Pagans are who?
By bodhisatya
@bodhisatya (2384)
India
December 12, 2008 6:40am CST
What is pagan? Who are they? Is it a kind of relidion or something? Whom do they belive? How old is the belief?
I have heard and read about Pagans in a lot of books actually as references only, but couldn't quite understand their theology, your views please.
4 responses
@AithneFireStorm (212)
• United States
5 May 09
A pagan is a person who follows an earth based religion (classified as paganism) It is a religion though Modern Paganism is relatively young it is based on religions which do in fact pre-date christianity.
Paganism is considered an umbrella term, it describes many faiths including Wicca, Druids, Native American SPirituality and many many others.
A common belief amoung pagans is that there is no devil, or satan. Satan is a judeo-Christian concept which they don't accept.
Christianity in its early years did take some of the pagan beliefs and practices so that converting other pagans would be an easier process.
Pagans believe in a Higher Power which can be broken down into the God and Goddess. The god and Goddess represents the divine masculine and divine feminine of the higher power. Depending upon what the pagan personally believes determines what they call the God and Goddess. There are many pantheons of Gods from many different parts of the world and it is up to the individual pagan as to whom they pray to.
The God and Goddess can be further broken down into many different gods or goddesses. Each God represents a different aspect of the God and the same is true of the Goddess.
If I were praying for love I wouldn't pray to Artemis I would pray to Aphrodite as she is the Goddess of love.
It depends on what they are doing and what the need is as to who they will pray to.
I hope that helped clear up any questions you may have and if more arise please feel free to ask. I love answering question about paganism
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
7 May 09
Wow, I am truly thankful for your answer and the brief summary, frankly of all the responses I have got till now nothing was as clear as you have made it for me.
I'll tell you here in India we don't have pagan followers atleast i haven't come across any. I always used to read and come across this term in books. I am very curious about this particular religion. Correct me if i am wrong to call Pagan as a religion. Of all the things I have come to know till now I understand that pagans worship nature, is it true? Don't you believe in a preacher, is there a 'Guru' to guide you through to follow the righteous path?
I shall look forward for your answer.
By the way i am very thankful for your response, and i am truly sorry that i couldn't mark yours' as the best response as I had already done for an earlier post. thank you again and hope to hear from you.
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
7 May 09
Thank you so very much for the valuable information. You say that you weren't a Pagan, so did you convert from some other religion? if yes, then what prompted you to do so. Hope I am not intruding into your privacy.
have a great time.
@AithneFireStorm (212)
• United States
7 May 09
No worries...
Paganism is a religion some people practive it and not one of its branches. We don't really have preachers. I know in Wicca there are a couple ways you can worship the divine. In a Coven, typically 13 witches, or as a solitary, meaning by yourself.
In covens the spiritual leaders are the Priest and High Priestess. They lead the rituals and such.
Solitaries do it all themselves they are their own High Priestess or High Priest. There are several people you might consider a guru of paganism. Gerald Gardener, Aleister Crowley, Raymond Buckland, Silver Ravenwolf many of the reputated authors and Gerald Gardener is one of those responsible for bringing paganism back into the light of day.
there are some others but as I am relatively new myself to Wicca I will let some others put their thoughts as to who some important people in the religion are!
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
12 Dec 08
Pagan is a word which comes from the Latin for country dweller, and it was used to denote those who did not follow the new state relgion in Rome at the time, Christianity. It came to refer to all polytheistic religions. Today there is a movement known as neo-Paganism, which holds a lot of the old pagan beliefs and customs mixed with modern concepts. Many branches of this movement are recognised officially as religions.
Lash
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
13 Dec 08
Thank you grandpa for the response it has become somewhat clear to me, and I guess to quench my knowledge I probably have to read more. Thankyou for your enlightning response.
Bodhi
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
12 Dec 08
I believe that pagans are people with no religious beliefs - this is why I asked for clarification. I am not sure and do not have the time today to go online for a clear definition. Blessings
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
13 Dec 08
Hi Cythiann, I would wait for when you have more time to help me understand pagans better. Wish you all the very best,
Bodhi
@mindymelena (158)
• United States
6 Feb 09
i'm pagan also..
have been since i was 13..
you can check out www.witchvox.com if you have questions.
