Official Pagan Thread!

[Chickerdoodle13]

I'm not really a follower of any beliefs right now, but I was raised Catholic. I definitely think my beliefs right now lean more towards pagan as I believe everyhting goes back to nature. I believe in an almighty power, but I don't really believe in many other christian beliefs. Right now I'm going through a time where I'm trying to leave all my options open, but there are so few "normal-ish" pagans around here that's it's difficult to find out any good information. The few wiccan/pagan individuals I've run into have been either teens who think it's "cool" to be wiccan or those really bizaar people you find in places like Salem Massachusetts who are into creepy magic and darker stuff. I wish my college had a group for people interested in paganism, but we only have a bunch of christian groups. I've gone to a few of their meetings and enjoyed them, but just didn't really feel *right*. I would love to find out more about paganism and wicca, but I don't just want to jump into it on my own, ya know?

So maybe I'll hang around you guys for a bit and see if I can't learn something!

 

[debilorrah]

Ok, I think where I am confused here is: Pagans beliefs go back to the earth and nature and nurturing and such. Christians believe God created earth and all on it. Is there a difference?

 

[BarkerChickens]

This goes along with what Dammummis and Shelly said....plus more rambling on from me for clarification for interested non-pagans.

There is a book that I have called Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf. Here are a few quotes.
"The Concept of what God is to every Wiccan becomes a deep, philosophical, and precious subject. ...The religion of Witchcraft allows people to believe what they want in respect to "what runs the universe". ...Most Wiccans believe that there is a single source of positive energy or force that runs the universe. Because it is hard to connect in times of trial with a "source", we've divided it into the Lord and the Lady--male and female. ...Another interesting ancient deity concept often favored by Witches is the trinity. The idea that "three makes one" isn't a foreign construct in the major religions of today; in Christianity, we see Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. ...In Jewish Kabbalah, there are several manifestations of three-to-make-one, including the daughter, bride, and mother of Malkhut... ...Many Wiccans use pantheons (family trees of gods and goddess linked by cultural belief) as representation of the single source--with personality."

For some explanation/clarification...
A pantheon is the god's of particular faith or mythology considered collectively. For example, it could the celtic gods and goddesses, or roman, norse, greek, Native American, etc. as well as Christian (Jesus, Mother Mary, Moses, etc), Jewish or Islamic pantheons.

I have also heard the term "Christopagan", which is (as I understand it) someone who follows the earth-based spirituality and believes in Christ. This differs from a Christian Witch in that a Christian Witch is a Wiccan who uses the Christian Pantheon. A Christian Witch is a Christopagan, but not necessarily vice versa as Wicca is just one of the many pagan paths.

Not everyone uses a pantheon though. I don't use a pantheon, nor do I follow specific guidelines for rituals, hence I consider myself an eclectic pagan. I found a good definition online:
"Eclectic Pagans form a large group, consisting of people with widely different religious views. This "denomination" or "group" is not easily definable and one could say that the only feature binding it together is - being eclectic. Very simply put, Eclectic Pagans are Pagans who do not adhere to any given tradition and/or religion, but build their own religious world view out of pieces they have picked from different traditions and/or religions, adding to the mix - when they see a need - features they have developed themselves. Those Eclectics who do consider themselves as belonging to a given Pagan religion, combine features from the different traditions of that religion, often adding also features derived from elsewhere. Many "basic Pagans not belonging to any religion" are some grade of eclectics. Many of them identify themselves simply as "Pagans". Eclectics are often solitary, but there are also eclectic Pagan groups, for example Wiccan covens."

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
Yes and no. Pagans come in all sorts of varieties. A pagan can believe in the christian faith and follow a pagan path. In that sense no.

A pagan may believe that God is above all, therefore, God created earth and all. The same...yes, essentially.

A pagan may believe that God is an energy force IN everything. Is it the same...well, depends on how exactly that pagan believes.

A pagan may believe that God is the energy of the universe...the energy of the Big Bang, the creation of the life, evolution, etc. The same...eh...depends on how exactly how you define God created earth and all. Like God created Adam and Eve is from his rib...no one before them (no evolution). Then, no it is different.

So, is there a difference? Depends.

Sorry, Debi. I don't think I am any help.

 

[debilorrah]

Dang Shelby!!! I am afraid I have to admit this publically, though I am SURE we all have one in our family tree. Increase Mather is my ancestor. And any true wiccan or pagan should know that name

How many are heading to Google?

 

[OccamsTazer]

I'm loving this thread :-D
I go to a Baptist Church (admittedly a weird one by most Baptist standards), but my personal beliefs are much more along pagan lines. Threads like this are great not just to educate, but also to remind some of us that we're not the only ones who have world views that don't fit the mold.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:

I googled.

Didn't know the name, but I am familiar with the Puritan/Salem Witch Trials history.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:

I googled.

Didn't know the name, but I am familiar with the Puritan/Salem Witch Trials history.

I am so NOT proud to have that lunatic in my family tree. At least his son got it right and took off!

 

[debilorrah]

So my fine friends, is the difference that I believe in creation, and pagans believe in the big band theory? Just askin? I think I may be off track here - it seems to me that many pagans beliefs are the same as my Christian ones. (And I capitlize Christian, because the word Christ is in there)

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
No. Pagans can be believe in creation or evolution. It depends on which path they choose. A pagan can choose to believe in creation as as well as Christ as his/her savior. Similarly, a pagan can choose to believe that God is the universal energy that is in everything.

Pagan is an "umbrella" term. Like how Christian is an umbrella term that includes various denomination such as Methodist, Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Evangelists, Presbyterians, Protestants, Lutherans, etc. Paganism includes a variety of religious and spiritual traditions that can be individualist or specific to a single path...or even incorporate a Judeo-Christian theology. The pagan umbrella includes Wicca, Solitary/Eclectic paths, Shamanism, Asatru, Druidism, Santeria, and even blended paths such as Buddhistpaganism, Christopagans, Judeopagans, etc. While these paths can vary between each other, they generally share the basics of pagan beliefs which usually include: earth-centered, acknowledge a male and female aspect of God (or as two separate deities in some cases), and stress a connection to and respect for the natural world.


Also...Pagans do not worship evil...it is against what we believe. The Wiccan Rede is "If it harm none, do what you will". It is kind of like the golden rule. You do not harm others and any harm you inflict will come back three-fold.