Despite the term “Druidry” being a creation of Ross Nichols, in the mid-twentieth century because he wanted to stress that the Druid path was not an “ism,” an ideology or set of beliefs and despite the fact that the word Druidism was already being used and recognised as a term for those who practised this path as a ‘pagan religion’ in 2010 the word Druidry was redefined, now excluding those of a Christian faith.
When I heard ‘Druidry’ had become the first pagan practice to be given official recognition as a religion back in 2010. I got that it could be used for tax breaks and help out in areas of charitable works, but The Druid Network’s commission said to the BBC that the network’s work in promoting Druidry as a religion is in the public interest. Phil Ryder, chairman of the trustees of the Druid Network told the BBC: “It’s nice to have that official recognition.
A caption From the daily mail (not a paper I would normally read or like lol)
‘When Radio 4’s Sunday Programme suggested to Phil Ryder, chairman of the Druid Network, that the legal definition of religion included a
‘significant belief in a supreme being or entity’, he saw no contradiction. Druids, he said cheerfully, might venerate many gods, inanimate objects or nature.
How very inclusive of them! But the key point is surely that none of these beliefs involves a ‘supreme’ being that exists beyond the Earth and the universe. On the contrary, Druids worship what is in or on the earth itself.’
Now as a Christian druid, The Druid Network’s commission promoting ‘Druidry’, Instead of the word ‘Druidism ‘as a religion and getting that put into law was the bit, I found hard to swallow, because the word Druidry was created to emphasize that the Druid path, was not an “ism,” an ideology or set of beliefs.
Here is the application below, that puts 'Druidry' as an official religion, Linked below.
I also screenshot the part , that did effect Christian druids within Druidry.
I felt Druidism personally was a better fitting term that could have been used and met in giving people that recognition, I just felt the term Druidry was created for a reason that was so fluid, it served ‘all’ and created an amazing universalism (which it still does despite the law change) but at the time it did concern me an intolerance might arise, in one aspect it's why we now have to use the terms ChristoDruidry and Christian Druidry, because the reality is and more so now, is in many Druid orders, Druidry is a pagan only thing and many do reject those with beliefs that involves a ‘supreme’ being that exists beyond the Earth and the universe.
( Which is something Christians who do practice Druidry as a philosophy, do believe ! )
The creation of the word 'Druidry' by Ross Nichols purposely made Druidry fluid enough for all. Including the Pagans!
The fact is that early neo-druidry was almost unanimously Christian in its rebirth. Both Stukeley and Williams were Christians. The native religion of the Neo-Druids was Christianity, until paganism took more of hold on it throughout the 20’th century into the 21’st.
Interfaith is entwined very much into the core of modern Druidry,
it’s a golden thread and let’s face it, how can one claim to seek the wisdom of our ancestors, while ignoring the ancestors, because they were Christians?
But still as a Christian Druid that lives within the UK, I have to respect the law and the new definition of the word ‘Druidry’, it simply means Druidry on its own no longer fits what my path is in some peoples eyes, as Christian’s beliefs do involve a ‘supreme’ being that exists beyond the Earth and the universe and the new definition of Druidry clearly excludes that.
Druidry is a Pagan religion now, with all the ism’s,” ideology’s and beliefs, if it wasn’t, Christians beliefs that do involve a ‘supreme’ being that exists beyond the Earth and the universe, wouldn’t have been exclusively excluded!
However, ‘Christian Druidry’ can hold its own, it can still respect the meaning Ross Nichols created it for, holding the term true, to its original tone within the Christian Druidry frame, but to respect the law and the word ‘Druidry’ now being defined as a pagan religion, I’ll have to use the term ‘Christian Druidry’, to do that now, or do I?
That law was only created in the UK, the rest of the world still uses the term Druidry in the meaning and tone Ross Nichols created it for ( with no dogma, “ism,” or ruling the terms on someone’s deity to be a 'real' druid... ) Surly in that sense, I can also just apply the term to myself in their translation.. You know what, I'll think I do just that, too !
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