Why do "pagans" keep insisting the term is an "umbrella" term with much diversity?

Question

And then insist that Christianity consists solely of fringe groups like fundamentalists,no Eastern Orthodox Church,no RCC,no Episcopalians,no Lutherans. But whenever you ask them a question they start yabbling about how diverse and umbrella-like so-called paganism is. For one thing,if that were true,how would they keep it all straight when they can't even tell a Unitarian from a Jehovah's Witness?

Answer 1

Because much like the term Christian it the word Pagan is a very diverse term. There are many different types of Pagans just as there are many different types of Christians.

You have Celtic Pagans, you have Irish Pagans, you have Norse Pagans and what this means is that each of those groups follow a type of paganism that slants toward a Celtic, Irish or Norse deity pantheon. I am a Wiccan. This makes me a Pagan.

Pagans are also considered as Islamics, Jews or any other religion that are not Christian. So you should now be able to see how the term 'umbrella', thought probably not the best way to describe the different types of Pagans, is just a handy term for a large amount of diversity.

Basically it comes down to this. Most Christians consider any religion that is NOT Christian to be Pagan.

Now to really confuse you...Wiccans do not always consider themselves pagans! Those who practice witchcraft, are Wiccan Witches. And do not usually consider themselves pagans, but Wiccans. Then there are your Witches who do not like to be considered Wiccans, but prefer to be considered Witches only. But do consider themselves Pagans.

Confused yet? The truth of the matter is that it simply comes down to who you are asking or discussing it with at the time. Each seems to have their own personal opinion on the matter.

Not all feel this way, but those who talk about umbrella terms, usually do. I figure someday they will figure it out for themselves.

I hope this helps. Coming from a Pagan. A Wiccan/Pagan.

Aviana

Answer 2

well Actually we pagans consider the christian community full of sects just like we are full of. The southern baptists are a sect, the JW's are a sect and so no and so on. Christianity is an umbrella term for all that believe in the way of christ. Paganism term was caused by the English church telling the city christians that the peasant farmers were bad people. Old english for peasant is pagan. SO all faiths that are earth oriented are classified as pagan. We are so diverse because we have national and ethic influences. The norse view things differently than the Celtic groups. We both honor the earth, but we view things in other ways. Itis an umbrella or blanketterm because there are many similarities between many of our groups.

Answer 3

I think most of us can tell the difference.
I'm not sure where your angst is coming from, but let me point something out to you.
Christian= "Christ is our savior, there is one God, Christ is His son" Every Christian hails ultimately from the Middle East. Yes, it's an umbrella. There isn't any religion just called Christian anymore.

Pagan= Some are polytheists(some hard, some soft), some are duotheists, some are pantheist, some are panenthiest, some are monotheist and yes, some are even atheists, some are animist, some are ancestor worshippers. These religions hail from all over Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, South and Central America and often include a combination of all of the above. Some of them are so different from each other that it's a wonder they claim the same "umbrella" at all.

I'm sorry our umbrella is bigger than yours. You shouldn't take it so hard though. Some people like little umbrellas. I'm sure you can find someone to share your umbrella if you're just patient.

Answer 4

First, I will disagree with Jurgen....Pagans CAN tell the difference from a J.W. from a Unitarian for I know of a Untiarian Church that is very accepting of the Pagan faith. As far as the "Umbrella" terminology.... OK maybe I can put another light to that word. It is like saying Christian and that constitutes the paths of Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Mormon, well you get the idea. Pagan is Druid, Native American, Wiccan, etc. So, I guess the Christians also use the "Umbrella" term.

Answer 5

Well, they were stupid to say that. As ancient languages go, Weesha, wicsa, weschta, all of these were evolved versions of the Italian word for "witch" in the modern english version which actually meant healer or medicine person (you get the gist). Wicca is a totally different writing that has no basis in the early form word of "Witch". Yes it is similar but, no, the name was not taken from the "witches" who claim so, but was made to incorporate the old pagan beliefs and faith healers of the ancients. I'm with you on that. They can stuff that "neo Wicca" crap. They act as though Wicca is an old religion when in fact it isn't. Yes, some of it's doctrine and rits are similar of the old beliefs, but as we all say "not all wiccans are witches and not all witches are wiccan". Man! I am glad I am an eclectic pagan. I do not have to worry about that kind of stuff. But, I guess, there will always be someone wanting to make a stink over the slightest thing. Good for you for letting it just roll.

Answer 6

Actually, the term Pagan covers many different religions. Christianity is one religion with many differences. Catholics and Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses are all Christians with amazingly different beliefs from one another. They are each one sect of Christianity.

Pagans, on the other hand are not all the same religion. Hellenic Witches, Druids, Buddhists, and practitioners of Asatru are all Pagans, but they are each a different Pagan religion. Paganism covers many many many different and separate religions, while Christianity is all one religion, despite it's myriad differences from sect to sect.

Again, Buddhist (or Buddhism) is a huge umbrella term, too. There are over 1,000 different sects of Buddhism throughout the world.

Answer 7

Unitarians can be Pagans, and most of us are very familiar with different sects of Christianity. I know that of all the population considered Christian the majority are Catholic, and Ethiopian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and all the other sects are included.
As Christianity is an umbrella term for those who make Jesus central to their beliefs, Paganism is an umbrella term for those that make Nature central to their beliefs.

Answer 8

Well, one of the reasons ALL xtians get lumped in together with the lunatic fundamentalist fringe is that that's who's doing all the talking, even from our own government, and more moderate expressions of Middle Eastern religion, like Methodists and UU, aren't actively rebutting them.

However, as a *heathen,* I have to say I *also* resent the tendency of some pagans to lump all nontraditional, nonxtian, indigenous folk religions (whether living traditions or reconstructed ones like mine) in with THEMSELVES . . . I'm NOT a pagan, and my beliefs are NOT "Earth-centered" . . . they're *deeds*-centered.

Answer 9

ask a christian.

"what religion are you"

and your answer will be Christian,

or possibly, Catholic, Baptist, Protestant etc, which are all CLEARLY sects of the SAME greater religion.

Pagans Have many DIFFERENT gods.

when you ask a Pagan what religion they are, most will say that they have none, but follow the Norse/Celtic/Wiccan etc, gods.

Paganism is an umbrella term for many religions.

and with many different views. for example.

Wiccans are typically the "loves everybody loves the planet, do as you will as it harm none" type.

then you run into people like me. that are the "get out of my way or i will crush you in my persuit of the power that is importent to me" type.

hardly the same thing.

Answer 10

Christians all have similar beliefs based on a single book. Some add others, and even other rules, but it all comes back to one thing. It all has the same creation, it has just branched off. Christianity is like a tree.

Pagans often have nothing that really relates them other than the earth. They are considered "earth-centered" religions because that's the only thing they really have in common. They have no uniting book, no uniting characters, no uniting history.

Though I'm not sure why I keep answering your questions in such depth when it's obvious you're a troll.