Recently, the CLP office has been abuzz with a host of concerned e-mails and phone calls regarding the incorporation of the labyrinth in "occult" rituals. I have personally contacted many of you who have written in with questions such as "Are labyrinths Satanic?" or "Why do wiccans love labyrinths?" or "Is a massive stone labyrinth in Paul Brown Staidum offensive to my Christian/Moslem belief structure?"
This is a subject on which much has been written, but for purposes of brevity, I will attempt to answer these questions as succinctly as possible.
The labyrinth as an archetype has been accepted and celebrated by nearly every major theology, including those that have since ceased to exist. This is only logical. Labyrinths largely predate every major religion. In the modern era, early labyrinths have been discovered in all the popular "cradles" of civilization, whether Mesopotamia (labyrinth GS918 located near the Iraq/Iran border), North Africa (labyrinth HU292, popularly referred to as the King's Eye labyrinth, located in Morocco), and the Asiatic regions (labyrinth GT221, in Bhutan). Accordingly, labyrinths, in both a physical and psychical sense, have firmly established roots in all major and minor human theisms.
In terms of Christianity, the labyrinth is an accepted and celebrated archetype. Early cathedrals often employed some form of labyrinthine structure. The labyrinth motif was brilliantly espoused in Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress. More recently, the prayer journey, where the individual paces the pathways of the labyrinth in a meditative prayer state, has enjoyed a resurgence in Christian use.
It is true that neopagans, at least in modern times, have most visibly embraced the labyrinth as a psychical doorway to exploration of their belief structure. However, to say that the labyrinth is unique to Wicca, or any other religion, would be a gross mis-step.
Ultimately, the labyrinth is offensive to no religion, and inclusive of all. You may rest assured that a massive stone labyrinth in Paul Brown Stadium would pose no threat to an individual's religious identity. The labyrinth, by its nature, represents the human struggle, the unaswered questions. It encourages and envigorates theistic exploration.
Further reading: Dedal, Charles, Labyrintheism: Pathways to God, Oak Press, 8th ed. 2002, NY.
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8 comments:
Great post, Mark. I hear there is a new edition of that Dedal text due out in Spring, the 9th.
Is stonehedge a labyrinth? I've always been really impressed by that structure. They say it was built either by aliens or Grendel.
Charles Dedal has been a major force in reclaiming labyrinths from the secularists.
Yo who wants to shmoke some tasty tasty in the labrinth with me. I got some craazy nuggets rite now.
Mark: Interesting article. It is quite true that the labyrinth has become the epergne of sorts for a host of ritual acts. For example, the freemasons have traditionally employed a labyrthinistic motif into their induction ceremonies.
Mark, thanks so much for posting this. I think it's extremely important to keep an open mind about this project -- on all levels. That being said, I'd be interested in hearing more about what folks have to say about using the labyrinth as a venue for multicultural events. Crete's theory has a lot to say about the cognitive upshots of labyrinths. Could we somehow utilize those qualities for the betterment of Cincinnati's ethnically and religiously diverse community?
nateschmokz: Let's keep the comments on the labyrinths, not weed. Thanks.
Mark: Fantastic job of debunking many common labyrinth misconceptions. I see your service on the International Board of Ecumenical Labyrintheism was very edifying.
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