Information regarding pegan religions?

Question

I'm currently interested in researching pegan religions. In particular, modern and historical wiccan religions. I was wondering if there were any people who may know some credible sources online (apart from wikipedia) that could be useful.

It's hard to sift through the junk that you find in a web search, so if theirs any sites in particular you know are informative, I'd be really interested. Thanks

I'm sorry if anyone takes offense to what I have written. I did not mean offense by the word pagan, I was not taking it in the Christian sense. I meant it as an adjective meaning "Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish".

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pagan

Nor did I mean to imply that the only pagan religion was wicca. I was of the understanding that modern wicca was based off older religions and was curious about those as well.

Answer 1

Ok man first things first. It's spelt PAGAN.
I'd reccommend that you get in touch with Graham at the witches museum in Boscastle, Cornwall (UK) as he is very knowledgable about Wicca.

With online research or any kind of research, you've just got to trawl through all the rubbish to find out what you're looking for.
Unfortunately when you type in Wicca or Pagan, you'll get thousands of sites that are trinket selling junkshops only too keen to sell you false hopes and plastic salvation.

Lots of the answers you'll get on this will be ridiculous and you have to remember that people will view as credible anything that tells them what they want to hear. 99.9% of people in to any kind of occult study are purely fantasists. That's not a judgement over them, it's just a realistic observation.

There are stereotypes in the occult world:

Wiccan: people in their fifties that were in to the whole hippy era got caught up in the peace/ free love trip and have tried to make it spiritual. Most have completely misinterpreted Pagan belief as being a singular religion so they can believe the past was some dancing naked, King Arthur fantasy book.

New age healers:usually have been in to wicca but found there are too many power crazy people involved and far too much bullsh!t. These people find their spiritual answers and take a path that leads to something real where they can do good for others. Some end up in spiritualist churches or practising Reiki or reading tarot etc. Most of these people will try to help and most of them can.

Dark path/ satanists/ black magicians: People who have serious inferiority/vulnerability issues who try to latch on to an image of power in order to feel secure in a similar way to many Christians. This is the angry at God bunch and 5 minutes of their self obsessive, resentful, grandiose conversation is enough to make "the devil" go running off to hide. They really can be that irritating. That's probably upset a few. I don't mind as long as i don't have to put up with them whingeing at me.

The fact is that from here on, old bean, you're on a an individual path. It'll be you that makes the major decisions and part of your learning process is to trawl through all the rubbish. You may learn more by finding the stuff you're not looking for than the stuff you are looking for. Be patient, keep trawling, good luck. I'll have a look in a minute and add on any web links that seem useful.

Modern Wicca derives almost totally from a strain of Nature worship that sprouted from Second Century Christian Gnosticism.

giantdwarfbat, who says all wiccans are polytheists? Wicca is about as polythestic as Hinduism. Ask any Hindu how many gods there are. They'll tell you that all the gods are just a manifestation of the creator, Brahma. There may be a belief in giving thanks individual spirits but any of these faiths have a unity as a figurehead. The guy just asked a question, stop getting on your ignorant angry high horse.

Answer 2

relating wiccans to the broad spectrum of pagan is more of a personal choice. If you wish to be technical then yes I suppose you can say that calling a wiccan pagan is the equivalent of calling someone black Ni**** . Then again you can see a lot of black people calling each other Ni**** and even glorifying it in rap songs etc...its all just personal sensitivities towards the word and their intention. There are quite a few older wiccans out there who also refer to themselves pagans. And these are older wiccans in their 50s and 60s.

If you wish to learn more about the Old religions (as not all of them were earth ones), libraries are a good place to start. And occult bookshops. New Agey ones don't tend to stock very definitive books, depending on what you're after. Second-hand bookshops are often goldmines. Also depends how far you wish to go too.

Oh yes: not all dark path people are anti-God. They just don't "work" for that side 'is all. but yes I do know what you mean about a lot of them...it can get rather...trying...but even they have their purpose i suppose...same as the preachers on the street. they add color... :P

Answer 3

For excellent articles on the history of Wicca:
http://www.geraldgardner.com/

Another good site about the history of Wicca:
http://wicca.timerift.net/history_real.shtml

For a short biography on Gerald B. Gardner (The founder of Wicca):
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/g/gardner_gerald_b.html

Many people assume that Gardner based his religion on the beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts. He actually borrowed very little from the Celts. For a look at what parts of Wicca is and isn't Celtic:
http://www.clannada.org/wicca.php

For information about all different neo-pagan paths, this is a very good forum. The topics are in depth and there are many different views to learn from:
http://www.ecauldron.net/

Hope this helps. I have more reliable resources but this should get you started.

Answer 4

Firstly you need to know that there are no historical wiccan religions. Wicca is a modern system started in the 50's. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Answer 5

first of all we are not pagans pagan is a christian word used to descibe those who belive diferently and is like caling a black man ****** its just wrong
we are polythiest and this includes wiccans ,celtics, and many anciant faiths as well as native american sprituality
try serching for them by name rather than a slur

Answer 6

pegans aren't just Wiccan religions.....in Roman times....if you didnt believe in certain gods, same as an atheist and an agnostic... you were considered a pegan and back then you were usually either...banned from the land....or even killed....

Answer 7

Probably the best sites to go to are www.religioustolerance.org/ and www.witchvox.com/

Answer 8

www.witchschool.com has alot of good information. it offers many free courses.

blessed be