Information About Paganism?

Question

What is Paganism and some background info on it. Thanks

Answer 1

Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "a country dweller" or "civilian") is a term which, from a western perspective, has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions. The term can be defined broadly, to encompass many or most of the faith traditions outside the Abrahamic monotheistic group of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This group may include some of the Dharmic religions, which incorporate seemingly pagan characteristics like nature-veneration, icon-veneration, polytheism and reverence of female deities, and are thus diametrically opposite to the Abrahamic faiths. Ethnologists avoid the term "paganism", with its uncertain and varied meanings, in referring to traditional or historic faiths, preferring more precise categories such as shamanism, polytheism, or animism. The term is also used to describe earth-based Native American religions and mythologies, though few Native Americans call themselves or their cultures "pagan". Historically, the term "pagan" has usually had pejorative connotations among westerners, comparable to heathen, infidel, and mushrik and kafir (كافر) in Islam. In modern times, though, the words "pagan" or "paganism" have become widely and openly used by some practitioners of certain spiritual paths outside the Abrahamic and Dharmic religious mainstream to describe their beliefs, practices, and organized movements

Answer 2

You may be thinking of neopaganism, which is an umbrella term for a number of modern religions that either A) venerate Nature, B) reconstruct pre-Christian religions, and/or C) center around the practice of magic. There is no such thing as an ancient European pagan religion that has continued in an unbroken line from pre-Christian times; while certain traditions and elements may have survived, the original context died with the cultures that created them. All else is wishful thinking.

A good place to start is http://www.witchvox.com/xtrads.html whic has descriptions of a number of neopagan traditions. You might also enjoy Graham Harvey's "Contemporary Paganism" and Nicholas Graham's "The Four Powers: Magical Practice for Beginners of All Ages"

I have a decent link collection at http://www.thegreenwolf.com/links.html Among my favorites are http://www.twpt.com and http://www.davensjournal.com

I also review pagan books; you can see my review blog at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com

Answer 3

At its most basic, paganism is anything that is not Judaism, Christianity or Islam. It has taken on the meaning of any of the ancient polytheistic religions (or their modern cousins). There are literally thousands of "pagan" religions so if you want more info, you will have to be more specific. Generally, when most westerners think of paganism, they are thinking of Celtic Reconstructionism (descended from the Druids), Greek/Roman religion, Norse religion, Native American religion and Wicca. If you want more, check out Witchvox or do a search for any of those I have listed, that will get you started.

Answer 4

Paganism is the worship of pagan holidays, those who do are pagans. You cannot take a pagan custom giving honor to pagan gods and expect Yahweh to accept that type of worship. Cain tried and he was rejected just as anyone who serves pagan gods and celebrates pagan holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, new years, Sunday worship, and anything is not written in the Holy Scriptures will alwo be rejected in the Kingdom of Yahweh.

This is the mixture of righteousness and evil that you were warned not to participate in or dying you will die. Matt 24 your savior said that deception will be great in the last days, none of the prophets or the apostles celebrated any thing that was not written, and if you want to be spoken of in thier company you should not either and seek Yahweh while he can be found.

http://www.yahweh.com/booklets/Feasts/Feasts.htm

Answer 5

basiclally paganism is one of the oldest 'religions'...it is belief in multiple Gods and that these Gods may affect your everyday life. There are so many forms and versions of it that i couldnt tell you how it goes because it would be wrong to a group of pagans and right for some, its something you have to read up and research completely and decide which is more right. Bon Chance

Answer 6

Paganism is an umbrella term covering religions of people who are not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, and who consider themselves pagan.

This should help. The Pagan Primer: http://ecauldron.com/newpagan.php

Answer 7

The Wicker Man is a good movie and I have all my coveners watch it before joining. But I'm talking about the ORIGINAL one, NOT the cheap imitation with Nicholas Cage in it. I mean the 1973 one with Christopher Lee.

Anyway, some good writers are Starhawk, Scott Cunningham, Ray Buckland and Margot Adler. Don't read Silver RavenWolf's books.

Answer 8

web sites suck for this type of info, most of them are wrong or have a bias. To find the right information you need a book. I would highly recomend:
"AHistory of pagan europe"
by prudence Jones and Nigel Penwick
ISBN# 0-7607-1210-7

Answer 9

Watch the film "The Wicker Man".
Its discussed heavily on the net, including at www.imdb.com.

Answer 10

http://www.joyofsatan.org/