paganism question?

Question

forgive me for being thick but what exactly IS paganism ?
i know a few people who are into it and they're really great blokes so there must be something in it.
trouble is..i know precisely jack about it.
please help.
oh,and tubthumping bible merchants..keep it to yourselves,eh ?

Answer 1

basically the belief in many gods

Answer 2

Ok....

Paganism encompasses a VAST majority of beliefs, but it mainly refers to the folk beliefs of each nation (Egyptian, Greek, Celtic, Japanese, Native American, etc) before the "big 3": Christianity, Islam, Judaism.
Many are polytheistic, but some are dualistic (many Wiccans believe in an all-inclusive God and Goddess), or believe in the idea of many-in-one: many gods which make up one god (sort of like the Christian 3-in-1).
Now because it's polytheistic, and very old, some people consider Hindu pagan.
Wiccan is a new movement that mainly adopts British/Celtic ideas such as the wheel of the year, and the triple goddess.
Some Pagans are by the book (try and worship a particular pantheon, and do so as those people did thousands of years ago), and some are eclectic, and borrow smatterings across many different pantheons.

Phew! That's why it's so hard to define.

Hope that helped?


Email me if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to help.


- Renee

Answer 3

Paganism is an umbrella term for several Pagan religions. A Pagan religion is a pre-Christian religion, or a religion that is not Islam, Christianity, or Judaism. Some of them worship ancient gods and goddesses but not all.

Pagans revere, not worship, nature so they tend to care about the planet. Many practice magic, and almost all celebrate the Equinoxes and Solstices and acknowledge lunar and solar phases.

Paganism came from early man's reliance on the earth, for example, he would do a ritual to make sure he had an abundant harvest or a successful hunt. Also, he was beginning to understand things like season changes and lunar/solar patterns and their benefits and honored these things.

Answer 4

"agree with most of the answers so far.
If you want a definite answer on what Paganism is, ask one of us.
If you want 3 different answers ask 3 of us"
OMG that is so freaking true. LOL I always say if you ask ten pagans a question you will get 11 different answers.
The "technical" meaning is anything that's outside of the Big Three.
But it's an umbrella terms. Think of this way, the term paganism is the same as Christianity. It covers a basic belief. Christians have Jesus, Pagans are generally Polytheist. Then you have all the denominations. For Christians you have Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, etc. Pagans have Asatru, Hellenistic, Kemetic, Celtic, etc. You want specif answers you have to ask us specific questions. LOL

Answer 5

Paganism is an umbrella term that includes hundreds of religions.
Most pagan religions are either hard or soft polytheistic faiths.
Soft polytheistic faiths (such as Wicca and at least one form of Druidry) essentially hold that all the Gods are aspects of one God and all the Goddesses are aspects of one Goddess. Some go further with that and hold that both of the meta-deities are aspects of a single all-powerful deity.
Hard polytheistic faiths (such as Asatru, Kemetic and Hellenistic paths) hold that all the Gods and Goddesses are individual beings in their own right, and independent of the existence of other divinities.
The Kemetic path follows the indigenous Egyptian Gods and Goddesses.
The Hellenistic path follows the indigenous Greek Gods and Goddesses.
Asatru follows the indigenous Germanic/Nordic Gods and Goddesses.
I can only speak for Asatru with any real basis of knowledge, as that's my path.
Tyr mentioned the Odinic Rite, but they're just one organization of Asatruar. Asatru is not called the Odinic Rite, though the Odinic Rite claims Asatru as its religion. There are other Asatru organizations, such as the Asatru Folk Assembly, the Asatru Alliance, and The Troth.
Tyr also mentioned the folkish aspect, but I feel he failed to convey what that really is.
To be Folkish within Asatru is to hold the belief that Asatru is an ethnic, or more properly, a genetic religion. The Gods are our literal ancestors with Heimdallr, Odin, and Freyr siring lineages in parts of Scandinavia.
To be thorough, I must point out that there are those that call themselves Folkish when they're actually racists. This certainly doesn't hold true for all Folkish types (myself included), and some of us feel that the racists (Nazitruar, I call them) demean Asatru, and use the honoring of the Gods as a smokescreen for socio-political activities and tenets.
The Nazitruar within our ranks are much like the Nation of Islam, or the KKK, who similarly use their religious leanings as a smokescreen for their similar socio-political activities.

And I've gone on a lecture... I'll stop now. :)

I'm available via IM if you have further questions.

Answer 6

Paganism is a large umbrella for the (mostly) indigenous beliefs of those who do not believe in the Abrahamic god.

Here is a list of some (not all) of those beliefs:

Buddhism, Hinduism, Celtic Reconstructionism, Druidry, Asatru, Hellenic Polytheism, Wicca, Witchcraft, Taoism, Pantheism, Animism, Goddess worship, Heathenry (although Asatru could fall under this category as well)..

There is no monocentric theme to paganism. The name derives from the latin "pagani" which simply means "country dweller".

I hope this helps.
For more information on pagan and earth-based religions:
http://beliefnet.comm
http://religioustolerance.org

Answer 7

Paganism is actually a word that encompasses many different religions. Like the word Christianity. Christianity is used to describe Lutherans, Catholics, etc. Paganism is such a huge subject that it's difficult to describe it in one short paragraph. I've been studying since I was 16 (I'm 25 now) and I'm not even close to knowing it all. Most of Pagan religions are nature based and poly-theist (meaning that we believe in more than one god). Most practice Magick. Most celebrate the turning of the year. Check Wikipedia. Ask your friends. Check Witchvox.com. You can also go to most chain bookstores and pick up a book. Just keep in mind that the one thing that all Pagans agree with is that we're all different and we all have the right to believe something different. You can also contact me and I would be happy to answer any of your questions.

Answer 8

I agree with most of the answers so far.

If you want a definite answer on what Paganism is, ask one of us.

If you want 3 different answers ask 3 of us.

Basically paganism FOR ME is a oneness with nature, and no that doesn't mean that I live in a hut in a field. It is more an awareness of the cycles of the planet and what the seasons signify. I accept the duality of a God and Goddess (You need both to breed anything.....basic principle). As for the rest, seriously, go search, fill your boots.

Before you make your mind up on any path, I would recommend this site though

http://www.witchoftheeast.com/fluffbunny.html

Because the best site along these lines no longer exists

Answer 9

the in worry-free words one i have actual study thus far is Drawing Down the Moon by utilizing Margot Adler. Its slightly old yet an astonishing source of advice. listed decrease than are some from my wish record, which i have almost continuously gotten concepts from a pagan talk board I everyday: A historic previous of Witchcraft, 2d version by utilizing Jeffrey B. Russell, Brooks Alexander familiar Magic: crafty-persons in English historic previous by utilizing Owen Davies even as God replaced right into a woman by utilizing Merlin Stone females's Mysteries: historic & present day by utilizing M. Esther Harding The White Goddess: A historic Grammar of Poetic fantasy by utilizing Robert Graves * The Triumph of the Moon: A historic previous of present day Pagan Witchcraft by utilizing Ronald Hutton sturdy success with the gallbladder. * no longer inevitably historic, yet sturdy to study.

Answer 10

Paganism is a broad term for any beliefs outside the Abrahamic ones (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). Wicca, Asatru, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc would all fall under the term Pagan.

Answer 11

paganism is basically celebrating or worshiping the world around you and nature. some people associate it with witch craft but that is not necessarily true because there are a large variety of pagan religions all of which have varying rituals and beliefs.

However in essence they all share the basis of the importance of nature and preserving life, this is why the summer solstice and winter solstice are considered so important.

I would suggest talking to your friends and find out exactly what they follow and what they believe, its a very ineteresting religion.