When did you learn about Paganism and what do you think it is?

Question

I'm curious about the beliefs others hold and how they arrived at them. Thanks and blessed be.

Answer 1

Echo Yahwist.

The first time I came in contact with Paganism, (in terms only) I was paralized by the dogmatic BS I was taught as a child. But after studying on the subject, the history and structure of the religious "right" that had taught me all the lies, I realized that it was the Christian teachings that were EVIL, and not the PAGANS!
I spent about 15 years studying ancient religions and how religion has shaped the society we know today.

Answer 2

Been studying religions for over 30 years and decided to follow Wicca in 95. Not in general, but more of an eclectic belief since there was no ONE area that fit my beliefs and ideals. I learned through classes in school, on line and through reading (I am an avid reader of all areas and beliefs!). Paganism to me is a belief of a many faceted Deity (feminine primarily) which promotes balance in life, being in tuned to nature and all that entails, a sense of spirituality that encompasses all that fills this life. It was originally a name given by the Church (200 years after Christ's death) to all those who did not follow the one MALE god concept! Heathen was another name. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I learned about Paganism in 2001, and proceeded to read way too many books on the topic. I then participated in a number of "Sabbats" (8 a year) for a few years, to experience the religion.
Paganism is a religion where you try to experience spiritual laws (ones also true to Christianity, Islam and Buddhism) using either the names of old Gods (Pan, Bridgit, Isis, etc) or recreations of maybe-Gods (Cerridwen, Lord and Lady of the Wild, The Horned One, The Green Man, or "The Star Goddess") Either because you believe in these entities, believe them all to represent aspects of a single entity (God) or believe them to represent parts of your own Psyche. (Jungian type Archetypes)

Answer 4

I learned from books and other Pagans, of course.

Paganism is term that covers a broad variety of beliefs, though nowadays it is used to describe mostly revivals of pre-Christian polytheistic practices or modern religions which adhere to nature-based and ancestor-honoring practices. If it is revivalist, it generally refers to those of Europe.

It includes, but is not limited to, Heathens, Wiccans, Kemetics, Hellenists, eclectics, shamen, Druids, etc.

Answer 5

Blessed be....I learned at a very young age. And in fact the Catholic church crowns Mother Mary in the month of May. And we honor The Goddess in May (Mother Earth aka Mother Nature.)

Answer 6

Paganism is a term used to cover many non-standard belief systems that are now either dead or virtually non-existent in comparison to the more well known belief systems such as Christianity.

e.g. belief in lesser known gods such as Roman, Greek, Egyptian, new-age beliefs such as Wicca, etc. etc.

I practise a bizaare form of Paganism where I do not actually believe in the gods/spirits/whatever that I pray to. It's just a kind of psychological crutch, and it works quite well actually. :)

Answer 7

I have grown up surrounded by many different people including Pagans.

I think Pagan is a word used to describe almost all non-Abrahamic religions.

Pantheist.

Answer 8

I remember hearing about witches on a tv show when I was like 12 and thinking oh cool I want to cast spells.

I read a few books and realized thats not how it works.

Answer 9

as a devout athist as a teen, I assumed any pagan/polytheistic systems were just as misguided as monotheism; like many of us, growing up in Christianity imposed artificial limits on what "religion" itself was (even after abandoning Christianity, one still unconsiously retains many of thier definitions/limitations until one learns to see past them).

Eventually, when I started reading pagan-themed fiction, I realized that pagan (esp. neopagan) philosophies matched up with philosophical concepts I'd come to on my own, but had not equated with religion or spirituality.

Answer 10

I found the goddess over 20 yr ago through my readings in science. Nature based religion doesn't have to preach contrary to logic,& facts about the word around us. It works with them & you can combine spirituality.