I am very proud to be Pagan!
Sadly, when people hear the word Pagan or Paganism immediately misconceptions about Pagans begin dancing around in their pretty little heads!
Misconceptions, misinformation and myths which are spread and kept alive by people who don't know any better and have never taken the time to learn the truth.
First of all, the words Pagan and Paganism are an umbrella term for a group of different spiritual paths, much like the word Christian is an umbrella term.
The word "Pagan" comes from the Latin words paganus and pagana meaning "country dweller or villager".
Paganism is referred to as The Old Religion, it pre-dates Christianity.
For example...
Paganism is some type of weird cult!
Wrong!
Some people do tend to get confused, the word "occult," which means secret or mysterious, is often associated with the Paganism. Pagans have the same religious rights as people of any other spiritual path.
Pagans worship the Devil!
Wrong!
Paganism has absolutely nothing to do with Satan, demons, or devils. In fact, I as a Pagan do not even believe in the entity Satan, that is a Christian concept, so he’s outside of the spectrum of most Pagan belief systems. Satanist, worship the devil.
The Pagan symbol is Satanic
Wrong!
It is a pentacle, that's a symbol, for many Pagans, of the four classical elements: earth, air, fire and water, as well as a fifth element of Spirit or Self.
Pagans try to recruit Christians into their ways
Wrong!
We do not! Although we'll happily share information with you and answer your questions.
Pagans don't believe in god
Wrong Again!
Pagans are typically polytheistic, which means we believe in more than one deity. If you look at "god" as a job title rather than a proper name, we believe in a variety of gods and goddesses, rather than One Single God. Most Pagans acknowledge the existence of thousands of deities, but generally worship or honor only the gods of their own tradition.
Pagans are Witches and cast evil spells
OK, so yeah, many Pagans are witches. The use of magic is perfectly natural as a Pagan. Spells take many forms, such as prayers to the gods and others are based on direction of will and intent. Most Pagans use spells for a variety of things, such as healing, personal empowerment, prosperity, etc. Magic is a tool that is typically used in tandem with the mundane, or non-magical, world.
Pagans have wild and crazy sex orgies
Wrong
You will probably find that most Pagans have a pretty liberal attitude when it comes to sex, because they accept it as a natural and pleasurable part of life. After all, Pagans do include a lot of fertility symbolism. Paganism also tends to be very tolerant of non-traditional lifestyles. Some covens do practice skyclad, which is not sexual in nature. No reputable Pagan group requires coerced sexual activity as part of initiation. No Pagan condones non-consensual sex, sex with minors, or any sexual act that involves coercion.
People please!!! Anyone thinking or believing those things is seriously confused! These couldn't be farther from the truth!!!
I can not speak for others, but as for me and me being Pagan, I believe...
Paganism is a very spiritual way of life. The origins are rooted in the ancient nature and earth-based religions. Pagans have retained the wisdom and values of their ancestors.
Pagans believe in Pantheism, any religious belief or philosophical doctrine that identifies God with the Universe. Pagans may or may not worship within a pantheon, that is a realm or group of gods and goddesses of all different creeds. These gods may be seen as aspects of a single Divine Principle.
Pagans believe in Animism, the belief that natural objects and phenomena possess souls. Animists believe that all things are alive and animated with spirit.
Pagans believe in the immortality of the spirit and in the unending cycles of the Seasons and life itself: birth, death, and rebirth.
Much like Satan, the concept of hell is a Christian one. It's not anything we think about or consider. We believe that the future of our soul does not depend on salvation or acceptance of deity as a savior. We focus on doing good things, because we know that what we do in this lifetime will echo upon us in the next.
Sadly, when people hear the word Pagan or Paganism immediately misconceptions about Pagans begin dancing around in their pretty little heads!
Misconceptions, misinformation and myths which are spread and kept alive by people who don't know any better and have never taken the time to learn the truth.
First of all, the words Pagan and Paganism are an umbrella term for a group of different spiritual paths, much like the word Christian is an umbrella term.
The word "Pagan" comes from the Latin words paganus and pagana meaning "country dweller or villager".
Paganism is referred to as The Old Religion, it pre-dates Christianity.
For example...
Paganism is some type of weird cult!
Wrong!
Some people do tend to get confused, the word "occult," which means secret or mysterious, is often associated with the Paganism. Pagans have the same religious rights as people of any other spiritual path.
Pagans worship the Devil!
Wrong!
Paganism has absolutely nothing to do with Satan, demons, or devils. In fact, I as a Pagan do not even believe in the entity Satan, that is a Christian concept, so he’s outside of the spectrum of most Pagan belief systems. Satanist, worship the devil.
The Pagan symbol is Satanic
Wrong!
It is a pentacle, that's a symbol, for many Pagans, of the four classical elements: earth, air, fire and water, as well as a fifth element of Spirit or Self.
Pagans try to recruit Christians into their ways
Wrong!
We do not! Although we'll happily share information with you and answer your questions.
Pagans don't believe in god
Wrong Again!
Pagans are typically polytheistic, which means we believe in more than one deity. If you look at "god" as a job title rather than a proper name, we believe in a variety of gods and goddesses, rather than One Single God. Most Pagans acknowledge the existence of thousands of deities, but generally worship or honor only the gods of their own tradition.
Pagans are Witches and cast evil spells
OK, so yeah, many Pagans are witches. The use of magic is perfectly natural as a Pagan. Spells take many forms, such as prayers to the gods and others are based on direction of will and intent. Most Pagans use spells for a variety of things, such as healing, personal empowerment, prosperity, etc. Magic is a tool that is typically used in tandem with the mundane, or non-magical, world.
Pagans have wild and crazy sex orgies
Wrong
You will probably find that most Pagans have a pretty liberal attitude when it comes to sex, because they accept it as a natural and pleasurable part of life. After all, Pagans do include a lot of fertility symbolism. Paganism also tends to be very tolerant of non-traditional lifestyles. Some covens do practice skyclad, which is not sexual in nature. No reputable Pagan group requires coerced sexual activity as part of initiation. No Pagan condones non-consensual sex, sex with minors, or any sexual act that involves coercion.
People please!!! Anyone thinking or believing those things is seriously confused! These couldn't be farther from the truth!!!
I can not speak for others, but as for me and me being Pagan, I believe...
Paganism is a very spiritual way of life. The origins are rooted in the ancient nature and earth-based religions. Pagans have retained the wisdom and values of their ancestors.
Pagans believe in Pantheism, any religious belief or philosophical doctrine that identifies God with the Universe. Pagans may or may not worship within a pantheon, that is a realm or group of gods and goddesses of all different creeds. These gods may be seen as aspects of a single Divine Principle.
Pagans believe in Animism, the belief that natural objects and phenomena possess souls. Animists believe that all things are alive and animated with spirit.
Pagans believe in the immortality of the spirit and in the unending cycles of the Seasons and life itself: birth, death, and rebirth.
Much like Satan, the concept of hell is a Christian one. It's not anything we think about or consider. We believe that the future of our soul does not depend on salvation or acceptance of deity as a savior. We focus on doing good things, because we know that what we do in this lifetime will echo upon us in the next.