What is Paganism?
Written by Marawolf of
The Covenstead
Sadly, when people first
hear the words Pagan or Paganism they
tend to think, "devil worshiper", or they picture some wild,
orgiastic, way-out individual with no regard for what is sacred or for
"God"; a cult member who sacrifices babies.
This kind of thinking
couldn't be farther away from the truth
of who Pagans are and what Paganism really is!
So what exactly is
Paganism, you ask?
It's simply an umbrella term covering many different religions and
belief systems.
Paganism is a spiritual way of life and its origins are rooted in the
ancient nature religions of the world.
Paganism has absolutely nothing to do with Satan, demons, or devils.
Paganism, sometimes referred to as The Old
Religion, pre-dates
Christianity.
Pagans do not believe in the entity Satan, a Christian concept.
Many standard
dictionaries define the word "pagan" as being a
person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. This is far too broad a
definition and many peoples who fall outside of these mainstream
religions may not consider themselves to be Pagan, moreover, this
definition conveys practically nothing about Paganism itself.
The word "Pagan" comes from the Latin words paganus
and pagana
meaning "country dweller or villager". After the Romans adopted
Christianity as their official religion, the older religions continued
to be practiced only outside of the city, in the countryside.
The word "pagan" signified people who were thought to be uncivilised
bumpkins who practiced an earth-based religion native to their land.
Modern day Pagans are people who have retained the wisdom and values of
their ancestors and modified these ancient practices to suit their
contemporary lifestyles.
Pagans may practice
different religions based upon their
geographical location or cultural background. Or they may practice
based upon a spiritual affinity for a specific tradition. For example,
in Africa pagan practice includes tribal religions; in Europe, some
traditions include Norse, Celtic, Greek and various traditions of
Witchcraft and Wicca; in the Americas, Native tribal religions and
offshoots may include or combine beliefs such as Brujeria, the Medicine
Societies, etc.
Likewise, for example, a Chinese-American may feel an affinity for and
practice a Celtic religion or may combine the Celtic practice with a
Native American tradition.
For every pagan it is different and highly personalised.
Some common beliefs and
practices between the differing pagan
religions include:
1)
Polytheism- the belief in
more than one god.
2)
Pantheism- any religious
belief or philosophical doctrine that identifies God with the Universe.
Pagans may or may not worship within a pantheon, that is a realm or
group of gods and goddesses of all different creeds. These gods may be
seen as aspects of a single Divine Principle.
3)
Animism- the belief that
natural objects and phenomena possess souls. Animists believe that all
things are alive and animated with spirit.
4)
Belief in the immortality of
the spirit and in the unending cycles of the Seasons and life itself:
birth, death, and rebirth.
Although some Pagan
religions are inherited and may not be
practiced by outsiders except by invitation, most traditions welcome
new members but do not proselytise or seek to convert anyone.
Eclectic Pagans may follow several traditions, in addition to one of
the other major religions as well.
How Do Pagan`s Define "God"?
Pagans celebrate the
sanctity of Nature, honouring the
divinity present in all things. From a pagan perspective Earth is the
mother of us all.
We are all relations.
All life is One. Pagans believe that within the Universe there is a
holy continuum of consciousness, which exists in everything from
inanimate objects to the pantheons of gods. Pagans revere the sacred
whole in all its guises and often depict the Divine Energy as both male
and female, the God and Goddess. Mother and Father.
To a Pagan every
person is a wondrous, sacred, creation.
Every plant, rock, tree, everything seen and unseen, is unique
and
beautiful.
The purpose of life as seen
through a Pagan's eyes might be
best described as:
a)
to live in harmony with nature,
b)
to develop our personal and
spiritual potential,
c)
to be aware of and to manifest
the inherent divinity within us all,
d)
to help all people to do the
same.
What Do Pagan`s Do?
Pagans are dedicated to
spiritual growth and personal
development. One way we achieve these things is by communing with
nature, attuning ourselves to its cycles, it's continual ebb and flow.
A Pagan can encounter Divinity within him or herself simply by taking a
walk on the beach or through the woods or by visiting a favourite spot
outdoors. Observing the natural forces at work in the world around us
is a way for pagans to explore the
innerself.
It helps us to remember
the beautiful and delicate harmony that exists between humanity, nature
and the Divine.
Most Pagan religions
revere the God and Goddess (or some
aspect of the Divine in whatever form it is perceived as) through
ritual or ceremonies of various kinds.
During these rites we seek to experience the harmony spoken of earlier,
between the natural cycles of ourselves and the world.
Pagan Holidays are
known as Esbats and Sabbats.
Esbats are observances based on the phases of the moon. Sabbats are
seasonal festivals based on the astronomical and agricultural
year:
the
solstices, the equinoxes, and the cross-quarter days.
Something all Pagans
take very seriously is planet Earth. We
are all aware of the dire environmental issues facing the human
race
today.
Many Pagans' deep respect for
the Environment has led to our
participation in eco-aware causes, as we strive to responsibly develop
a safe and fruitful existence for all of Earth's creatures.
In short, Pagans are
peaceful people who hold nature in high
esteem. They seek to enhance the quality of life by bettering
themselves and the world around them through dedication to their chosen
spiritual path.
Want To Learn More?
Paganism is a rich
subject. People who follow this path are
diverse and its traditions are many.
Respect for all life; reverence for nature; the desire for peace and
spiritual fulfillment; self-actualisation; living responsibly;
respecting the free will of others. These are issues that concern
everybody alive today.
They are also concerns which pervade the Pagan way of life.
.
This
Article was commissioned by and written for
Elevated Therapy.
Copyright
1999 Marawolf and Elevated Therapy.
All Rights Reserved.
If you are interested
in reading more about Paganism, check
out these books:
You can order them
secure on-line through Amazon Com and Amazon UK by pressing the links
below.
Drawing
Down the Moon, by Margot Adler
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The
Spiral Dance, by Starhawk
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Ancient
Ways: Reclaiming the Pagan Tradition, by Pauline
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The
Witches' Goddess, by Janet and Stewart Farrar
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The
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Magical
Rites from The Crystal Well, by Ed Fitch
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Positive
Magic, by Marion Weinstein
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The
Way of The Shaman, by Michael J. Harner
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The
Urban Pagan: Magical Living in a 9-5 World, by
Patricia Telesco
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