Paganism – What is It?
Paganism has been broadly defined as anyone involved in any religious act, practice, or ceremony which is not Christian. Jews and Muslims also use the term to refer to anyone outside their religion. Others define it as religions outside of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, while some simply define it as being without a religion.

In the strictest sense, paganism refers to the authentic religions of ancient Greece and Rome as well as surrounding areas. It originated from the Neolithic (Stone Age) era. The term, pagan, is derived from the Latin word, paganus, which means a country dweller. The pagan usually has a belief in many gods (polytheistic), but only one is chosen as the one to worship which represents the chief god and supreme godhead.

As Christianity progressed into the present age, a pagan became referred to anyone not being a Christian, and paganism denoted a non-Christian belief or religion. If the religion did not fit into the Judeo-Christian-Islamic or Eastern mould, then one practicing that religion was said to be involved in paganism.

Paganism – What is the history?
History records that worship of many gods, goddesses, and deities was viewed by people as important in worship. It was thought that everything had a spirit and was polytheistic, so people had gods and goddesses of the forest, sea, and all aspects of nature.

When the civilizations began to change and develop, the gods grew and changed with the people as they began to acquire gods of their occupations, or gods relevant to their village life. The old gods remained, but were changed or conformed to the changing lives of the people. Gods played an important role in every aspect of society influencing everything from laws and customs to general workings of the community. Reincarnation (rebirth of the body into another bodily form) was believed by the people, but they did not believe in the existence of heaven and hell.

Today, Paganism (neo-paganism) celebrates the Earth, living creatures, nature, and so on. Most modern-day pagans believe in more than one god, while others are atheistic.

Paganism – What are some pagan systems and religions?


American pagans practice a variety of forms of traditions, but the most popular are Celtic, Greco-Roman, Native American, ancient Egyptian, and Norse.
Kabbalah: During the Middle Ages, this Jewish mystical and magical system developed.
Shamanism: This tradition is practiced by the Native American cultures. Drumming is the technique used, and in traditional societies, the shaman travels to the spirit realm to gain information regarding the community’s needs like healing or spiritual growth.
Egyptian: This is very popular today, and involves complex spiritual and magical systems centering on death and rebirth. It developed in ancient Egypt when priestesses and priests became known for their level of knowledge and skill in magical arts.
Druidism: The original Druids were priestesses and part of the judicial class of the ancient Celts.
Discordianism: This began as a Buddhist practice with the main idea being “existence is orderly chaos.� Meditative procedures, confusion and enlightenment, chaos and order, pain and pleasure are revealed as inseparable parts of a total vision of reality.

Paganism – How does it compare with Christianity?
It is difficult to compare paganism with Christianity since the term pagan can be used to identify many different sects and beliefs.

These are the major differences, out of many:

Biblical Christianity professes one God, where paganism often teaches many or no god.


Biblical Christianity teaches that the Bible contains God’s words and message to mankind. It is infallible and inerrant. Paganism does not have one main religious text or set of beliefs to follow.


Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth as a baby, died on the cross as an adult for the sin of the whole world, and rose to life again. Some pagans believe in Jesus as one of the gods, but do not put significance in Him as Christians do.
Due to these differences and many more, a person cannot be a follower of Jesus Christ (a Christian) and a pagan at the same time.

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another� (Romans 1:22-24).

This information has been most helpful. Thanks.

I must disagree with you. I have know those that believe in the bibble and have been pagans also. The truth is it's in the eye of the beholder. These christian pagans are those that believe in the bibble yet as we all know that the bibble was also writen during a time of old. In which setting rules was a must. In one time the bibble was a good book to follow. In the days of the now women are not treated as they once were. We must consider when the book was made.
It is not the faiths fault but those with in the faith that gives a faith a bad name. Though you have put the message above from the bibble not all follow every thing the bibble says. Some give in consideration of what is writen. What really matters is that the person recieves hope from what they believe in. With in that who are we to say the one can not be a pagan and a christian. Times have change.
I asked a christian pagan at one time how it is that they can be both. This person says to me, " Because it is God (our lord) and Jesus who has gracefully given me the ability to use magical powers."
We also must remember not to stereo type a faith. Just as we do not like this done to us, I sure there are those christains out there who do not like it done to them. As pagans who should be open minded should we put down one faith because of their beliefs. I'm sure that thy husband, who is a christian, would agree with me on this. He who has watched one as my self become a pagan. Yet, he still loves me no matter what the bibble of old may say. He tells me, " Who am I to say that you are wrong. I am not God."

this is the reason why i love you as much as i do

"Christian pagan" is an oxymoron. Pagan = non-Christian, Jew or Muslim. You cannot be Christian and not Christian at the same time.

However, you can be a Christian witch, and many good Christians during the Middle Ages and later practised what we would now call magic, in a distinctly Christian way. For example Agnes Sampson, tried and convicted of witchcraft in the 1500s used a spell called the White Paternoster which had many references to God and Jesus in it, for healing.

Just a nitpicking comment really.

I am soo sorry my dear that I used the wrong terms for your likeing. Long days at work tend to lag the mind. The right term is Christian Witch. Yet, many pagans are put down for or how they think. In fact I as a pagan witch was taking up for christians. I have a beliefe that one does not do to others what that they do not want to do to them.

I believe in the Asatrú myself, and for me paganism is the believe that there are more than one god, each with there own powers, strengths and weakness'.
It also contains the believe in magic as a positive thing and supernatural creatures of the night, woods, water and so on.
in most pagan believes the term honor is very important and will be the key to valhalla or what else might be your final destination.

__________________
From death we shall all rise.

Hate is the only cleanser to wash of blood from the enemy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2_YqT5kf640&feature=related

That is very interesting Morgoth. I have been looking in t the heaven, persay, of valhalla. If I am correct one can not reach valhalla unless they die in battle or some kind of honor of sorts. Vikings and sorry about the spelling not very good at it.

__________________
Immortal we may be but still not out of reach from deaths hand

You are right if you do not die in battle, maybe some days after a battle where you got stabbed, you will go to hel to be one of the restless spirits.

__________________
From death we shall all rise.

Hate is the only cleanser to wash of blood from the enemy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2_YqT5kf640&feature=related

Well thats not true because only through old age or sickness would a brave norseman be sent to Hel's hall called Sleet-Cold. Dieng by a stabbing or poison is fine only if the norseman has led a glorious life of battle. Im a norse mytho fan me being related to one of the berserker clans chieftens. Paganism a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world. It is a term which, from a western perspective, has modern connotations of spiritualist, animistic or shamanic practices or beliefs of any folk religion, and of historical and contemporary polytheistic religions in particular. Sorry for the cut paste, Im to tired to write that much lol