Are Pagans secular?

Question

There are secular pagans, there are atheistic pagans, but not all pagans are secular in belief. When I Q&A with Pagans it seems they are secular, though I know their belief in a diety should trump this. So to the theist pagans, why do your beliefs almost exclusively in politics and personal edicts fall in line with secularists? This is not a harrassing question, this popped in my head when I was reading the Wiccan bothered by in God we trust on US currency. Thoughtful answers appreciated.

In my question I asked the "theist pagans" specifically.

Daughter, I think you have misunderstood my question. Some theist pagans political AND personal beliefs seem to be in the secular realm vs the religious and godly realm (in godly I do not mean christian only) This is not a secualr humanism vs theistic government question, and now that I am re-reading my quesiton I should not have even mentioned government.

Answer 1

Because we can look at things like how the Church ruled England, the influence they had in pre-Bolshevik Russia, well... really... all the European nations. We can see how Sharia affects the daily lives of everyday Arabs and Persians, and how psychotic it is, and we can see that it's no different for any religious organization or entity to rule a nation.
Theocracies are the most despotic and oppressive governments in history. Period. And the best way to avoid a theocracy is to keep religion and politics completely separate.

So... while not all pagans are politically secular... this one is.

Answer 2

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking, so if I'm not answering the question intended feel free to email me.

I'm not quite sure who you have in ind when you mention secular pagans and atheist pagans. Every person I know who describes theself as a Pagan does so because of their religious beliefs, and the common definition of Pagan is one who is a member of any one of several religions (such as Wicca, Druidry, Asatru, etc.). There is such a thing as secular Jews only becuase Jew can designate an ethnicity or a religion. But "Pagan" is not an ethnicity.

Are you perhaps asking why Pagans seem so vocal on non-religious matters (poltics, etc) but not so much on religion itself? Many of us do not have a lot to preach or fight for in terms of religious beliefs. We don't care if other people aren't worshipping a particular god or doing it in a particular way. But there are plenty of non-religious issues that are near and dear to many of us. However, this doesn't mean our beliefs are all political or secular. Yes, I am pro-choice, strongly support separation of church and state, strongly support free speech for all, etc. But none of those things make me Wiccan (my particular Pagan religion). The things that make me Wiccan are all religious and/or spiritual in nature. There's just no need for me to post things like "Polytheists rock!" Although if someone asks a question about why I'm a polytheist I certainly have no problem asnwering. However, I do so in the attempt to explain my own perspective, not with the expectation that I will convince anyone that polytheism is better.

Answer 3

There are many pagan sects so I wont try to speak for all of them. However, in MY case it would be hard to keep my beliefs separate. Harder I think than many of the more common religions.

For many of them God is their soul, spirit, leadership, and afterlife. They feel that God is the God of man. I feel that God is the God of the Earth and its life. Someone might ask what the difference is. Well.. not so much unless we force God to choose. They feel God would choose man over the rest of the planet (and that he has in the past). I feel that is abit egotistical feeling that God is here for us.

So if you are asking why my religion has me looking hard at environmental, social, and political subjects, then thats why.

If you are wondering about the lack of some accepted common religious practices such as recruitment, conversions, preaching to non-believers, condemning non-believers.. as far as I know that isnt part of any pagan philosophy. In fact, you will find its not part of most polytheistic religions. We just arent told to go do that.

There is an interesting psych thesis paper somewhere that talks about the change in political climates, war, etc due to the gain in popularity of monotheistic religions.

Answer 4

I am a Wiccan, I live in a secular country, not a theocracy. I respect that not all people are my religion, and as a PATRIOT, I expect the laws that make my religion equal in the eyes of the law to any other will be respected.

In god we trust is a symbol of McCarthyism. Leaving it on the American money is like leaving a swastika on the Euro.

Answer 5

Many Pagans are secular. However, that being said there are many Pagans that ARE very religious in their daily lives. I myself am in a Clergy Training program through a Hellenic Reconstructionist religious organization I am involved with......

Answer 6

I believe it is because paganism is seen as a personal journey. While there are covens and "churches" (for any lack of a better word for an organized place of worship) Most pagans practice alone.

Since it a personal journey, most feel that their faith has no place in politics.

Answer 7

Um...well because my religion doesn't believe in universalism. Our path is not meant for everyone. You either hear the gods or you don't. We think no less of people that don't hear that call then we do for those who do. Why would we care? My gods are NOT right for everyone. Therefore I don't say that my path is the one true path. There is no one true path and EVERY pagan will tell you that.
I have no desire for any of my beliefs to be law. I believe in universal FREEDOM. Why does religion have to be in law? HUMANISM should be law, not faith.

Answer 8

It really depends on the pagans you are speaking about. I tend to believe that anything secular tends to be a bit too fanatic for me.

Answer 9

Tolerant. Humble. Studious. Adjetives that can describe most Pagans in regards to belief systems.

Answer 10

Many of us are secular in terms of our attitudes about legislating religious tenets or morality. Many of us are also deeply religious in our personal lives.

Many of us understand that the path we walk is not for everyone, and that it is a *personal* journey, not to be forced upon anyone.

I would hazard to say even, "most of us".