901 MattG Mon, 12 May 2008 23:06:39 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178901 I've been to Vienna a few times, but each time I've been there and walked through the old Catholic churches, the only people I see attending daily mass are pensioners (elderly folks). Maybe it's different on Sundays and Holy days. I’ve been to Vienna a few times, but each time I’ve been there and walked through the old Catholic churches, the only people I see attending daily mass are pensioners (elderly folks). Maybe it’s different on Sundays and Holy days.

]]> By: Researcher http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178900 Researcher Mon, 12 May 2008 23:01:55 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178900 Interesting. After returning from a German mission I took the obligatory culture class at a certain university. The professor explained that despite the veneer of Christianity, Germans were largely still tree worshipers at heart. It rang true based on my many interactions with many (not all) of them. Interesting. After returning from a German mission I took the obligatory culture class at a certain university. The professor explained that despite the veneer of Christianity, Germans were largely still tree worshipers at heart. It rang true based on my many interactions with many (not all) of them.

]]> By: Steve Evans http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178899 Steve Evans Mon, 12 May 2008 22:51:30 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178899 How they danced, the merry children of Stonehenge. Peter, what is the role of religion in Austrian life? Is it like unto France, where religion has an enormous sociocultural impact but largely an historical one? How they danced, the merry children of Stonehenge. Peter, what is the role of religion in Austrian life? Is it like unto France, where religion has an enormous sociocultural impact but largely an historical one?

]]> By: MattG http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/old-timey-religion-in-austria/#comment-178897 MattG Mon, 12 May 2008 22:45:34 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3773#comment-178897 Peter, That's fascinating to see. Sometimes I forget how widespread the Celtic culture was in ancient times. Is it just me, or does the forest around those stones seem relatively new (last 100 years or so)? Just curious. Peter,

That’s fascinating to see. Sometimes I forget how widespread the Celtic culture was in ancient times. Is it just me, or does the forest around those stones seem relatively new (last 100 years or so)? Just curious.

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