Can you pelase describe your religious beliefs to someone who is unaware please.
TY
2006-09-13 08:05:41 · 11 answers · asked by rab2344 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hey, f*ck off. Mental rape is MY specialty.
2006-09-13 08:09:07 · answer #1 · answered by God 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
First, I would make sure that they understood that there are many different neo-pagan paths. If they wanted to know what particular beliefs/practices that I have, I would explain that I am a polytheist and I worship some of the deities that were once worshiped in Celtic-speaking areas during the Iron Age. My religion is offeratory in nature. I believe that deities have both positive and negative traits just like anyone else. I do not believe that any deity is all-knowing or all-powerful. I also believe in land and water spirits/deities. I believe in reincarnation and give daily offerings of incense, food and drink at my family altar. I honor my ancestors. I believe in the symbology of a world tree representing the lower (sea), middle (land), and upper (sky) realms. After death, I believe that I will go to the Otherworld to feast before reincarnating again to learn more. I celebrate four agricultural holidays a year---Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtainne, and Lughnasadh. Although I recognize the solstices and equinoxes, I do not celebrate them as religious holidays.
Of course I'd answer any questions that they had.
2006-09-13 16:05:11 · answer #2 · answered by Witchy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paganism is a broad collection of individual religions and traditions.
The common themes are a respect for nature, a belief that the divine exists in both male and female aspects, and an openness that science cannot explain everything about how the world works.
Details vary, since each individual group or tradition can interpret those basic principles differently. Many pagans also blend their beliefs with other religious or spiritual frameworks, from Celtic to Christian, and Astrology to Zen Buddhism.
2006-09-13 15:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The word "pagan" is a blanket statement. "Pagan" can mean any non-Christian religion (which comes from the earliest meaning of the word "pagan" which is "country cousin" this term came to mean "non-Christian" when Romans in the cities all converted to Christianity but those that lived in rural areas still practiced more traditional beliefs). More commonly today it refers to any religion that worships nature or the natural world (including older religions and mythology, like Norse, Greek, Egyptian, as well as newer religions like Wicca), sometimes Native American religions are included, though seldom by Native Americans.
Normally a Pagan worships one or more goddesses, which usually are seen as the Mother Earth or aspects of Her. Pagans often also worship one or more gods, though some do not. Many times the gods and goddesses are from ancient religions, and some Pagans have personal or chosen gods/goddesses.
Many Pagans believe in magic, and some cast spells or do affirmations. Almost all Pagans believe in and follow The Rule of Three, which states that all magic you do comes back to you three times more powerful, which keeps them from doing any spells designed to harm people, objects, places, etc.
Most Pagans believe in reincarnation, though not all do. Many believe in some form of afterlife, though not all agree on what this is.
The most recognized Pagan symbol is the pentacle, which is a five-pointed star (with one point facing up) in a circle.
There are eight main Pagan holy-days, which many Pagans celebrate.
Yule - December 21st - which comes from a tradition older than Christmas, and uses most of the same symbols, like pine trees, holly, and mistletoe which all stay green through out the winter. This is a celebration of the return of the Sun, as this is the shortest day of the year and the days get longer afterwords.
Imbolc - February 2nd - is a celebration of lambing season, purification, and fertility. This was adopted by Christians as "Candlemas" though most Christian traditions no longer celebrate this.
Ostara - March 20th/21st - the Vernal Equinox, when all things are in balance. This is a celebration of planting and fertility, and a time when many young animals are born. The symbols of Ostara are eggs, young chicks, and rabbits. This holiday has been adopted by Christian traditions as Easter (note the similar pronunciations).
Beltane - May 1st - Celebration of the Marriage of the Goddess to the God. The maypole dance is a large part of the Beltane (or "mayday") celebration.
Midsummer - June 21st - Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. It is traditional for Pagans to leap bonfires to ensure animal fertility.
Lughnasadh or Lammas - August 1st - an early harvest festival. A celebration of shortening days and the harvesting of fruits.
Mabon - September 21st - Autumnal Equinox, when the days and nights are again in balance. This is much like a Thanksgiving festival, and a time to store food for the coming winter.
Samhain (pronounced Sow-Win) - October 31st - This is the end of the year for many Pagans. The God dies and the Goddess morns. A time when magic is more powerful. This is a time of slaughtering animals for the coming winter. Many people wear costumes to scare off evil spirits and it is thought that ghosts can wander the Earth freely at this time. Obviously, much of this tradition is carried on in modern day Hallow-een celebrations (which comes from a briefly Christian holiday, All Hallows Eve).
Pagan holidays and traditions are obviously derived from those of farming communities.
2006-09-13 15:38:28 · answer #4 · answered by WatersMoon110 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The words paganism and pagan come from the Latin "paganus," meaning "country dweller." Neopagans hold a reverence for the Earth and all its creatures, generally see all life as interconnected, and tend to strive to attune one's self to the manifestation of this belief as seen in the cycles of nature. Pagans are usually polytheistic (believing in more than one god), and they usually believe in immanance, or the concept of divinity residing in all things. Many pagans, though polytheistic, see all things as being part of one Great Mystery. The apparent contradiction of being both polytheistic and monotheistic can be resolved by seeing the God/desses as masks worn by the Great Mystery. Other pagans are simply monotheistic or polytheistic, and still others are atheistic.
Some people believe paganism to be a religion within itself; others see it as a belief system (such as monotheism) that can be incorporated into religions like Wicca or Druidism; others see it as a broad category including many religions. The fact that we are re-creating religion for ourselves after centuries of suppression makes us very eclectic and very concerned with the "rightness" of a particular thing for the individual. So when you see some people calling it a religion and others not, when you see it capitalized in some instances and not in others, don't be confused -- we're all still basically talking about the same thing
isn't this ridiculous, they should just say they don't believe
Jesus said," he does'nt want you luke-warm"
either you believe in God or you don't.
2006-09-13 15:25:29 · answer #5 · answered by g-man 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Paganism is a wide range of beliefs. Some groups believe in the use of spellcraft, some don't. Some pagans worship one set of gods, some worship another set, some worship every god man has every thought of as icons of various truths, some pagans are technically atheistic but practice spellcraft absent belief in deity.
Paganism, ultimately, is what you make of it.
2006-09-13 15:09:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Paganism is many things to many people but for me:
It means being as environmentally aware as possible, as a means of honoring the earth
It means finding peace and solace in nature
It means finding the Goddess within myself as well as without
It means I constantly give thanks for every beautiful thing I have, whether or not I believe Anyone is listening, just because it is a good thing to be thankful for all that you have
It means trying to function as part of my surroundings, not above them -- I have no dominion over the rest of creation, I am only part of it
2006-09-13 15:15:49 · answer #7 · answered by Chickyn in a Handbasket 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
We have no set doctrine but here are a few commonalities;
1) We believe in the duality of Deity the Lady and the Lord.
2) We respect and revere nature in all its forms
3) We believe in the Law of Retribution which states in short that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
4) We believe in and hope for Reincarnation.
5) We observe the Wiccan Rede which states in part "if it harm none do what thou wilt."
2006-09-13 15:13:30 · answer #8 · answered by corvuequis 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
The best way I feel is to just to let them know that it does not require any sacrifices and that devil worshiping is something tottally different and I do not agree with that at all but other wise that it is a peace loving community and we live by one rul and one rule only "In harm noone do as thou will" basically don't wish harm on to any one other wise it will come back to you three fold.
2006-09-13 15:22:17 · answer #9 · answered by shebba 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm pagan. I have NO religious beliefs.
:)
2006-09-13 15:11:43 · answer #10 · answered by googlywotsit 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋