Pagans! Are there any paths, traditions that really are ancient in their beliefs and practices.?

Question

I hear a lot about Wicca being a modern religion and neo paganism is at times looked at as not valid, but is there really any that have remained untouched by modern society.

Just wondering your thoughts no really right or wrong answers.

Also Christians this is for pagans only so please refrain from judgemental comments. I believe we all know your opinions. That is okay and right for you but please it is not for us.

I am getting some very good answers thank you all for your participation. Peter D I never thought I would see you in this section LOL Thanks for answering.

Answer 1

Reconstructionist religions, while modern, make a serious and scholarly attempt to be as accurate to ancient beliefs, values, practices, and underlying worldview as is practicable.

Thus, while most Asatruar, for example, might be described as *neoheathens* or *Norse neopagans,* there exists WITHIN the Asatru community a number of Reconstructionist heathens whose beliefs and practices, while not part of an unbroken continuum in the strictest sense, are increasingly largely indistinguishable from what was believed and practiced two millennia ago.

The same holds true for Hellenic, Celtic, and Kemetic reconstructionists---there are those who are *inspired* by the past, but "adapt" it to their pre-existing, modern, xianised worldview . . . and those who seek to view the world through the same eyes as their distant ancestors.

Answer 2

Well sure. You have to understand that while many modern pagans have been influenced by the new world - they do attempt to reconstruct the ancient religions in their practice. Now mind you many of us have abolished sacrifice (of food animals) from our practices because it's not practical in a city. Wiccans (and nothing against Wiccans - I love you guys - so please don't take me mentioning this as a bad thing) have abolished all cursing practices from their modern interpretation of ancient practices (the more you learn about ancient religions the more you realize our ancestors had curses for everything).

But the deities and the offerings haven't changed much. And in the case of some denominations - they're still using the ancient prayers that were used back in the day. Also - many spells, ritual work, and magical operations have been handed down to others. People cry that there are no generational witches or pagans and all that - but I am someone who disagrees with that because I've found evidence to the contrary. A lot of this stuff wouldn't have survived without it being handed down from older people to younger people.

Modern Khemetic/Kimitic pagans look to ancient papyri and what was carved on ancient Egyptian temples for traditional prayers. The same can be said for Natib Qadish and modern practices based on ancient Assyrian religions and so on. So it's a matter of being educated and knowing what's modern and what's traditional - and you learn that by studying history and archeology. Most people who haven't studied ancient religions will erroneously say all modern paganisms are "new". Nope - they've just evolved.

Answer 3

There are many that have passed beliefs and traditions down from ancient times...but NONE that have been untouched by modern society.

Religion exists to serve people...to help them connect to the Divine and one another, it wouldn't make sense for a religion not to grow and change with the culture and people it serves. It is a tool, and tools must be designed to fill the needs of the people using them. That means many tools will remain essentially unchanged, some will be discarded, and new ones will be made to fill new needs. Religious beliefs and practices are the same way.

While there are neo pagan faiths that have arisen in fairly recent times (and that does not invalidate their usefullness), there are many old faiths that are still practiced, though, yes, not exactly as they were thousands of years ago.

Native American religions, Norse, Celtic, Kemetic, Hellenic, are just a few very old traditions that have large numbers of modern day active practitioners.

Answer 4

Shamanism, like witchcraft, isn't really a religion... it is more like a craft or way of doing things. People of any religion may practice shamanic techniques. The word Shaman comes from native Mongolian practices, but has been adopted to refer to any number of traditions and techniques that a person could use to contact otherworldly beings, generally by entering into some sort of trance state. A shaman or shamanic practitioner may use any number of tools from herbs to rythmic instruments, even self-mutulation in some cases, to attempt to create a communication link between the worker and spirits, demons, angels, ancestors, fairies, ghosts, you-name-it for the sake of achieving a goal such as healing. The worker may also apply healing techniques such as herbal treatments or energy work directly to a client or patient. I specify that a shaman is different then someone who practices shamanic techniques because there is much lore and tradition behind the idea that a true shaman must be chosen by the spirits and that choice is marked by serious misfortune and pain (and often a near-death experience) and then rewarded by special spiritual gifts. No one I know would actually choose to become a shaman, but once you've been chosen, becoming a shaman is the only way to heal from the trails the spirits have laid upon you. The techniques of shamanism, however, are open to anyone to use, though, like witchcraft, some training, preparation and caution is well-advised. Note that some people confuse the term shamanism with Native American or First Nation religious beliefs and medicine... this is not true and can be irritating to aboriginal north americans who do not describe their traditions this way. -Scarlet

Answer 5

The solstices, only because they are caused by the planet's rotation and the Christians can't stop the Earth from spinning, but they tried.

Just a side note, yes the modern Pagan/Wiccan movement is modern. Could have someting to do with the fact that all witches were executed and their history destroyed. Now we just take a look at Stonehenge and don't know what it is, there is so much physical evidence of the Druids and Pagans, we just don't know who they were or what they believed now.

Answer 6

Well, Strega seems to be passed down pretty well. If there is a pure one, I'd think it most likely would be Lithuanian, since they were the last country to give up Paganism from the Aeon of Isis. The reconstructed religions of well documented paganisms (Norse and it's Eddas, Roman and the works of the Classic authors) are quite traditional.
There has never been proof that Witchcraft didn't survive through the ages either. Just pointed out that there wasn't proof it did. This isn't proof it didn't. If you think it did, and that makes sense to you, then go with that.

Answer 7

I can trace many of the practices I follow to the Celts and ancient Druids, also many of the American Indian beliefs pre-date Christianity. If you look at the ancient cave paintings you will see many records of Goddess religions as well as in Greek and Roman times. Much of "Wicca" encompasses the beliefs of these ancient religions and predate Christianity by centuries! By the way, Wicca hasn't abolished learning the "darker" magic or curses, and oft times they are used when needed, it is just that we prefer not to and look for other ways to handle problems. You need to know both sides to be able to function in a balanced nature. We will protect the weaker from harm.

Answer 8

Some Pagan religions are ancient. Druidism is quite ancient.
Witchcraft is quite old, it is mentioned in the bible. Witches have been destroyed along with their history. So much of it is still unspoken of due to the thoughts to still destroy them for unfair and incorrect thoughts and beliefs. However, I would not call witchcraft a religion. It is a spiritual path which we encounter and finds us. We do not go seeking it. You know when you are "home" and have found where you belong.

Having said that I have found this bit of information: "Hinduism has the oldest recorded roots, which lie in Dravidianism. Dravidianism is estimated to have been practiced around 6,000 to 3,000 BCE and as such predates the Sumerian, Egyptian, and Babylonian cultures." from http://www.agnosticwitch.catcara.com/oldest-religion.htm

Answer 9

Unfortunately, i am of the perception that larger pagan groups have a tendancy to be more corrupt than larger religious authorities (reason being; Pagantry isn't centralised, and therefore cannot be policed internally).

However, this fact may account for Pagantry's rather quiet and covert appearence on the west's religious knowledge - if less people are willing to practice religion in a social aspect, then it is very likely that those people are aware of how religious institutions can be used by the ambitious and power hungry.

The widespread knowledge of the various religions of pagantry could be a bad thing, but for now it'll get better before it gets worse.

I suppose you could sum this up as "The powerful wish for only one thing - more power.".

edit to add; Iain, shamanism is considered a pagan religion, and shamanism was practised long before the first bloke figured out how to carve a wheel out of a rock.

Think about what you're saying, bud.


edit; YAY FOR MINUS!!!

Answer 10

I'm a christian but I would be interested learning about the Wicca religion too even though I might have a different belief then they do. Sometimes Christians can be very judgemental and that is unacceptable. God teaches us to love even though we might disagree with the person and sometimes Christians can be unloving to people who do things that they don't like and it's not there place to judge people. But keep in mind not all christians are that way. I'm not.