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To: alt.magick From: David DaltonSubject: Comment on this pagan FAQ? Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 19:28:54 -0230 Here is a draft FAQ I just got prepared not by me but by other members of the Newfoundland Pagan Society (also known as Memorial University Pagan Society but there are over 1/3 non-university members and more are welcome but any under 16 need a consent form signed by a parent). But anyway basically I would like editorial comments on this FAQ including corrections and other suggestions for improvement and then in a few days time I will collect responses and pass them on to the society executive. (Right now there are a few initiated trad Wiccans, some self-initiated eclectic Wiccans, some eclectic pagans including two tantric/celtic fusion witches, one Asatru, one hereditary druid, one native path, one atheist environmentalist, one non-Asatru norse shaman/discordia person, and one hereditary non-Asatru Swedish pagan in the group, and I suppose I can be classed as an individual/eclectic neopagan doing more inventing than research so far though.) ------------------- Pagan Society Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What is Paganism? Literally, the word pagan comes from the Latin paganus, and means `country dweller.' From www.dictionary.com: Pagan was the name given to idolaters in the early Christian church, because the villagers, being most remote from the centers of instruction, remained for a long time unconverted. Therefore, the word pagan was originally meant as an insult to the people who still practiced the religions of the old ways. The term neo-paganism is a recent word that more accurately sums up modern pagan movements. From www.dictionary.com: Any of various religious movements arising chiefly in the late 20th century that combine worship of pagan nature deities, particularly of the earth, with benign witchcraft. In a broader sense of the term, a pagan is one who does not practice any of the world's major religions, like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, or Hinduism. However, not all non-mainstream religions could be classified as paganism. Some examples of modern neo-pagan religions are Wicca, Druidism, Asatru, Celtic Reconstructionism, and Dianic Witchcraft. There are some religions that share elements with neo-paganism, or influence some pagan religions. Some examples are Ceremonial Magic, tribal and indigenous religions, Cabbalism, Native American spirituality, Voodoo, New Age religions, and Santeria. What do Pagans believe in? Pagan beliefs are very, VERY varied. Some pagan beliefs, which are widespread, but certainly not universal, are: * Reincarnation and karma * A belief in magic * A desire to revere, honor, and respect the Earth as a sacred being. Many pagans are environmental activists. * Polytheism; the belief in many deities. Also, many pagans belief that Divinity is manifest and inherent in everything in the universe (pantheism) * A belief that the animal world and Nature is filled with gods and spirits (animism) * Many pagans believe that although Divinity is genderless, it is convenient to worship Divinity in both a masculine and feminine form. Hence, many pagans worship both the God and the Goddess. * A belief in different spirit realms, including the astral plane, the faerie realm, the Afterlife, etc. What special holidays do Pagans celebrate? It greatly depends on which pagan religion the person is practicing. The holidays vary greatly between different pagan traditions. The Pagan Society itself celebrates the eight holidays of the Celtic Wheel of the Year; the Sabbats, the Equinoxes and the Solstices. These holidays are as follows; Samhain (Oct 31), Yule (Dec 21), Imbolc (Feb 2), Eostara (Mar 21), Beltane (Apr 30), Litha (Jun 21), Lammas (Jul 31), Mabon (Sep 21). The dates of some of these holidays shift from year to year. What are some of the symbols used in Paganism? The pentacle (a 5-pointed star with a circle around it), the crescent moon, the Celtic Cross, the ankh, God and Goddess symbols, the spiral, circles, and the hexagram (Star of Solomon) are some of the more universal symbols. Do all pagans believe the same thing? No. Pagans tend to be highly individualistic in what they practise. Pagans greatly respect religious diversity, and believe all spiritual paths are valid. Beliefs and practise differ between the various pagan traditions, and beliefs within each tradition vary as well. Also, a lot of pagans are solitary practitioners who follow a spiritual path that is personalized and adapted on an individual basis. Is the pentacle symbolic of Satanism? Most pagans who wear a pentacle wear it with the point of the star facing upwards, to symbolize the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) plus Spirit. Some pagan traditions use a pentacle with a downright-pointing star to symbolize the Horned God. Other pagan traditions with degree systems use the downright-facing pentacle to signify attaining certain ranks. Satanists wear the downright-facing pentacle to symbolize the superiority of the material world over the spiritual world. Many pagans do not wear a downright-facing pentacle because of its association with Satanism. Are pagans anti-Christian? No. Pagans respect religions diversity, and therefore respect Christianity. In fact, there is ongoing scholarly debate over whether or not ancient paganism influenced early Christianity. Pagans are not opposed to Judeo-Christian religions, or the practitioners. In fact, there is a pagan religion called Christian Wicca. The practitioners of this faith worship Christian divinities, but in a pagan context. Is paganism a legal religion? Paganism itself is not an official religion, but some pagan religions do have legal recognition status as religions. The Canadian charter says that everyone has freedom to practise his or her own religion. Therefore, even if a pagan practices a non-recognized religion, they still have the legal right to do so. Are Wiccans, Witches and Pagans the same thing? No. All Wiccans are Pagan, but not all pagans are Wiccan. Just as all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic. Wicca is a religion, witchcraft is a practice. Many Wiccans do practise witchcraft, but many Wiccans don't. And many witches do not consider themselves Wiccan. Do pagans worship the Devil? No. Most pagans do not even BELIEVE in the Devil. The Devil is a concept of various monotheistic religions, and pagans do not adhere to this belief. Do pagans do magic and spells? Many pagans practise magic, but not all pagans do so. Please keep in mind that pagan magic does not resemble the sort of magic in the movies and on T.V. Real magic is subtle, and uses natural energy to produce the end result. Regrettably, we can't shoot fire out of our hands, or levitate. However, many pagans do use magic to enhance their lives. Pagans also utilize ritual, but more for religious purposes than practical ones. Can you do me a love/money/healing spell? First of all, not all of us do spells! Secondly, it is in bad taste to ask a pagan this question upon first meeting! Third, doing spells takes up a lot of time and energy, so we usually just do them for ourselves and loved ones. Fourth, if you believe in witchcraft and spells, why not learn how to do your own spell? The Internet has a lot of good info on spell crafting and magic, although many sites have questionable information that must be taken lightly. When doing spells and ritual, many pagans follow the Wiccan Rede; `If it harms none, do as you will.'
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