Contentious doll names - gods and so on.

I don't think anyone was insisting that they didn't worship them. In fact, there was clarity that yes, so and so worshipped them. Fine, end of story.

As you quoted the other poster, everyone can make their own distinctions of how they look at different religions. Just as Cammy stated, all of which I agree with, no one is demanding people take other views. Just as to me those mythological beings are just that: mythology I study. However, nobody claimed that it was wrong to disagree. I can make a distinction if I like, just as anyone else has a right to make other distinctions based on their faith- including naming dolls Jesus, which if I were to follow the same pattern, I could start feeling insulted by people insisting it was fine to name dolls after Jesus.

I have my own views, just as certainly as you have yours. The generalization that people can name dolls, for my example, Jesus, if they want to should be causing as much as an uproar as me stating distinctions that I make between mythology. Why? Because I find it offensive to make that claim. But I won't go insisting people change their minds and apologize since people have different views.

Like Cammy said though, weigh your choices and show respect to everyone. I'm not planning on breathing down people's necks if I disagree. And if someone does believe in zeus I don't plan on pointing and yelling even if I don't believe in that. Everyone has a right to respect. There are no 'levels', just varying beliefs. You may read my post and say 'yeah. NO.' but if you place yourself in my shoes I may be doing the same thing to your posts.

If you can say I'm making generalizations, then if you think about it so are many other people. Doesn't mean I'm going to disrespect anyone by claiming they have a bad belief since I don't agree with them.

All in all though, Cammy put it nicely.

 

I don't think using 'mythological' names was ever an issue. Most Pagans would not take offence to a doll being named after a deity they worshiped. The issue was with comments like 'No one worships XXX anymore, so...'

I have no problem with what others call their dolls. Though I do think at least a vague understanding of the names background and using common sense with where you post pics of any possible 'offensive' doll would be a good idea.

 

Sorry, just out of curiosity, since you either are pagan or know quite a bit, is there ancient worship, such as rituals that were performed for gods in the past? I'm curious if these rites were passed down. I only know a bit about the Ancient Egyptian side from a friend involving naming issues and past and present gods and views.

 

This website is very helpful concerning various mythologies. I highly recommend it! I hope it helps.

 

Yes, actually it was. I was responding to this post right before mine...

 

Thanks so much!

 

I have no qualms naming a doll Jesus, cause I am not Christian, not that I would name a doll that, of course, unless I made a character that looked like Jesus (I kinda like the way the name sounds).
But I would never use Biblical taboo names, such as Cain, Jezebel or Caleb, or names of villainous historical characters, such as Adolf, Yassir or Caligula.

 

I don't think naming a doll Adolf is wrong... Hitler did have the first name Adolf, but it's not like he's the only one. There's a "Graf Adolf-Platz" (= count Adolf place) in Düsseldorf, which is perfectly fine, because there was a count once who was named Adolf and they named the place after him. Going all "Oh, that's a bad name, Hitler had it too!!!" would be stupid. Let's imagine there was someone called Tom Peeker who mass-murdered people - would anyone shun the name "Tom" after that?

And, seriously... When people think it's funny writing to me "Heil Hitler" or "Sieg Heil" once they get to know I'm German, I think it's kind of strange for them to decide what names are to not be used. (This is not directed at you, just something general because it has happened to me.)

 

I can't believe you would say something like that, you being from Germany!
I have been to Germany many times and people raise their eyebrows when Holocaust related names are mentioned. My parents were born during that time and just the mention of the name Adolf makes them cringe. It is a very taboo name that is synonymous with evil and it's recent history is still very fresh in people's minds.
I am sure that those that know about the supposed Tom Peeker atrocities would never name their dolls or kids Tom.

I think it all depends how a person feels about something and their knowledge or experience about it. So to me the names I mentioned are very taboo and I wouldn't want to be reminded of them by naming my dolls as such, but maybe to someone else not.

 

Please, don't pull the "OMG you Germans and the Holocaust!!!" on me. We're discussing names here, not world crimes, and I don't want anyone to start the "You bitch murdered my grandparents" thing, happened often enough when that topic came up. I know enough about the time here while Hitler was bundeskanzler (I'd dare bet more than most people from another country do) and you don't need to tell me how terrible it was.
I personally just see names as what they are, as names. There were people named Adolf before Hitler, and really, it's not like I'm talking about Hitler as a person when I'm talking about a mere name that hundreds of people had. That'd be plainly stupid, frankly. (I don't see anyone not naming their child "Andrea", for example, because that was Mussolini's name. Or "Jack", after Jack the Ripper.)
I wouldn't name my child Adolf because it is an ugly name, (and way too old-fashioned) and I know that many people are not mature enough to deal with a mere name, I wouldn't want to do that to my child.

 

Heh I have a kid named Andrea (a girl though because here, it's a girl's name) and a cat, whose name on his pedigree actually *is* Jack the Ripper...

I had a very good colleague named Adolf. And he was born in 1943 (so I did wonder about his parents...) but the guy himself was a very nice man. It's not like he could be blamed for what his parents chose to call him...

I agree with adolf being an oldfashioned name and not one I would ever consider, but I agree, "banning" a name like that just because *ONE* idiot happened to have it, is silly.

All I'm saying is that it doesn't necessarily mean you're a (closet) nazi just because the name Adolf does NOT give you the creeps. It may just be that there are some other, more pleasant connotations connected to it in *your* mind.

 

Thank you, you managed to out into very nice words what I actually wanted to say!
Concerning your colleague, it's important to just consider that of course people were going to name their children after their "führer" in that time... It's like people naming their children Legolas or Frodo today, it's giving the child a "treat" of their idol. (Because at that time, Hitler was of course very much of an idol. The way he presented himself and his appearances were staged were quite alike to today's pop stars and such.)

 

I think that Adolf is a more old-fashioned name as well, but I don't think it's off-limits. I have met people with that name and I really don't see a problem with it. Just as with Kjesta's example with Jack the Ripper. Of course, Hitler was a MUCH more horrifying man, but so long as you don't link the name to Hitler himself...

And it doesn't seem fair to blame anything on the Germans or press that topic. o.o I'm Polish. I can use that and say 'OMG! GERMANS ARE BAD!' which isn't true. Youth from Germany go to the concentration camps during their summer breaks to fix the roads and say they slowly rebuild and repay for the pain that happened. And yet it wasn't THEIR fault. So is it fair to pin what Hitler did on them? No. Same with pinning anything on the name Adolf.

Anyway, that was kinnda off-topic, but if you really don't like a name because it reminds you of something bad, don't give a doll that name.

EDIT: Sorry, but the name Andrea reminds me of Andrea Bocelli! ^^'

 

My family considered themselves Germans until that time...

My point was that certain names conjure up images and reminders.
The name Adolf is one of them. Few people know that Mussolini's first name was Andrea and Jack the Ripper is not from recent history and is also a cult figure, kinda like Vladimir Teppes. People forget over time and I am sure that the stigma around the name Adolf will fade over time too, but not now. Now it's only a reminder of the most horrid person in recent history, which makes it NOT "just a name".

 

Or naming your daughter Elizabeth, after the Queen. I have an acquaintance whose father is named Adolf, so I understand completely. It has been a common practise in most European countries, going back for hundreds of years, for children to be named after the people in power - usually the monarchs. This didn't suddenly change in the 20th century even if the figures in power no longer bore regal titles or royal jewels.

 

I don´t consider disrespectful call a doll with a sacred name, sometimes sacred names became usual names around the world. As somebody says, for example, names as Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc, are very common, moreover, in spanish there are some names of sacred facts for people.

 

Ah yes Joseph.

Stalin, anyone? It's not like he was much better than Hitler. He was allied with the winning side during the war, but ... well... *cough* I think it would be stretching it to say he was a good man...

 

Mmmmm....this is really veering into off-topic territory for both this board and the Debate thread. Political proselytizing will get this thread locked.

 

You're right, Zagzagael. I did not mean it to become a discussion, just wanted to mention that a name is still just that. (But with this topic, people always tend to leave the original topic somehow.) My fault, sorry.

 

I'm sorry as well. Personally I can't tell the difference between political and religious where names are considered. But I'll respectfully bow to the authorities of the board