Greece, The Golden Dawn, and Modern Paganism (Wild Hunt blog)

[icymist]

http://wildhunt.org/2013/10/greece-the-golden-dawn-and-modern-paganism.html

There is a political movement in Greece today that has taken on the name Golden Dawn. This group is very antisemitic with deep roots in fascism and is in no way related to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn which was started in Victorian England. In fact, this political Golden Dawn uses the old Hellenistic culture and religion as a way to gain power for their party and has little in the way of honoring the old Greek Gods and Goddesses. From the article:

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All of these views, coming directly from Greeks familiar with the Pagan, polytheist, and esoteric communities in Greece, underline my initial thesis: that the Golden Dawn party utilizes Hellenic culture and religion to gain power and followers, but have little to do with organized Paganism or esotericism in the country (despite the preferences of scattered individuals). They wrap themselves in a flag of “Greek-ness” and purity, and will gladly exploit any community that will further their noxious goals.

As for the wider world, Pagan, polytheist, and esoteric groups have been quick to publicly condemn the values of the Golden Dawn, and clarify that they in no way support the controversial political party. In late September US-based Hellenic polytheist organization Hellenion recently released a statement clearly rejecting the use of Hellenic polytheism to promote any kind of hatred. Earlier in that same month, The Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn categorically rejected any possible connection with the “racist, and arguably fascist, Golden Dawn political organization of Greece.”
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