Do you think pagans of the world should unite?

Question

I am a part of 2 pagan study groups in socal and I have been to several events where many of us have discussed finding ways to unite the world wide pagan community, if you think we should tell me why and how you propose to play a part. I firmly believe that the reason that christianity is so big is that it is organized and united as a community. They all have different sects, but for the most part they are united in one common belief. I think that if we can get the pagans to unite and organize into a larger group that we would no longer have bible thumpers and athiests ( a term originally used by pagans against christians) running us off. They will still try converting us and thumping their books on our heads but with a larger group it should be easier to handle. Let me know what you think.

Answer 1

Most definatly. However, since Pagans have many different beliefs, I do not think that it should be organized like the Catholic church, with a rigid set of beliefs. More like a support system, a linkage.

Answer 2

I think Pagans are united. We are too diverse to organize and many people of the Pagan persuasion have a problem with organized religion. I feel if more Pagans walked their talk we would get less harassment.
All religions feel persecuted. I am glad that Christians have the right to thump their bibles. I am also thankful that I have the right to practice my religion.
For the most part, if we practice as much tolerance as we expect to be shown, all would be better for it.
I respect your thoughts and perhaps you could organize a group in your area that help dispel some myths about Paganism and Wicca. You could contact the Witches Anti-defamation League and see if they could assist you.

Blessings )O(

Answer 3

As you said, Christianity is able to unite (to some extent or another) due to shared common beliefs.

Paganism doesn't have that. There are some shared beliefs within specific religions, so it's certainly possible to unite, for example, the majority of Wiccans - but even that becomes problematic due to the differences within Wicca.

As good of a goal that unity may seem, it's filled with problems. Attempting to unite all Pagans typically results in the majority dictating things such as what Paganism is, or what the goals are. On a small scale, it's easy enough to work with all involved, to be representative of all members. For large (national or worldwide) organization, dissenting voices get lost in the mass. I have witnessed mutiple attempts at unification that degenerate into, essentially, an organization that equates Paganism with mainline Wicca, and ignores those who don't fit the stereotypical mold.

Quite frankly, I've been termed a "bad Pagan" and a "member of the Religious Reich" for pointing out that these stereotypes don't apply to all (or even necessarily most) Pagans. Rather disappointing, and it's made me rather wary of unity attempts. People often aren't clear, up front, why they want to unify, how they want to do it, and whether or not non-stereotypical Pagans will be made welcome.

If you are able to address these concerns, then I'll certainly cheer you on... but there's a lot of people out there who are wary and cynical of such attempts, due to being burned in the past.

Answer 4

uniting pagans?

Doesn't that go against the whole unorthodox-ness of the pagan ideals?

What would we unite under? The belief in a single goddess or a single god? A pair of gods? the veneration of fruit? Oh I know...a party with naked bonfires....everyone likes naked bonfires, right?

What you are attempting is honest and noble, but even the best intentions are paved in greedy gold. I have no desire to fall under anyone specific ideal of what paganism is supossed to be within someone else's eyesight. The only thing that matters to me is my own vision.

Once the world is united under a single tenant of "paganism" what do you do about the pagans who do not follow a god or goddess that fall under your definition of god or goddess? And then the question of the Morganites, wouldn't they feel betrayed that the secrets of the mysteries were revealed to the world. There would be Morgainite assasinations left and right in an attempt to keep those secrets protected since, the very basis of their organization is to remain as the guardians of the world.

Somehow I don't see this happening under any sort of orthodoxy and organization like the various sects of Islamic, Judaism, or Christianity groups have. Even in those sects there is desention among their ranks.

Instead if you want to unify the pagans, why not simply allow us the freedom to practice however we wish as long as we conform to the laws of the country we are practicing within.

I do have to say there are even a few misguided witches answering in here too. The do as ye wish and harm none clause, only applies to those that follow it. It is not a sentence that will unite witches. It will divide them. plain and simple, stating that as your national or worldly motto will one oustracize the communities that do not follow it and two give a convenient excuse to those that do something without thinking completely of the consequenses.

Always think ahead and always pay the consequences before you buy the product.

Answer 5

Good luck on that one! I still see several Christian groups that still do not get along because of certain beliefs. I don't think many people in this world would get along simply because of personality. Something that has nothing to do with religion or spirituality. I used to go to church and I didn't like alot of the people that where there.

Unity, I feel, can only be achieved when there is a common goal for all persons involved. Not to mention pagan is a broad term used to describe all polytheistic religions of the world. I don't know if a Hindu person would get along with a wiccan person. Guess we will have to try and see. So in my long winded way I say if it is possible then why not try!!!!

Answer 6

It will never happen. And I'm not sure it should.

People seem to have this notion that there is some type of Pagan unity. The truth of the matter is there isn't. "Pagan" is such a large umbrella. We have drastically different ideologies. We have conflicting beliefs just as faiths that fall under the umbrella term "Abrahamic" have conflicting beliefs. Getting Pagans to agree on enough points to actually create a unified community is similar to herding cats!

And why? Why do we need Pagan specific unity? I think we all need to adapt a "live and let live" mentality when it comes to religion. That should be extended to all people of all faiths or no faith at all. Trying to rally any one group of people to unite is ultimately counter-productive to this goal.

Answer 7

I think groups like Pagan Pride ( http://www.paganpride.org ) and the Pagan Unity Campaign ( http://www.paganunitycampaign.org ) are trying to at least provide a united VOICE and a united FRONT, which IMHO is not the same thing as being "organized and united as a community".

I think part of the problem with the whole "Pagans Unite!" is that pagans by their very nature are indepedent thinkers, who do best in small groups with only occasional contact with a larger body. I know of many pagans - myself included - who chafe at so-called or self-appointed "leaders" or "spokespeople".

Answer 8

Yes. I think we should. But I think we have to do it on a smaller scale first, and work up from there. In my area there is Motorcitypagans.net and the Federation of Circles and Solitaries Michigan. Eventually these groups, hopefully, will be part of larger, National groups and finally International groups. But I think we first have to begin locally. Local groups can network together much better than individuals trying to form a giant group. Local groups will also help insure the individuality of each locality and prevent happening what happened to the early Christians when the Vatican took over. Nobody wants that.

Answer 9

It would be nice, but unfortunately the big plus of Pagans tending to be openminded tends to be a negative when trying to unite us. We like to think our own and usually quite different way from the next Pagan. Pagans have some similarities, but they are not written in stone one's like Christianity's dogma, so it makes it tough to organize a large group where we all follow different guidelines, not even laws really. It's a bit like herding cats. :-)

Answer 10

between the perceived "flaws" of paganism, which could be considered as potential with the help of others, is the shortcoming of employer. that fairly everybody can declare themselves a severe Priest or Priestess of a team, with none oversight (like in an prepared non secular hierarchy) that pulls the form of people who don't want a hierarchy (even a democratic one) or to checklist to *everybody*. So be it, it is their determination, which they have a precise to. although, you do not see a extensive pagan employer working a well being middle, or worldwide extensive charity, etc such as you do with the extra prepared religions. If there is one accessible, like the Catholics, etc have performed, i've got not considered it. individuals might desire to be on the comparable internet site to end a common undertaking, is the bottomline. You do have numerous communities that variety their own little hierarchies, with their own missions nevertheless. I led some RHP pagan communities years in the past and that they only began calling me "Our severe Priestess" without me designating myself as such. i think what am attempting to declare is, there is not sufficient employer between pagans for each guy or woman to be on the comparable internet site, in my opinion. i became pagan just about 17 years of my existence and had all pagan friends at one element. stable good fortune on your direction nevertheless, for what's meant to be shall actually come.