Prior to 500BC (roughly) pretty much all religion was Pagan. Around 500BC all over the world there was a major shift from poly- to monotheism, the "world's N great religions" came from this time, and many of the leaders of major religions came from this period, such as Confucius, Lao Tsu, Buddha, several high prophets of Judaism, and more. So after 500BC many areas of the world became non-Pagan or mixed.
Few current Pagans realize that in their beliefs they may be more New Age than Pagan, and this includes many Wiccans. New Age, at one time termed "the Perennial Philosophy" starts with Plato, then Plotinus and the Neo-Platonist, mixed with Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and the Mystery Religions, with a great debt to Advaita Vedanta Hinduism both early and later, was passed down through the Templars and various heretic groups, the Freemasons, Rosicrucians, Theosophy, to the Golden Dawn and the High Magickal traditions, until it formed much of Wicca through Gardner.
2007-07-04
21:43:13
·
16 answers
·
asked by
lady_diana_silverclaw
2
in
Religion & Spirituality