Friday, December 12, 2014

WikiLearning #9 (folklore)

Things I've learned from Wikipedia, and sometimes other places.

This is commentary. And this is really good.

"Old-Time Religion" entry in the Encyclopedia of Appalachia

"Stereotypes of mountain religion that came to the fore during the 1960s had been created over a century and a half through outside observations of religious practices in Appalachia, mostly by home missionaries or people seeking exotic experiences or local color."

"It bears the common image of being an old-time religion that remains unchanging and frozen in the past. It is stereotyped as hyper-Calvinist, trapped in a fatalism and passivity that strips Appalachia's people of power over their own destinies."

"Throughout history, mountain preachers have been identified as the crux of 'the mountain problem.' Mountain people commonly reject seminary education for credentialing and equipping thier preachers and pastors... They also reject a paid ministry and always have. Preachers and pastors must make their own way in the world and do not expect their churches to support them. As a result, another common image portrays the people of Appalachia as 'unwilling to support the Gospel.' Historically, mountain people looked to ministers hired by coal camps and mill towns as an example of 'whoever pays you, owns you,' and this has reinforced suspicion of paid preachers."

"Appalachia's social fabric is very delicate, especially in small rural communities. It does not mend quickly or well when damaged. There is much tolerance for personal needs and quirks in the preaching and worship life of mountain church communities."

"They [churches] are largely self-determining and without denominational allegiances or agendas, believing that 'each church holds the key to its own door.'"

A few verses from the Bible, on blood

I'll have to come back later and convert them all to KJV.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it unto you to offer upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls; for this blood shall make an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11

"And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9:22

"And when I passed by thee, I saw thee polluted in thine own blood, and I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Thou shalt live: even when thou wast in thy blood, I said unto thee, Thou shalt live." Ezekiel 16:6

"Therefore even Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Hebrews 13:12

"Every person that eateth any blood, even the same person shall be cut off from his people." Leviticus 7:27.

"Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you." Ezekiel 25:6

Collected from here first of all.

"Lutins" entry on Wikipedia

"A type of hobgoblin... Female lutins are called lutines."

"Lutins sometimes tangle people's or horse's hair into elf-locks."

"Belief in lutins also spread to North America, particularly the Canadian province of Quebec, as spirits in the form of either pets (such as dogs or rabbits) or other common animals. Completely white cats are especially considered likely to be lutins, although seemingly any distinctive animal that lives in or neat the home may be regarded as such. These lutins may be good or evil, with good lutins being attributed powers ranging from control of the weather, to shaving the beard of the master of the house before we woke on Sundays. Evil or offended lutins may harass the house-owner with any number of minor troubles, such as blunting a scythe or filling shoes with pebbles. Salt is considered abhorrent to them, and they are thought to go out of their way to avoid crossing it when spilled on the ground."

"The Nain Rouge appearance is said to presage terrible events for the city [Detroit]. The Nain Rouge appears as a small childlike creature with red or black fur boots. It is also said to have 'blazing red eyes and rotten teeth.'"

"Keres (mythology)" entry on Wikipedia

"The black Dooms gnashing their white teeth, grim-eyed, fierce, bloody, terrifying fought over the men who were dying for they were all longing to drink dark blood. As soon as they caught a man who had fallen or one newly wounded, one of them clasped her great claws around him and his soul went down to Hades, to chilly Tartarus. And when they had satisfied their hearts with human blood, they would throw that one behind them and rush back again into the battle and the tumult."

"Could call up squalls of wind and would brew potions from herbs."

Wikipedia gives a link here to "Kerostasia," or the weighing of souls.

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