Understanding Paganism
The term "Pagan" comes originally from the Latin "paganus," which
appears to have originally had such meanings as "villager" or "country
dweller." The Roman army used the term to refer to civilians.
The early Roman Christians used "pagan" to refer to everyone who
preferred to worship pre-Christian divinities, whom the Christians
had decided were all "really" demons in disguise, based on the habit
of rural peoples holding on to their old faiths longer than city
folks, as well as because the polytheists were unwilling to enroll
in "the Roman army of the Lord."
Over the centuries, "pagan" became an insult, applied to the
monotheistic followers of Islam by the Christians (and vice versa),
and by the Protestants and Catholics towards each other as it
gradually gained the connotation of "a false religion and its
followers."
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the word's primary
meanings became a blend of atheist, agnostic, hedonist, religionless,
etc., or ignorant savage.
Today, Paganism or Neo-Paganism is a collection of diverse
contemporary religions rooted in or inspired by indigenous traditions
worldwide. These religions are characterized by Earth-centered
spirituality, belief in the interconnection of all life, personal
autonomy, polytheism, and immanent divinity.
Neo-Pagans, for the most part, value diversity, good works, living
lightly on the Earth, individual freedom, personal responsibility,
community service, gender equity, and spiritual development.
There are many people who proudly call themselves "Pagan or Neo-
Pagan," and they use the word differently from the ways that most
mainstream Westerners do. To most of them, "Paganism" is a general
term for polytheistic religions old and new, with "Pagan or Neo-
Pagan" used as the adjective as well as the membership term.
The overwhelming majority of all the human beings who have ever lived
were or are Pagans, and countless millions believe that there is an
enormous wealth of spiritual insight and strength to be gained from
following a Pagan or Earth based path.
The Modern Nature Religion
Many current Pagans in industrial societies base their beliefs and
practices on a connection to Nature, and a divinity within all living
things. Some believe that there are many deities, while some
believe that the combined subconscious spirit of all living things
forms a universal deity.
Today's Neo-Pagan religions may draw on ancient historical practices
or be entirely new. In the case of the former, Neo-Pagans look to the
beliefs, practices, gods, symbols, lands, music, and myths of a
particular historical culture and adapt them for contemporary needs.
Elements such as reverence for the natural world, honoring of the
ancestors, and responsibility to the community are retained. Pagan
religions which are not historically based take their inspiration
from visionary, artistic, and libertarian traditions to create
vibrant spiritual systems centered in earth based values.
Characteristics of Pagan/Neo-Pagan faiths
Some modern Neo-Paganism movements grew out of growing environmental
awareness, though it encompasses some traditions from the Middle Ages
and earlier. Consequently most Neo-Pagan religions are nature-
centered.
Most Neo-Pagans rethink the way in which they relate to the Earth.
Rather than seek dominance over the environment, Neo-Pagans work to
live as a part of Nature, finding a balance between the self, the
biosphere, and society. Part of this rethinking goes along with the
resurgence of Goddess-worship, which is widespread in the Neo-Pagan
movement.
Many Neo-Pagans look to the fertility Goddesses of old and find
vibrant, dynamic models for ecological balance. The myriad of Goddesses
from the p ast also provide Neo-Pagans with a vision of powerful
feminine divinity which is missing from other Western religions.
Unlike many mainstream religious traditions, Neo-Pagans view Divinity
as immanent rather than (or in addition to) transcendent. Rather than
pray to some form "out there," Neo-Pagans view all living things as
sacred. Diversity is seen as an expression of the divine order.
People are viewed as essentially good and holy, although still
capable of acting unethically.
Because of this, most Neo-Pagans view the relationship with Divinity
as a deeply personal calling. It is up to each individual to develop
a relationship with Divinity as s/he understands it. Because of this,
there is no institutionalizatio n within Neo-Paganism. There is no
single holy book, common creed, or hierarchy of religious
representatives.
Pagan Culture
This emphasis on personal exploration and development creates a
highly dynamic culture of diverse people who share values of
intellectual and spiritual freedom. Rather than conform to a specific
set of beliefs or practices, Neo-Pagans participate in a vibrant
marketplace of ideas, where people contribute and take away what
resonates most deeply with them.
Community is created through regular gatherings and festivals,
numerous publications, and an extensive Internet presence. While
specific ethics are discussed at length within the Neo-Pagan
community, the most common summation is "If it harms none, do what
you will." This combines personal freedom with responsibility to the
earth and to the community.
Neo-Pagan religions are dynamic, changing systems based on timeless
values of faith, freedom, justice, honesty, responsibility,
creativity, caring, courage, and respect. Neo-Pagans celebrate
rituals to mark the Wheel of the Year, as well as life transitions
such as marriage, moving, birth, or death.
Some traditions celebrate rituals to comm emorate specific
historic events, while others celebrate natural transitions such as
lunar phases or the first snowfall of the year. Neo-Pagan religions
are a way of life, affecting choices from how they pray to where they
shop.
Neo-Pagans believe religion must connect them to their most deeply
held spiritual beliefs. While some Neo-Pagan religions can be quite
esoteric, most Neo-Pagan beliefs and practices are rooted in
everyday, natural experience.
The Wheel of the Year
Most Neo-Pagan religions follow the Wheel of the Year for
celebrations and holy days. Names and exact dates may vary. Some
traditions celebrate only the solstices and equinoxes.
Some Neo-Pagan religions
Most American Neo-Pagans practice adaptations of ancient ethnic
traditions, the most popular of which are Celtic, Greco-Roman, Native
American, ancient Egyptian, Baltic, and Norse.
Asatru: Norse Pagan religion based on the principles of courage,
truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness,
justice, selfreliance, and perseverance.
Church of All Worlds: Promotes celebration and honoring of all life
and the planet as a living, divine organism: Gaea.
Druidism: Many types of Druidism are practiced, with varying emphasis
on scholarly research into the original Druids, who were the
priest/ess and judicial class of the ancient Celts.
Witchcraft: Also known as Wicca or simply the Craft. Honoring of
Goddess and God (some traditions honor the Goddess alone), use of
magic, and healing, all within the context of "If it harm none, do
what you will."
It is important to note that Paganism or Wicca has nothing to do with,
The term "Pagan" comes originally from the Latin "paganus," which
appears to have originally had such meanings as "villager" or "country
dweller." The Roman army used the term to refer to civilians.
The early Roman Christians used "pagan" to refer to everyone who
preferred to worship pre-Christian divinities, whom the Christians
had decided were all "really" demons in disguise, based on the habit
of rural peoples holding on to their old faiths longer than city
folks, as well as because the polytheists were unwilling to enroll
in "the Roman army of the Lord."
Over the centuries, "pagan" became an insult, applied to the
monotheistic followers of Islam by the Christians (and vice versa),
and by the Protestants and Catholics towards each other as it
gradually gained the connotation of "a false religion and its
followers."
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the word's primary
meanings became a blend of atheist, agnostic, hedonist, religionless,
etc., or ignorant savage.
Today, Paganism or Neo-Paganism is a collection of diverse
contemporary religions rooted in or inspired by indigenous traditions
worldwide. These religions are characterized by Earth-centered
spirituality, belief in the interconnection of all life, personal
autonomy, polytheism, and immanent divinity.
Neo-Pagans, for the most part, value diversity, good works, living
lightly on the Earth, individual freedom, personal responsibility,
community service, gender equity, and spiritual development.
There are many people who proudly call themselves "Pagan or Neo-
Pagan," and they use the word differently from the ways that most
mainstream Westerners do. To most of them, "Paganism" is a general
term for polytheistic religions old and new, with "Pagan or Neo-
Pagan" used as the adjective as well as the membership term.
The overwhelming majority of all the human beings who have ever lived
were or are Pagans, and countless millions believe that there is an
enormous wealth of spiritual insight and strength to be gained from
following a Pagan or Earth based path.
The Modern Nature Religion
Many current Pagans in industrial societies base their beliefs and
practices on a connection to Nature, and a divinity within all living
things. Some believe that there are many deities, while some
believe that the combined subconscious spirit of all living things
forms a universal deity.
Today's Neo-Pagan religions may draw on ancient historical practices
or be entirely new. In the case of the former, Neo-Pagans look to the
beliefs, practices, gods, symbols, lands, music, and myths of a
particular historical culture and adapt them for contemporary needs.
Elements such as reverence for the natural world, honoring of the
ancestors, and responsibility to the community are retained. Pagan
religions which are not historically based take their inspiration
from visionary, artistic, and libertarian traditions to create
vibrant spiritual systems centered in earth based values.
Characteristics of Pagan/Neo-Pagan faiths
Some modern Neo-Paganism movements grew out of growing environmental
awareness, though it encompasses some traditions from the Middle Ages
and earlier. Consequently most Neo-Pagan religions are nature-
centered.
Most Neo-Pagans rethink the way in which they relate to the Earth.
Rather than seek dominance over the environment, Neo-Pagans work to
live as a part of Nature, finding a balance between the self, the
biosphere, and society. Part of this rethinking goes along with the
resurgence of Goddess-worship, which is widespread in the Neo-Pagan
movement.
Many Neo-Pagans look to the fertility Goddesses of old and find
vibrant, dynamic models for ecological balance. The myriad of Goddesses
from the p ast also provide Neo-Pagans with a vision of powerful
feminine divinity which is missing from other Western religions.
Unlike many mainstream religious traditions, Neo-Pagans view Divinity
as immanent rather than (or in addition to) transcendent. Rather than
pray to some form "out there," Neo-Pagans view all living things as
sacred. Diversity is seen as an expression of the divine order.
People are viewed as essentially good and holy, although still
capable of acting unethically.
Because of this, most Neo-Pagans view the relationship with Divinity
as a deeply personal calling. It is up to each individual to develop
a relationship with Divinity as s/he understands it. Because of this,
there is no institutionalizatio n within Neo-Paganism. There is no
single holy book, common creed, or hierarchy of religious
representatives.
Pagan Culture
This emphasis on personal exploration and development creates a
highly dynamic culture of diverse people who share values of
intellectual and spiritual freedom. Rather than conform to a specific
set of beliefs or practices, Neo-Pagans participate in a vibrant
marketplace of ideas, where people contribute and take away what
resonates most deeply with them.
Community is created through regular gatherings and festivals,
numerous publications, and an extensive Internet presence. While
specific ethics are discussed at length within the Neo-Pagan
community, the most common summation is "If it harms none, do what
you will." This combines personal freedom with responsibility to the
earth and to the community.
Neo-Pagan religions are dynamic, changing systems based on timeless
values of faith, freedom, justice, honesty, responsibility,
creativity, caring, courage, and respect. Neo-Pagans celebrate
rituals to mark the Wheel of the Year, as well as life transitions
such as marriage, moving, birth, or death.
Some traditions celebrate rituals to comm emorate specific
historic events, while others celebrate natural transitions such as
lunar phases or the first snowfall of the year. Neo-Pagan religions
are a way of life, affecting choices from how they pray to where they
shop.
Neo-Pagans believe religion must connect them to their most deeply
held spiritual beliefs. While some Neo-Pagan religions can be quite
esoteric, most Neo-Pagan beliefs and practices are rooted in
everyday, natural experience.
The Wheel of the Year
Most Neo-Pagan religions follow the Wheel of the Year for
celebrations and holy days. Names and exact dates may vary. Some
traditions celebrate only the solstices and equinoxes.
Some Neo-Pagan religions
Most American Neo-Pagans practice adaptations of ancient ethnic
traditions, the most popular of which are Celtic, Greco-Roman, Native
American, ancient Egyptian, Baltic, and Norse.
Asatru: Norse Pagan religion based on the principles of courage,
truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness,
justice, selfreliance, and perseverance.
Church of All Worlds: Promotes celebration and honoring of all life
and the planet as a living, divine organism: Gaea.
Druidism: Many types of Druidism are practiced, with varying emphasis
on scholarly research into the original Druids, who were the
priest/ess and judicial class of the ancient Celts.
Witchcraft: Also known as Wicca or simply the Craft. Honoring of
Goddess and God (some traditions honor the Goddess alone), use of
magic, and healing, all within the context of "If it harm none, do
what you will."
It is important to note that Paganism or Wicca has nothing to do with,
and is antithetical to, Devil worship or Satanism.
