A Basic Overview of Paganism

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"Religion is about creation, and for that reason religion should be about the earth." - Laurie Cabot. One might see hundreds of faces from different races, gender, and pop cultures. But behind each face is a brain, with spirit and personal beliefs, like religion. When many Americans believe that everyone is Christian or Catholic, some people practice an ancient religion. This religion, commonly known as the umbrella-term “Paganism” is back on the move with a contemporary feel. Paganism is an earth-based religion, focusing around the elements and nature. Throughout this paper Paganism will be explained, along with two of its well-known sections, how Pagans worship, and Pagan holidays.

Paganism has many sub-cultures, such as Wiccan, Druidism, NeoPaganism and more. But when a person is “Pagan”, it may include all of these. Unlike Christians who believe in God and Jesus Christ only, Pagans have many paths or theories. There are many paths because most Pagans take their own path in finding their spirituality. Paganism is a religion which is focused on the individual instead of groups. Oz, a Pagan who shares his beliefs through informative books, says,

“Today, ‘Pagan’ technically encompasses all polytheistic religions and spiritualities, those that worship multiple goddesses and gods, and that tend to honor the living forces of Nature.”

Many Pagans believe the “God and Goddess” theory, which says there is a pair of ruling deities who created the world. They believe that human males and females would have come from these equal deities; if there was only a male God, where would he get an idea for a female without one already there? This theory is actually seen within many ancient religions, like Greek mythology’s Zeus and Hera. But ...

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... Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

3. Paganism. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Pagan.html

4. Neopaganism, paganism, neo-paganism. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/index.htm

5. X, Miss. Intervew by Kimball. Web. 6 May 2010. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/249982/interview_with_a_pagan_.html?cat=7

Suggested Reading

1. Various Authors (2005). Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders. Franklin Lakes: New Page Books.

2. Giordano, G. (2001). Everything You Need to Know About Wicca. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

3. West, K. (2001). The Real witches' handbook. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications.

4. Grimassi, R. (2008). Crafting Wiccan traditions. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications.

5. Russell, J, & Alexander, B. (2007). A History of witchcraft. New York: Thames & Hudson Ltd.

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