The Old Religion

Paganism and Witchcraft Today

Contrary to public opinion, the Pagan religions are alive and well on this the cusp of the 21st century. (Druids are not just those ancient people you may have briefly read about in British history--they still actively practice their religion today.) Due to a very real fear of persecution, many Pagans are "in the broom closet," as it were. Especially Witches. In some places, a person can get into serious trouble just by wearing a pentacle.

But what do Witches and other Pagans believe today? That's a good question, not only because there are many different Pagan traditions, each with their own slightly different belief system, but also because Pagan beliefs today are probably quite different from Pagan beliefs of the past. To call Witchcraft the "Old Religion" is only telling half the story. Like all religions, Paganism has changed over the years, evolving and adapting to the times. What makes Paganism (and especially Witchcraft) a bit more unique is that it was inactive for a very long time, requiring a revival. So in one way, Witchcraft is an ancient religion, and in another way, it's new.

But that doesn't answer the question. In general (different traditions may vary) Pagans believe in a Goddess, who is the embodiment of the forces of Nature; and a God, who is the Goddess' consort. The God is portrayed as having horns, sometimes hooves, as a symbol of our very real biological connection to the animal world. Many people think the Horned God is the Devil. He is not. The Christian Devil was modeled, physically, on the Horned God, as an attempt to discredit the Pagans and prove that they were evil and worshipped the Devil.

[In Memory of the Burning Times] [Never Again the Burning Times] [The Witches' Voice]

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