User:MikeTheFrozen/sandbox

= The Reformed Druids of Gaia (RDG) = The Reformed Druids Of Gaia (RDG) are an International NeoDruid and Neopagan Organization and Church based in the United States. The RDG was formed after a schism between The Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA) and a sub-group called The Order Of Mithril Star (OMS), due to the OMS's ties to the then disbanded Church of All Worlds (CAW). The RDG is primarily a loose collection of autonomous congregations, called Groves, banded together under a loose central organization of elected and appointed officials; The Mother Grove, Council of Archdruids, and The Nemeton of Dalon Ap Landu (NoDAL). The order claims nearly 1400 members and 14 chartered Groves spread over 46 countries.

History
Reformed Druidism Started at Carlton College in 1962, or 63 no one seams to remember, by a man named David Fisher. Mr. Fisher and the other founders were seeking a way of protesting a requirement at Carlton college that all students must go to a church every weekend. The Reformed Druids of North America formed as that protest group. By holding "Druid" services, they aimed to show the ridiculousness of the religious requirement. The Movement grew, producing a number of groves across the country and branched off, schisming into different sects and orders. To this day some of the most popular druid organizations, such as ADF and Hedge of Keltra, own their existence to the RDNA. The Order of Mithril Star began as a schism from The Church Of All Worlds (CAW). CAW, like the RDNA, is one of the oldest Neo-Pagan Churches in the USA. CAW's beleifs are derived from a novel by Robert Helinlein called "Stranger in a Strange Land" (SISL). Many of the members of CAW were not finding satisfaction in the way CAW was being run, so they created OMS and schismed from CAW. OMS soon found and was absorbed by the RDNA, the RDNA's rituals and philosophy was perfect for fusion with that of SISL and OMS. The Order of Mithril Star (OMS) was originally accepted as a minor or side order of the RDNA. Due to disagreements with the CAW influenced principles of OMS, namely the promotion of naturism and polyfidelity, and the some members of the RDNA, OMS's Matriarch, Cerdwen, declared a schism and parted from the RDNA officially. Shortly After, OMS Declared a new age of The Reform and the formation of the RDG, a world wide expression of Reformed Druidism. the Official begining of the second age of reformed druidism is considered November 1st, of 2006 C.E.

Tenets:
The RDG holds these as their Two Core Tenets, the only required beliefs one needs to be a reformed druid:"'Traditionally, the Reformed Druids""have adhered to two basic tenets:""1. The object of the search for religious truth, which is a universal and a neverending search, may be found through the Earth Mother, which is Nature; but this is one way, yea, one way among many.""— ‘Book of the Law’ — Druid Chronicles""2. And great is the importance, which is of a spiritual importance, of Nature, which is the Earth Mother; for is is one of the objects of Creation, and with it we do live, yea, even as we do struggle through life are we come face to face with it.""— ‘Book of the Law’ — Druid Chronicles""Generally we summarize these as""“Nature is good” and “Nature is very good.”"The Tenets were Originally from an early book of scripture developed by the RDNA, called "The Druid Chronicles, Reformed", and have been the core of Reformed Druid belief since it's birth.

Teachings:
The RDG Considers itself Neopagan however, it does not dictate the who or what its members worship or how they worship. The RDG's Mission is "..To invoke a web of knowledge, mythos, and experience that provides a framework for reconnecting with The Earth Mother and re-gathering her progeny through tribal collectives consecrated to the responsible conservatorship and progressive congizance within the ever evolving tradition of Neo-Pagan Druidism."

The Earth Mother is the name the RDG gives to nature as a whole, including all things living and non-living on the earth. She is the central goddess of worship in RDG circles, often referred to as Gaia. Her counter-part in RDG cosmology is Be'al, he is non-material existence in the form of energy and "spirit". Reformed Druids call the object of their spiritual search "Awareness", often defined as "Unity with Be'al". Druids are urged into a state of dynamic balance, leading to Total Awareness.

Awareness and other philosophical principles and theological concepts are kept vague, requiring contemplation on the individual level to understand, this keeps each persons path individual and specific to that adherent.