Druids and Christians at Camelot

[Anders]

Thinking about an Arthurian campaign. The background is that after the battle with Mordred and the death of Arthur, many of his people retreated to another world. The problem is that I want the Druidic Order - because they are awesome - but they are pagan priests, and the Arthurian world is so steeped in Christianity that it may cause problems. Why would a Christian king allow pagan priests at their court?

So I turn to the hive mind. I have a few ideas of my own but I want to see if there are any better here.

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Anders

Thinking about an Arthurian campaign. The background is that after the battle with Mordred and the death of Arthur, many of his people retreated to another world. The problem is that I want the Druidic Order - because they are awesome - but they are pagan priests, and the Arthurian world is so steeped in Christianity that it may cause problems. Why would a Christian king allow pagan priests at their court?

So I turn to the hive mind. I have a few ideas of my own but I want to see if there are any better here.

My impression is that the material by which modern audiences have read about Arthur and Camelot are later revisions of pagan sources by Christians writers, similar to chronicles of ancient Ireland and translations of Norse mythology. Also like the Buddhist treatment of the legend of Monkey.

[Anders]

Certainly possible, but I still want a form of Christianity and Druids at the same time.

[Dustin]

Some ideas:
Christianity doesn't have to be intolerant - an open-minded king and clergy could see peaceful coexistence as the best way to attract hearts and minds.

In some Christian doctrines, the devil only has the power of illusion, to trick you into damning your own soul. So, anybody with *real* magic must have the sanction of heaven, and be one of God's many mysteries.

They could be making common cause against an enemy - Saxons, the Unseelie Court, vampires. Unseelie Saxon vampires...

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Anders

Certainly possible, but I still want a form of Christianity and Druids at the same time.

Greg Stafford solved the problem in Pendragon. His Christian Arthurian Britain follows Peleganism, rather than what has become orthodox Christianity. The crucial difference is that Peleganists don't believe that Christianity is the only way to achieve salvation, although they do believe that it is the best way.

Since Peleganism was a historical form of Christianity, originating in Britain, this is an extremely neat way to solve the problem.

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Anders

Certainly possible, but I still want a form of Christianity and Druids at the same time.

You will need to choose whether to play the two religions as antagonistic or tolerant toward one another.

You could have a Romanized (Christian) Arthur working to make his rule palatable to a still mostly pagan native population. Christianity could be a foreign import that lacks awareness of the deep local reality of pagan beliefs.

[A Ladder]

You could have a form of Syncretism which blends Druidic beliefs and Christianity together. So that the "gods"/"spirits" of druidism are really just forms of either Christian saints or angels. Similar to how Haitian Voodoo and Catholicism have formed a blended religion.

This way they are not incompatible but just different facets of the same way that higher powers interact with the world.

[hal]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Greg Stafford solved the problem in Pendragon. His Christian Arthurian Britain follows Peleganism, rather that what has become orthodox Christianity. The crucial difference is that Peleganists don't believe that Christianity is the only way to achieve salvation, although they do believe that it is the best way.

Since Peleganism was a historical form of Christianity, originating in Britain, this is an extremely neat way to solve the problem.

I would suggest you try and pick up some of the material for PENDRAGON in PDF format. It has the benefit of also giving you some ideas you can convert for use with GURPS.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Greg Stafford solved the problem in Pendragon. His Christian Arthurian Britain follows Peleganism, rather than what has become orthodox Christianity. The crucial difference is that Peleganists don't believe that Christianity is the only way to achieve salvation, although they do believe that it is the best way.

Pelagianism is indeed a solution. I've already given some thought to it being a strange form of Christianity.

[Randyman]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Greg Stafford solved the problem in Pendragon. His Christian Arthurian Britain follows Peleganism, rather than what has become orthodox Christianity. The crucial difference is that Peleganists don't believe that Christianity is the only way to achieve salvation, although they do believe that it is the best way.

Since Peleganism was a historical form of Christianity, originating in Britain, this is an extremely neat way to solve the problem.

Originally Posted by hal

I would suggest you try and pick up some of the material for PENDRAGON in PDF format. It has the benefit of also giving you some ideas you can convert for use with GURPS.

Greg Stafford deserves a (posthumous, unfortunately) honorary PhD in Arthurian Studies for his work in Pendragon, especially for The Great Pendragon Campaign. If you RPG, you need to read Stafford's work.