Paganism and Neopaganism
Defining paganism is problematic as it can be interpreted from 2 different points of view, nonor pre-Christian and Christian.
According to the first one, Paganism is a term that covers a great number of spiritual and
religious beliefs, and someone who follows one of these beliefs is known as a Pagan. Pagans believe
that there was not just one god but a number of gods, connected with nature. The famous
examples of a pagan religion are stories from Greek mythology. Pagans usually focus
on spirituality and nature, rather than on doctrines and dogma.
From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in
any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian, which means heretical.
The point is that, originally, "Pagan" meant country-dweller, neutrally referring to those people
who lived rurally, close to nature. However, when the Christian missionaries of antiquity settled the
Pagan communities and tried to convert the citizens, the term "Pagan" acquired negative
connotation. It was used as an identifier for those who refused conversion, considered to be a
traitor of faith, or a gentile.
Today, there is far more acceptance and understanding of this religion.
Many theologians nowadays claim that the recognition of the divine in nature is at the heart of
Paganism. Pagans are deeply aware of the natural world and see the power of the divine in the
cycle of life and death. Pagans are believed to live in a way that minimizes harm to the natural
environment.
Pagans worship the divine in many different forms, through feminine as well as masculine
imagery and also as without gender. The beliefs of this religion are primarily centered on the
concept of polytheism (belief in more than 1 God) and Animism (a philosophical spiritual belief that
not only humans but animals, rocks, rivers, plants and other natural phenomena have soul).
Besides Nature, many Pagans also worship a variety of gods and goddesses, including spirits
which can represent national and local heroes as well as deceased family members. In this sense,
many Pagans try to honor their ancestry and ancestors. Some Pagan traditions include belief in
ritual magic, but this practice is not universal.
Paganism is not based on doctrine or dogma. Many pagans believe 'if it harms none, do what
you feel is right'. Following this code, Pagan theology is based primarily on experience and the main
ritual is to make contact with and be close to the world that surrounds them.
As there are no dogmas in this religion, originally there are no priests or messiahs, every
adherent or a group of adherents of Paganism is free to choose gods they want/need to worship
and how to live to please those gods. The only rule is not to harm the nature.
Pagans do not have such things as heaven or hell, as they believe in Reincarnation, the rebirth
of the body into another bodily form after death.
Rituals
Pagan rituals can be divided into several categories. These categories include calendrical
rituals, initiations and other rites of passage, and rites of crisis.
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Calendrical rites are those that mark changes in the seasonal cycle of the year, for example,
the transition from winter to spring. These rites tend to recur around the same time each
year.
Rites of passage mark changes in the life cycle and status of the individual. These rites include
child blessing rites, puberty rites, marriages and funerals. Neo-Pagan traditions have
developed rites for all these occasions.
Rites of crisis are created to overcome the threat in the life of the community or the
individual. They may be against war or illness for e.g.
Most known Pagan religions:
Ancient Greek religion (eg. Myths)
Slavic paganism
Old Norse religion/ Norse paganism
Ancient Celtic religion/ Celtic paganism
Germanic paganism
Shamanism: This tradition is practiced by the Native American cultures.
Ancient Egyptian Religion
Druidism
Paganism survived till today and has a special term for its modern variation Neopaganism.
Basically, neopaganism is a collective term for new religious movements influenced by or
derived from the various historical pagan beliefs like
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Wicca
Druidism
Occultism etc.
Although they share similarities, contemporary Pagan religious movements are diverse, and no
single set of beliefs, practices or texts is shared by them all. Most academics studying the
phenomenon have treated it as a movement of different religions, whereas a minority instead
characterise it as a single religion into which different Pagan faiths fit as denominations.
The largest trend in neopaganism is Wicca. It's a branch of neopaganism which is based mainly
on belief in magic and the tight connection between nature and witchcraft or sorcery.