I'm not sure about the chronology of Christianity's spread to England
(And I doubt if scholars have a clear consensus about the origins and
historicity of the Arthur legends) but in the Mists of Avalon the
portrayal is actually kind of interesting. Arthur's reign is seen as a
turning point between Paganism and Christianity. Merlin and Morgana le
Fey are representatives of the Old religion as England is slowly taken
over by Christianity. (Although Goddess worship is secretly continued
as Marian devotion)
On 1/2/07, Brill de Ramirez, Susan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
This is an especially interesting direction for discussion. We know that there
have been many Manifestations of God throughout human existence propelling
cultures and civilizations forward. Those of written religious history, we
know more about than those of oral cultures.
Judaism has the distinction of being one of the few tribal faiths that arose
with a written culture with the Book rather than the Word of God having been
transmitted orally (here, we might also include some Chinese traditions,
perhaps the Egyptians, the Mayans, perhaps others). . . although, of course,
there is also an active oral sacred tradition in Judaism . . . most notably
retained in the Passover seder rituals and storytelling.
Anyway, the Grail. . . .
Lately, I've been thinking about Merlin and Arthur. I've been pondering
whether, in fact, Merlin might have been a Prophet/Manifestation of God for the
Celtic peoples of England with the Message of unification of the various
peoples of Great Britain with Arthur as his unifying instrument. All that we
have, of course, are stories, variously embellished and fictionalized. In
those stories, might the Grail be the holy Sign that fuses both ancient Celtic
tribal traditions with the arrival of Christianity? The Holy Grail being the
tangible Sign of the Message of Christianity as it was brought from its Middle
Eastern origins all the way to England. . . .
So much for early Gregorian year musings,
Regards to all,
Susan
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