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Essays in Pagan Theology What is Paganism? |
| Definitions
of Paganism by Rev. Christa Landon, D.Min. Did you ever get on an elevator, have someone spot your pentagram, and ask you "What IS Paganism?" The brief "elevator definition" of Paganism which I find most helpful is:
If I have a little more time, I go on to say,
Define Paganism? Pagans are just as diverse as UUs, as these DEFINITIONS of Paganism will attest. This is a collection of definitions of Paganism developed by many Pagan groups over the past couple decades. Attention
Grammarians: "Pagan" should always be capitalized, just as
"Islam" is and for the same reasons. "Pagan" is both
a noun and the correct adjective form. "Paganistic" is as
incorrect as "Christianistic." |
| Definitions
of Paganism Collected by Larry Cornett used by permission Earth Religions include include Pagan religions (Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, etc.), traditional religions of indigenous peoples, those variations on indigenous religions (Voodoo, Ifa, Santeria, eclectic Native American-inspired medicine societies, etc.) and on variations of widespread religions (Christian, Moslem, Sufi, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Shinto, Unitarian Universalist, etc.) that honor Nature and the Earth and our place in it, along with similar mystic beliefs and practices. A Pagan is a member of an eclectic, mostly modern, religious movement encompassing a broad array of religions that revere the Divine in nature and/or draw upon the myths and symbols of ancient faiths. Neo-Paganism: Collection of diverse contemporary religions rooted in indigenous traditions or deriving inspiration therefrom, characterized by a belief in the interconnection of all life, personal autonomy, and immanent divinities. Often nature-centered and supportive of gender equity. Witch is a practitioner of a religion that honors the Divine in nature and uses magic as a tool for personal and global transformation. A Witch typically worships Deity in both female and male forms (although most Dianics worship/work with only Goddesses), and celebrates creation at the changing seasons. Druid is typically a member of one or more of several Pagan groups that emerged, starting in the 1960's and are still being established today. These groups place an emphasis on Celtic studies, art and liturgy, ritual, education and service to their local communities. Shamanism is a solitary spiritual practice honored in cultures around the worked and throughout history. Shamans journey into the world of spirit to find wisdom & healing for themselves and their community. Mystic is one who believes or works with the principle that any being can have direct personal knowledge of the Divine without intervention of an outside authority. While the Divine is commonly thought of as godlike or spiritual, we include in the definition of mystic those whose beliefs, ethics, and practices include sophisticated forms of transcendental secularism involving consciousness at a non localized level unifying with individual's surroundings and that which is. MAGICAL RITUAL FORMS Witches typically work magic in circles between the worlds to influence the world. Rituals usually involve purification, centering, casting a circle, calling the four elements, calling Goddess and a God, Raising energy in the circle that is released to the objective, grounding, cakes and wine, and thanking powers invoked and closing. Witches typically do rituals at Full and New Moons, Solstices, Equinoxes, and cross quarter points of the year (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas). ADF Druids typically work magic in a space that they define as the center, and call into the center what they are looking for. ADF Druid rituals generally involve a procession, invoking a Gatekeeper to open the doors between the worlds, centering, invoking triads (ancestors, nature spirits and the gods, and/or other triads), raising energy through creative offerings to the Goddess/Gods invoked, release to the deities, who return it, often to a purpose, reading an omen, passing a cup, thanks and formal closing Shamans often use drumming or other methods to access the other worlds, find spirit allies (power animals, etc.) and return with the ally, who then does tasks, healing. etc. when sent. Some Witches use Shamanic technique and work with their spirit allies in their magic. Others use ceremonial magickal forms in which entities are invoked or created and sent to do work.. Traditional indigenous peoples and other Earth Religionists use a variety of techniques which may include some of the above as well as techniques that may be unique to their religions. GENERAL UNDERLYING VARIATIONS IN PRACTICES AND GROUPS Traditional, which follows very closely specific forms of practice and belief that are handed down by clergy and/or teachers and usually have strict hierarchy and may have lots of restrictions to preserve the purity of the tradition. Eclectic, in which people explore a variety of paths and find out what works for them. The origins of many eclectic paths may include such influences as the Women's movement, the Counterculture of the 60s, New Age practices, traditional Wiccan practices, practices of indigenous peoples and the needs and tastes of the individuals involved. Groups tend to be egalitarian and consensus oriented. Eclectic groups may evolve into traditions, as people find a body of practice that works well for them, and they adopt these as standard operating procedures. Most Pagans are Pantheistic and Polytheistic, with some exceptions--such as Asatru, which prefers the term Heathen to describe themselves over the term Pagan. Asatru is a family of religions honoring the Norse/Teutonic Gods (Aesir) and nature spirits (Vanir), and often believe that the Gods and Goddesses of different pantheons have nothing in common. DEFINITIONS OF PAGANISM DISCUSSED BY COPRR BOARD PRIOR TO SELECTING THREE BRIEF DEFINITIONS FOR VOTING AND ONE FOR A PUBLICATION For the definition of Pagan, the DC group-CoPRR (whose Board included leaders representing a broad cross section of Pagan traditions in the Washington DC area) had to find one that was broad enough to encompass everyone. We had do reject several definitions of Pagan that were preferred by everyone other than the Asatru member (who vetoed it), because the Asatru member came from a group that had, as one of its primary tenants, that the Gods of different people had absolutely nothing in common - which took out all definitions implying pantheism. Here are the complete set of definitions of Pagan and Witch considered by the group: "PAGAN": A believer in pantheism/panentheism, polytheism, naturism (to coin a phrase). None of these are all inclusive as Odinists are Pagan by most standards (i.e., non-Judeo/Christ/Islamic/Zoroastrian). A practitioner of a religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with the Earth and with all life. Such religions oppose the idea that the world is a resource to be subdued and exploited. In addition, Pagans believe that divinity takes many forms in all cultures and civilizations. The word "Pagan," derived from a Latin word meaning "country dweller," is a general term which includes a broad array of religions which revere the Divine in nature and/or draw upon the myths and symbols of ancient faiths. Far from being irreligious, a modern Pagan is a person with a religious commitment strong enough to face the harassment and discrimination which our society inflicts those who do not conform to fashionable patterns of belief or unbelief. A person that believes that divinity takes many forms in all cultures and civilizations and that humanity, divinity, and nature are integrally and mutually interwoven. One whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with the earth and all life. Pagans believe that divinity takes many forms in all cultures and civilizations. A member of an eclectic modern religious movement that encompasses a broad array of religions that revere the Divine in nature and/or draw upon the myths and symbols of ancient faiths. "WITCH" Any of a number of religious systems encompassing the sacredness of the earth, the use of spells to amplify and focus the will, a tradition of the divine feminine and masculine attuned to the cycle of the seasons of the locale in which it is practiced. This would include European witchcraft (Celtic, Saxon), Mediterranean (Strega, Sicilian, Greek), Palestinian (Islamic, Hebraic, and Syrian), Germanic (Powwow), Christian (Irish, Scottish, Masonic), Yoruban (Voodoun, Yoruban, Lakumi, Umbanda), and some syncretic offshoots of traditional methods (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Protean, neo-African, Shamanic/Witchcraft). By anthropologists, the term is often expanded to the Shamanic healers of African, Australian aborigine, and Paleo-Asiatic tribes. "DRUID" There are three different definitions of Druid in Isaac Bonewits' book Real Magick AND 20 for Witchcraft.....none of which are inclusive. One example is: Witchcraft, Alexandrian: A variety of Gardnerian Witchcraft founded by British magician Alex Sanders This is Isaac's only general definition of Witch: Anyone who calls themself a "witch" or is called by others; an utterly useless term without a qualifying adjective in front of it. The only thing the different definitions of "witch" have in common is the idea of magick or other techniques of change being practiced. A practitioner of a magical religion with many diverse traditions derived from various cultural sources around which practices are based. Modern Witchcraft traditions include Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Celtic, Circle, Faerie, NROOGD, Shamanic, Strega, and many others. A practitioner of a life-affirming, Earth and Nature-oriented religion which sees all of life as sacred and interconnected, honors the natural world as the embodiment of divinity, immanent as well as transcendent, and experiences the divine as feminine and often as masculine, as well. Most witches consider their practice a priest/esshood, involving of training and passage through life-transforming initiatory rituals. A practitioner of a magical religion with many diverse traditions derived from various cultural sources around which practices are based. Modern Witchcraft traditions include Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Celtic, Circle, Faerie, NROOGD, Shamanic, Strega, and many others. "A practitioner of an earth-reverencing religious tradition which honors creation at the changing of the seasons, reveres the Divine in both female and male forms, and practices the use of spells and magick as forms of prayer. A witch is a priestess or priest of such a faith, parallel to clergy in other faith traditions." Some people today refer to themselves as "Witches" to express their reverence for the sacredness of the earth and their recognition of the feminine aspect of the Divine. Others use the term more narrowly to refer to practitioners of religions inspired by the pre-Christian practices of Northwest Europe and the British Isles. In either case, a Witch is a member of an ethical, life-affirming religion which enjoins its followers to "harm none." A practitioner of a religion that honors the Divine in nature and utilizes magic as a tool of personal and global transformation. A Witch worships Deity in both female and male form, and celebrates creation at the solstices and equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. Most are Pagans that practice a priest/esshood involving religious and psychic training and initiation, worship deity in both masculine and feminine forms, and practice life affirming rites during phases of the moon and changes of the seasons. A practitioner of a religion that honors the Divine in nature and uses magic as a tool of personal and global transformation. A Witch typically worships Deity in both female and male form, and celebrates creation at the changing seasons. A practitioner of an earth-reverencing nature religion which honors creation at the changing of the seasons, reveres the Divine in both female and male forms, and practices the use of spells and magick as a form of prayer. as defined by Mythkenner: Shaman, Shamanism, (adj.) Shamanic: (pronounced SHAH-man, a Siberian word) Shamans are a type of medicine man or woman especially distinguished by the use of spiritual journeys to hidden worlds otherwise known mainly through myth and dream. Our knowledge of shamanism comes from the last living bearers of this ancient tradition, the shamans of dying indigenous cultures found across the globe. Shamanism is a spiritual practice, not a religion; shamans may be of any religion. Shamans perform their journey by entering an altered state of consciousness through the use of monotonous percussive sounds, and in some parts of the world, through the use of hallucinogenic drugs. Shamans are "soul doctors" who heal both physical and mental illness, divine the future, interpret dreams and find lost or stolen objects, among other skills and talents. The adjective "shamanistic" refers to practices that are similar to shamanism, but are not shamanism, e.g. trance mediumship. For more information, look at shamanism.org, which is the Foundation for Shamanic Studies' website. The above definition is drawn from the Foundation's printed materials. Additional Definitions of "Paganism" From the Pagan Pride website, which is getting 2000+ hits a day lately: A Pagan or NeoPagan is someone who self-identifies as a Pagan, and whose spiritual or religious practice or belief fits into one or more of the following categories:
The
Pagan Leaders List defines Paganism as: |
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FAQ
about Paganism Q:
Isn't Paganism a post-modern parody of Christianity, Q:
Don't Pagans believe in the Devil? Q: If you don't believe in a war
between Good and Evil, |
Updated October 1, 2003