Are Pagans serious about their religion?

Question

To Pagans, do you really, truly believe in your religion? What type of family did you come from? I thought Paganism was destroyed when Christianity came to Europe. Is this true? If it is, how did it make its comeback?

Answer 1

I am very serious about my religion. I actively participate in worship every day and I try to live my life according to Pagan family values and morality and I teach my children to do so as well. I am an active part of the Pagan community and I volunteer and donate as often as I am able. I make purchases and develop habits that allow me to walk softly on the Earth, minimizing pollution, etc. I only eat natural food and I stay away from all addictive substances, because my body is a sacred vessel. Every morning I get up and greet the Goddess of Dawn and thank Her for a new day. Every time I sit down to eat, I thank the Earth for providing for me, and I thank my ancestors for setting into motion the processes that brought my food to the grocery store so I don't have to bust my hump to get it lilke they did. Every night before I go to bed, I look up at the moon (assuming there is one) and tell Her all of the things that happened that day that I am grateful for. Every full moon, I gather with my friends to worship, and every new moon we gather to journey. Every solstice and equinox and on the cross-quarter days we gather for a BIG feast and bring offerings for our Gods and have special rituals. Very serious.

Paganism can't be destroyed. Paganism is just a name for something that didn't have a name before Christianity came and became it's opposite, thus requiring us to name it. There are Pagans all over the world and have been since the dawn of humankind. Some of them, though unfortunately fewer all the time, have never heard of Christianity.

Paganism is Natural, this is why it can't be destroyed. It's inherent. Left to our own devices, we'd all be Pagan. When you look around at Nature, really look at it, you are awed and know it is holy. You know that there can't be just what you see, because it's just so wonderful, and you know that there can't be just one type of deity, or spirit because there are so many different types of humans and living things. Paganism also doesn't require that you reject other Gods, either. That's why Christianity was easily accepted, but it didn't mean that Paganism disappeared. It just meant that Christianity was incorporated into it. All we're doing now is purifying our faith, as the Christians have done, purging the Pagan elements, we are purging the Christian elements. And we claimed for ourselves a name.

Answer 2

Of course! Why should Christianity be any better than paganism? I'm a polytheistic pagan and it makes sense. Monotheism to me makes no sense because the reality I perceive contradicts what the bible says (or at least the popular interpretations of that bible). I think it's experiencing a come-back (especially Wicca), because many people can't bare to look at Christianity and all it has caused and even its illogical doctrines. Paganism was never destroyed BTW. They certainly tried, they even burned a few million and their books in campaigns of terror but, nope, didn't happen. Peaceful religions survive.

Answer 3

When Christianity came to Europe, it came by force; it never destroyed paganism, polytheism, nor animism. Prior to that, Christianity was a benefit of the priveledged, educated, class.

The resurgence of spiritual religions and their freedoms is due in large part by the politcal viewpoints, social dictates, and environmental considerations espoused by religious groups that aren't in agreement with many individuals.

Politically, if your "group" believes homosexuality is wrong...and you think it's a persons choice...you become an outsider.

Socially, if your "group" says children under 18 should not date without a chaperone and you think otherwise...you're an outsider.

Environmental perceptions are also impediments to following...for example the hatred and bigotry between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland...two "Christian" groups that throw rocks at each others children going to school...who wants to be part of THAT?

So people consequently realize that their belief in God has more of a spiritual quality and holds less emphasis on religious routines so they look at other ideologies.

Pagans are as serious as anyone.
There are even schools for ministries of study.

Then you have that third group of wierdos that just do it because it requires no personal responsibility. Free from wrong doing because it's the chaos of the universe....the devil made me do it mentality. Unfortunately for them; societal edicts rule over religious freedoms.

Answer 4

Probably more than most so-called Christians are. It was never destroyed it just went underground. Many families kept the tradition alive and passed it on.

Answer 5

pagans really take it seriously, I'm not one, but I'm interested about it. Christians didn't destroyed it, but they tried to.

Answer 6

Proably as serious as you are about yours, and why not? It makes as much sense