galadrial
Hedera said:
That reminds me of a passage from (yet another
book, the description of the Hierophant from the H.P. Lovecraft LWB, by Eric C. Friedman: "The functions of the High Priest are twofold: one is to provide a common ground of Symbolism & Ideals around which communities can join together and identify themselves as communities. The other is to be a representative to the community of the Way of Truth- that which is contained in the Symbols and Ideals devised for a particular community. And this latter function is the test of a true High Priest. A fishing village will understand a different set of symbols than will the people living in a mountainside forest. But these different sets of symbols will contain the same message- the Way of Truth...It is the role of the High Priest to render ancient, eternal truths into symbolic forms which can be embraced by groups and communitites in a specific time & place, with particular needs and conditions. Thus, the community is given symbols with which they can identify, and with which they can find identity. However, the danger is obvious: contention arises abut the symbols, not their actual content."