i have a lot of questions about pagan beliefs?

Question

i am pretty sure that i am pagan. i believe that everything is connected, and that god is part of everything. so what do i do next?? is there like a pagan book for beginners? and is it true pagan's don't call themselves pagans? i was told that the word pagan is a christian way to labeling people who don't worship jesus. and also what is the difference of wiccan, druids, ect? i need to completly start from the basics. can someone please help me. i have tried to talk to my husband about this, and he is not supportive at all. is it a common thing to not be able to share your beliefs with people? i don't want to hide things from him, but he was just mean. ok, i think that's all my questins for now.

Answer 1

You sound like a pantheist, many Pagans are, but not all. Some are henotheists, some are polytheists and animists. There's a broad range of ways of viewing the divine.

There are plenty of books on all the different Pagan religions, in fact most are written for beginners. Go to Barnes & Noble, they have plenty of them or shop on Amazon.com A good "general" Pagan book I'd recommend is "Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions."

Pagans do call themselves Pagan. Many are very proud of it in fact. It's used to refer to the Pre-Christian Nature religions. Christians tell to call anyone that doesn't believe in their religion a Pagan as an insult, they do the same thing with Heathen.

Wicca for example is a Neo-Pagan religion, meaning it's based on some of the old Pagan beliefs but with a modern twist. Whereas religions like Asatru are reconstructionalist, and strive for historical accuracy.

I don't mind talking about my religion with other people, if they want to talk about it, but I never go out to convert or anything. Most (but not all) Christians are very uncomfortable discussing religion if you don't happen to share their religion.

Also a pretty good Pagan forum is http://www.mysticwicks.com

Answer 2

You can go to your local bookstore and browse the New Age section. Silver Ravenwolf is an excellent author for beginners. Her first book "To Ride A Silver Broomstick" goes into detail specifically on Wicca but it also applies to Paganism. A cheaper alternative is to go to www.mysticwicks.com which is an online community of various branches of Paganism and ask any questions you may have.

Pagans call themselves Pagan. Pagan is an umbrella term that covers anything from Wicca to Hinduism to whatever. Basically anything that is not Judeo-Christian or Muslim. There is not alot of difference between Wiccans and Druids. I used to have a friend who was a Druid and her beliefs were very similar to mine as a Wiccan. At the same time, there are many branches of Wicca so no two people believe exactly the same thing.

Yes, unfortunately it is common for friends and family to not be supportive. One of the huge differences between paganism and Christianity is that Christianity teaches that all followers are required to go out and convert everyone they see. Paganism does not do this. Your beliefs are your own and you keep them to yourself but if someone asks what you believe then you can share what you are comfortable with.

Definitely visit the link I posted and go from there. Good luck.

Answer 3

Please ignore the Bible Thumpers, they are only speaking from their own biased views.

Wicca is a religion under the 'umbrella' term of Paganism, as is Druidry, Heathenry, Asatru, Kemeticism, Shamanism, Classical Pagans (which I think believe mainly in the Greek or Roman Gods and concepts), plus many more. These don't all believe in the same thing, and some don't even believe in a God or Gods.

Stay away from Silver Ravenwolf. She is very biased and aims her books mainly at teens getting into Wicca and Witchcraft. Wicca is a beautiful religion, but Silver is NOT the person to learn it from. Scott Cunningham is a good start if you wish to leanr more about Wicca.

What I would recommend is searching Wikipedia for Paganism or some of the other words, and see which paths closely follow what you believe.

BB
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Answer 4

Check out beliefnet.com
And sacredhearth.com

Yes, we call ourselves Pagan and some of us call ourselves Heathen. It means "country dweller" or hick. It's an old Roman word describing those old fashioned simple people who weren't up on (or rejected) the fashion of the hour that was popular in Rome. It may once have actually been applied to Christians. The Greeks used to call them Atheists.

Anyway, you don't have to reject the Christian God just because you see God differently that other Christians. My mother believes God is in all things, and she's Christian. And she believes Jesus was a man.

I can't say much about your husband except that I wouldn't tolerate meanness from a man. And yes, it is a common thing not to be able to share your beliefs with other people. It took a long time for my mother to accept it, and my father still doesn't. In fact, I don't think he admits I'm his anymore. It seems women have an easier time than men. Maybe the Goddesses freak them out.

Answer 5

I'm going to start by saying....why do you need to label yourself as Pagan, druidic, etc.? Why not simply appreciate whatever spirituality you do feel? There are many books about different views toward, and approaches to, religions that are lumped together as paganist. Pagan covers a lot of ground. And what you are describing could just as easily be called believing in the force from star wars.

I think what you'd be best off doing is reading a wide range of theologians and philosophers. Seeing what parts you like...what you don't....etc. You could also research a group called the Golden Dawn Society......they were a wiccan group...I know a lot of the new agers are into them.

Answer 6

There is, in fact, a book called Teenage Witch by Silver Ravenwolf. True Pagans remain in secrecy, and have since the beginning of the Burning Times. Wiccans are directly branched under Paganism, meaning they do more or less the same thing, except Paganism is the main branch that consists of Druidism, Celticism, Voodoo, Shamanism and Wiccanism.

The Druids and Celtics are derived from Ireland and Scotland and have somewhat different cultures, but again, are polytheistic and fall under Paganism. Voodoo is rooted in Africa and Shamanism is Native American in origin.

You can learn more, but you would have to email me. I can tell you, though, that no matter what anyone says, Pagans have got nothing to do with a devil and is a great path to follow.

Answer 7

Paganism for dummies, drawing down the moon, the Te of Piglet is good for a branch of Paganism called Taoism, theres a book thats simply called Paganism somewhere. Oh and some Pagans do call themselves Pagans, despite the fact that christians use it as a derogatory term. They usually give the christian a dictionary definition,

PS Ignore the christian haters, theyre jealous that you took a stand and decided not to be *one of the sheep* they dont like it when people take control of thier lives.

Answer 8

technological information. Do you experience that any of the failings you have self belief are contradicted by potential of medical theories/study? Nope. technological information is physically powerful. technological information is how we understand the actual universe. Does it hardship you whilst historians, psychologists, etc, say that the gods and goddesses have been purely nature forces 'deified' over the years to describe phenomena previous their understanding or to best chum worry of dying? As a historian myself, i wouldn't in any respect say that. this is their *opinion,* according to their non-perception of those specific gods. How do you reconcile with this? i do no longer might desire to reconcile my non secular ideals with people's evaluations. Can a individual be the two an informed, especially rational and clever individual together as additionally being polytheist and training witchcraft? confident And the divine. If that is not too own a question, are your ideals interior the gods/ God and Goddess user-friendly to the place you have no doubts? Are my ideals user-friendly? actual. Do I nevertheless evaluate the reality that i could be incorrect? confident. in actuality, i will assure my thought-approximately them isn't a hundred% spectacular. i'm no longer suited. Mortals don't have that degree of understanding of the divine. yet I even have own, experiential motives for why i've got self belief in my gods, although no longer something so dramatic as desires or visions.

Answer 9

Pagan is from a latin word that means "country folk". It was a derogatory term for the pagans in the British Isles when Rome took over. It was sort of like "Redneck" or "Hillbilly". It has since come to mean anyone that is not a Christian, Jew or Muslim. Each faith or path has a name which it identifies itself as and most shy away from the word pagan but modern pagans are reclaiming that word. There is no Bible or manual for most forms of paganism but there are a lot of books that can help you find out more about what you believe and maybe with whom you identify.
A lot of people who come to paganism from Christianity come through Wicca. Wicca is a earth-based religion that was born in the 30s and is very warm and fuzzy and very different from what most pagan experienced in Christianity. A lot of people find happiness in Wicca but a great many move on to more balanced views of the world and less "warm and fuzzy". I do recommend that you read books ny Silver Ravenwolf (don't slam me fellow pagans, in doing so you have to admit you read her when you were young in your faith). Her brand of faith is very, well, I'm not sure how to describe it but she is really nice to read and she usually makes her readers feel good about themselves. Scott Cunningham (knock it off, she will learn) is another good place to get started. Going onto pagan websites and into chatrooms are a good way to connect with other pagans and to hear about what they believe (people LOVE to talk about themselves). As for the hubby, don't expect support and just do what feels right for you.
Good luck

Answer 10

What I fail to grasp from your question is your need to belong to a Label. Christian, Pagan, Druid, Mithra and what have you. No matter what you believe you most certainly are not alone. The main philosophy that connects all these together is an irrational belief in one or more supernatural entities. If you haven't been brainwashed from childhood into one or another belief then really it's a matter of choice to go with something that satisfies your personality and private philosophy. You have nothing to hide. On the other hand you do not have to share with your husband everything. It is very common indeed for couples to have philosophical differences. They great enemy here is small mindedness and blind dedication to a set of irrational beliefs,