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Gaia Angel 
She who Dreams with Dolphins
Posts: 397
(12/23/03 8:56 am)
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What is Pagan/ism?
The word Pagan comes from the Late Latin word that means 'civilian', which in turns comes from the Latin word 'paganus', meaning 'country-dweller'.
Definitions of the english word Pagan:
someone who observes a polytheistic religion - a religion that has many Gods
a person who has no religion
anyone who is not Christian
individuals who are not Jewish, Christian or Muslim
has been used in reference to Native Americans, Aboriginals, Indians
is synonymous with the word 'heathen'.
While the english word Pagan may have these varied definitions, Pagans / Neo-Pagans may not define and/or believe some/all of these defintions are representative of themselves and their beliefs.
The Ecyclopaedia of Witches and Witchcraft definition of Pagan:
"A broad, eclectic movement, centered in the industrialized West, which is characterized by a return to, or a reconstruction of, pre-Christian Western Nature religions"
The Pagan Federation statement reflects the basic principles of Paganism:
Love for and Kinship with Nature:
Rather than the more customary attitude of aggression and domination over Nature; reverence for the life force and its ever-renewing cycles of life and death.
The Pagan Ethic: "Do what thou wilt, but harm none":
This is a positive morality, not a list of thou-shalt-nots. Each individual may do as they want, however, they are not to cause harm or negative energies.
The Concept of Goddess and God as expressions of the Divine reality:
A belief in both female and male, rather then the suppression of either the female or the male principles.
Pagan is frequently used to refer to a follower of a Neo-Pagan religion.
Neo-Pagan: 'Neo' meaning new, refers to a collection of separate religions which share a few common themes.
Most Neo-Pagan traditions have some of the following factors in common:
their faith was almost or completely wiped out in the past and has since been reconstructed from ancient information sources.
a duotheistic or polytheistic belief system (they recognize a Goddess and God, and/or believe in many deities).
many followers are solitary practitioners.
others are involved in small groups, which various traditions call circles, covens, garths, groves, hearths, kindreds, etc.
they celebrate four main seasonal days of celebrations each year, associated with the equinoxes and solstices.
they also celebrate four additional days, each between a solstice and equinox.
they prefer to conduct their religious rituals outdoors where practical.
many do not practice their religion publicly because of the danger of abuse from very devout but misinformed Christians who have associated them with an evil and non-existent form of Satanism.
they have a minimal or no hierarchical structure.
they have a concern for the environment and a feeling of closeness to nature.
home.thirdage.com/Friendship/darkessence/asatr
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sgrmtndrone
New Student/Teachers Apprentice
Posts: 9
(8/28/04 4:38 am)
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Re: What is Pagan/ism?
Great post & very informative !
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