Real life druid arrested for wearing sword in public.

[Lucky Number]

Most definitly. Far too few of those who claim to follow olde gods and olde ways give the proper sacrifices. The neo-druids rarely give the proper offerings in thier wicker men {is it really that hard to get a criminal to roast?}. But that really is the modern squeamishness that taints all religeons.

The whole "wicker man" thing is built on a single account by Julius Caesar, and he had never personally witnessed the supposed ceremony. No other records exist (past or present) describing sacrifices in the manner. Some modern folk, including self-described druids and pagans, burn effigies as a way of doing away with negative emotions (that's how Burning Man supposedly got started).

As for <u>all</u> religions, that's accurate. I've never heard of modern jews and christians following the biblical commands to offer animal and vegetable sacrifices to their God, eat no fat or unclean animals, to never wear clothing made of a blend of fabrics, and yet they are strangely not viewed as being less authentic, unlike those who call themselves druids and pagans...

 

[Cheerful Coffin]

Well most Christians emphasize that Jesus was the last sacrifice and Judaism believes the last sacrifice is still yet to come.

As someone who descends from two very famous sacrificing tribes (Aztec and Maiyan.) I can tell you the majority of sacrificial rituals were ussually desinged for a sortof godly survival of the fittest. They believed the dead energies from sacrificing nourished the gods. Not suprizing, science has proven things give off an electrical charge when they die..

Ofcourse things die so many times a day I wouldn't be suprised if the gods said we could give it a rest, considering all the holy wars that still go on death still gets carried out in The Lord's name..

Wether to say it's right or not is not for me to tell you, I respect religon, I also happen to be a vegitarian. I understand death and life are natural cycles and may hold a deeper purpose then my eyes can show me. But untill I am confronted with that responsibility I will countinuely try to compassionately avoid killing something whenever possible or be the cause of something's demise. However I don't judge those that kill, thier motivations may or may not be pure, regardless, if it serves a purpose, then it's worth forgivving.

I'd probably start eating meat again too had I known those poor animals were being treated humanely. Just cause thier not human does not mean you're entitled to toture the poor thing. Why make something that has done nothing to you suffer more then need be?

 

[Tewligan]

I'd probably start eating meat again too had I known those poor animals were being treated humanely. Just cause thier not human does not mean you're entitled to toture the poor thing. Why make something that has done nothing to you suffer more then need be?

Except for clowns. That's okay.

 

[Ferret]

Not sure exactly what the cough was for, but I do think they could get any number of practitioners of his own claimed faith - Druids, in other words - to testify that, while it's not strictly speaking forbidden, you aren't supposed to just go walking around all over the place with a RITUAL BLADE! It's the equivalent of walking around town with a church steeple - once again, not forbidden by the church, but what the heck are you up to?

Speaking as a "New Age Mystic", myself, I think this guy might be a little bonkers.

LMAO

They just seem like they want to dress up, I mean Merlin? King Arthur Pendragon?

 

[Ranger REG]

If he wants to dress up, he should have joined the local SCA chapter.

Nah, he truly believe in his religion.

 

[Zander]

Update: charges droped.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has indeed decided not to pursue the case. They didn't give a specific reason saying only that it was not in the public interest.

I'm not a lawyer, but I am in England and know a bit about English law governing weapons. My guess is that they dropped the case not because they believed he had a religious right but because in English law swords per se are not illegal. To successfully prosecute him, the CPS would need to demonstrate that he intended to use the sword offensively. As there was no evidence for this, they would have lost the case and wisely chose to drop the case instead.

 

[Mystery Man]

Except for clowns. That's okay.

And mimes and lawyers.


......and people who pay for inexpensive items with a credit card.

 

[Conaill]

The article however also brings up a second important issue:

Should the plural of talisman be "talismans" or "talismen"?

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm not a lawyer, but I am in England and know a bit about English law governing weapons. My guess is that they dropped the case not because they believed he had a religious right but because in English law swords per se are not illegal. To successfully prosecute him, the CPS would need to demonstrate that he intended to use the sword offensively. As there was no evidence for this, they would have lost the case and wisely chose to drop the case instead.

That sounds reasonable.

 

[Trainz]

You mean Call Lightning

AR

No, he means Lightning bolt ! Lightning bolt ! Lightning bolt ! as in THIS.