What is Paganism

Any Way?

hey this is just my opinion....

I could be wrong....

By Dawn Thebarge-Hill Copy right April 2001-2004

Mage Light by Delight  Prescott

Ask a hundred pagans what they believe and you may just get 101 answers. It is difficult to classify what paganism really is because it encompasses more than one path. If you want a technical definition then I would have to say that if you are not a Christian you could consider yourself a pagan. Pagan was a word used by the Christian church to denote those that did not believe nor worship Jesus Christ as their savior or as the Messiah. However, it is most often used to denote those that do not follow an "Abramic" religion and means the individual the term refers to is neither Christian, Muslim or Jewish. This would include those who are Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, and Taoist meaning that approximately  45% of the people in the entire world are considered Pagan.

You also have to also realize that those who follow the teachings of Christ are not all Christian. If that were true I would be considered a Christian. If you believe not just what Christ tught but all that the church teaches then and only then are you a Christian. If you do not believe that Christianity is the one true path to God, that Christ is your savior and gave his life that you might receive eternal peace, that Christ is the only son of God to walk the Earth, and that those who do not believe these things are doomed to a horrible punishment in the end and will be judged, then you are not a Christian. You too are a pagan!

So you say, "Come On! That is too simple!" Perhaps it seems too simple but then again aren't some of the hardest lessons we learn the simplest? Don't touch the stove when it is hot or you will get burned is pretty simple too, yet I don't hear anyone complaining that they want a more in depth explanation!

Well, since you are still reading I am assuming you want more so here goes:

The term "Pagan" comes originally from the Latin "paganus," which appears to have originally had such meanings as "villager" or even "country dweller. Much like the term  "heathen" which simply means those who lived on the heaths. The Roman Christians used the term to refer to those that preferred to worship pre-Christian deities. Since country dwellers were often the last people to be converted to Christianity the people in those area were often thought to be "backward" or gauche and so pagan and heathen became insults. In later times, Protestants and Catholics extended these insults to include even the monotheistic followers of Islam, and later towards one another. The words are used even today as  "snarls" or insults. However, it should be noted, that many Pagans take being called a Heathen as a compliment!

Neo-paganism is a term used most often to describe people who follow an earth-based belief system or religion today. Put simply it means "New Paganism".  This comes from the fact that most Neo-Pagan religions are based on a faith or faiths that were almost or completely wiped out in the past and have since been reconstructed sometimes from ancient information sources. Just because this is the literal meaning of the word does not mean that Neo-paganism should be confused with the New Age movement. Most Neo-Pagans involved in nature or earth-based practices and religions, while New Age spirituality draws from many other sources and also from esoteric spiritual practices.

One of the core beliefs that I would say exists for all Neo-Pagans, is actually a non-belief. We do not believe in the existence of a Devil or any other wholly evil entity that forces or coerces us to do that which might be considered wrong or evil. So far as I am aware, pagans in general believe that what ever a person does is of their own choice. In other words, we take responsibility for our own actions and do not blame another entity for our behavior. Most believe that good and evil live together in all of us-a balance if you will- and it is up to the individual to decide how they should or should not live. There are differnet paths in Neo-Paganism. Some call these left and right handed paths. A right handed path is generally seen as on that is as positive in all its core beliefs as possible while a left hand path does not see any reason not to use negative energy to accomplish goals.

Some other things that many other right hand path Neo-Pagans share:

      Having a great concern for the environment & nature.

Celebrating four main seasonal days of celebrations each year, associated with the  equinoxes and solstices,           as well as, four lesser holidays that fall between the solstices and equinoxes.

Preferring to conduct most rituals outdoors, so long as it is practical.

Either a duo-theistic (such as God and Goddess) or polytheistic belief system (many Gods and Goddesses)           or a belief that the one spirit consists of many facets or personalities just as a diamond has many facets but is        still one whole.

Followers may be solitary practitioners-that is to say they celebrate their faith alone

Many find it is not practical to practice their religion publicly because they are in danger of being abused by          an uninformed society that associates their practices with Satanic or Devil Worshipping cults.

Some are part of groups, which various traditions call circles, covens, garths, groves, hearths, kindreds, and          sometimes clans. These tend to remain on the small side and  will break off and form a new group once the            group gets too large.

       Many have minimal or no hierarchical structure. This is especially true of groups of solitary practitioners that           may come together to celebrate certain holidays.

So there you have it. Again that's just my opinion.......I could be wrong.   ;)

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