druid's role in prison ministry
fhionamacg
fhionamacg@yahoo.com
Mon Mar 10 15:59:22 2003
Greetings and Blessings All*p*In considering the answer to the question of what a Druid's role in prison ministry should, would or could be, and in an effort to find my own answer to the question what would a Druid do, it seems to me, the first thing would be to turn to the Triads and Brehon Laws for an examination of precedent. In finding no precedent, then examining the laws and triads, and with a stringent application of reasoning,in the form of glosses, and dialectical argument,  coming to a logical conclusion and right judgement.*p*Kelly says that an outsider (doerad) has limited rights under the law. (p5) *p*In a narrow sense then, the incarcerated individual is an outsider, for that person is not a member of a particular social grouping, in this case, a local spiritual community. Thus, they can be said to be deorad, and as such, the spiritual community is under no obligation to them. They can also be considered an outsider because by being convicted of breaking the law, they can be said to be outside the law, and the moral social order.*p*However, the flip side of that is, that in a holistic sense, they are a member of the larger community of humanity, and could, in this sense, be afforded comfort under the law. *p*But...the persons in question irregardless of whether they are deorad or part of humanity have already placed themselves outside of the law, thus becoming in essence, "an outlaw". Thus, in being a convicted outlaw, the law itself is not required to succor them, thus they would not be eligible to partake of lawful learning. *p*The Triads ( A compilation of Triads, John F Wright, 1995) make several very clear references to the types of persons one should not consort with: the perjurer, the drunkard, the sloth, the thief, the oathbreaker, the ravisher, the traitor, etc. If one should not consort with these ppl , then one should shun them.*p*Yet the Triads also say, that we should not judge others, that we should judge kindly, be compassionate and merciful to others.*p*As well, the Triads state that it is the duty of the F'ili to: teach thier ppl to live fearless in strength, to teach thier ppl how to avoid the attention of the Mighty Ones, and to teach thier ppl the Laws of Nature...*p*Which leads back to the question, who are the ppl of the Druids? Is a prison population considered a part of the community?*p*However, there are three ppl who are accursed: they who work against the Laws of Nature without concern, they who know nothing of the Mighty Ones and do not seek to learn, and they who know much and do not share their knowledge with any other.*p*The criminal who upsets the social order, is working against the Laws of Nature, and more so if he or she does not actively take steps to redress the wrong and make restitution, as well as one who does not take steps to change thier life for the better, and in such a way so that they uphold the law.*p*One who seeks to understand the Mighty Ones, or who seeks to establish a personal sprititual relationship with Deity, however they percieve it, is to be commended and supported, and perhaps even given lawful learning...for that individual is not without concern. *br*The Druid, who seeks to withold lawful learning from another who is seeking and or who is worthy to receive that learning, is cursed by the Gods.*p*But: Can a Druid lawfully impart knowledge to an individual who is outside the law by reason of being incarcerated? *p*Just a thought.*p*Blessings *p*F/|\*p* *p*







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