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1734 And OathsOne of the things that makes 1734 different from most Wiccan and Neo-pagan traditions is the obvious and notable lack of any requirement to swear an oath of any kind. The reason for this is that the oral tradition passed on to me by both Sean and Ruth prohibits the taking of oaths. There are spiritual and moral reasons for the prohibition against swearing oaths. As both Sean and Ruth explained, an oath is a solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object as witness. On the surface this seems harmless enough, but as was explained in the oral tradition if you take an oath what you are doing is saying that under other circumstances you can't be trusted to keep your word. Also, if you have to require an oath from someone it means that you don't trust that person without Divine compulsion. If that's the case, you have no business being that intimately involved with them in the first place. Roy confirmed this attitude in a letter to me when he explained his own mentor's attitude. I was taught by an old woman who remembered the great meetings - and she took no terrible oath from me, but just an understanding that I would be discreet. She did not require silence, only a description of what I had seen and what I had heard and said when I was admitted. Not taking or requiring oaths is an affirmation of personal honor and responsibility. That is part of the spirit of 1734. 1734 Founder |
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