An "elder" is just someone who has lived longer than me. Whether they lived "better" is another matter.

In terms of length of survival, I'm catching them all up quickly enough.

We have two different forms of elder in our culture. It's similar to several traditional BIPOC cultures. One is non-ceremonial elder - which is basically just recognition that a person is of an elderly age in the community but lacks wisdoms & integrity for elder title. The other involves elder title gifting honour ceremonies; after a community recognizes specific individuals who are elderly in age, have strong integrity & have also spent many years learning wisdoms from our ancestors to pass on to future generations.

@geonz

Interesting. Actually, I've seen the concept of "recognised" elders used – more accurately, misused – in conservative Christian circles.

It was with that in mind that I commented as I did, as I used to be part of such a group. Never again. But I'm talking in terms of those recognised for nothing more than their doctrinal conservatism. Hopefully, with a deep community and cultural undertanding, your people get to recognise those worthy of the position.

@geonz

@SJAsh_03
I know exactly what kind of colonial religious eldership you're talking about. I saw it in church before getting kicked out of forced Sunday school.

I have more lived experiences with cultural, traditional ceremonial Elder honouring & learning from their circle sharing than I had with colonial church crap. My parents were guilted into sending us to Sunday school by white folks wanting to indoctrinate us. Our parents pulled us all out after multiple church child abuses & we've been anti-church ever since.

@geonz

The group in question for me is the Plymouth Brethren. I know they exist on the North American continent, but have no idea of numbers. I saw huge amounts of hypocrisy, prejudice and manipulation, until I just couldn't stomach it. I promised myself I would never again belong to any organised religion.

@geonz

@geonz
Yes, but they don't need to nurture from a church.

@SJAsh_03

@geonz

My problem (in religious matters) is with groups that base their values on an imaginary figurehead, using the system to interpret and arbitrate alleged morality. That nurtures only prejudice.

Beware, always, of doctrine. Regardless of protestations to the contrary, it seems, invariably, to resolve into a method to enforce socio-political conservatism.

@geonz

Doctrine is nothing more than human construct. That is what makes it dangerous. Nor have I ever found a description of deity, couched in terms of "love" or otherwise, that is other than a human construct.

Each may believe as he or she wishes, as far as I am concerned, as long as that belief is not elevated to absolute, universal "truth".

@PhoenixSerenity

This has veered far from my original post. I still appreciate the input from others. I have quite a bit of tolerance for differences in beliefs. My hard lines have always been - Believe in whatever faith/spirituality you choose. Just don't try to shove your personally chosen beliefs down the throats of others, without consent.

Personally, my greatest teachers aren't even human or any deity. My greatest teachers are nature, itself. My greatest teachers are/were also animals. I'd guesstimate that only 40% of what I know, came from humans who speak wisdoms that I can carry & honour & live out, for a lifetime.

I've always said that my temple is nature & I can find my temples, almost everywhere on Earth.