Pagan religions

The Many Forms of Paganism

Paganism is a very vague term used to describe polythestic (meaning more than one god) religions; so all religions expect Christianity, Islam, and Judiaism. To some people it means all religions not Christian. Yet another definition is an earth-based polythestic religion. There is another term that is used to describe many of the religions listed below and that is "Neopaganism." Neopaganism is the "reinvention" of old pagan ideas; literaly it means "new paganism." The most popular and widely known Neopagan religion is probably Wicca. There are many religions that are considered Pagan besides Wicca though and so I have listed some and as much information as I can in a blurb about them.

Asatru - This is the Norse religion, sometimes also reffered to as Odinism. This is the native religion of Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, Northern Britian, Germany, and other Germanic countries. This religion uses the Norse panthenon with gods and goddesses like Odin, Freya, Frigga, Thor, Loki, Baulder, and Freyr. In Asatru it is believe that each person is dependant on others and by working together people can live in harmony. There is great emphasis placed on family. It is a very rich way of life with many gods, rituals, races, forms of magick, myths, and evil spirits. Memebers of this religion preffer to be reffered to as "Heathens."

Buddhism - This is a philosophy of life founded by the Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama who lived and taught in 6th Century India. Buddha literally means "enlightened one" and is similar to a title of "Christ" or "Messiha." The Buddha is not a god, his teachings were to liberate or enlighten people from suffering existance.

Celtic Traditions - There are probably many traditions that are "Celtic" however to save myself a lot of typing I'm going to put them all together. The Celts were not a race of people, but rather a culture. They were a non-urban cutlure who kept animals, hunted, and farmed. It appears the ancient Celts held women in high esteem, and in these religions women are given a high status, or at least equal status as males. For the most part, we know little about these people except what we can learn through their myths. Celtic Paganism follows the ancient Celtic panthenon with deities like Morrigan (or Morrigu), Dagda, Brigit, Angus Mac Oc, Lugh, and Rhiannon.

Druidism - There are many separate traditions within that of Druidism, similar in some ways to the different traiditions of Wicca or different demoninations of Christanity. Most traditions have an seeking attitude and the roots of these traditions, be they neopagan or not are very ancient. For the most part these traditions are based on earlier Celtic traditions. These traiditons are very secretive, keeping their mysteries deeply within their covens. One interesting thing about this religion is all rituals are preformed nude, and it is reffered to as "nude" not "skyclad." They, like the Faery Traidition of Wicca, are very sensual and some even say "fertility oriented." In truth, they are Nature oriented and exteremly earth-based. Many trees and plants have a certain staus in this religion because their Gods and Goddesses are strongly connected, and sometimes able to be communitecated with through, these plants. There is a standard time of training and study and most in some tradition it varies from a year and a day to twenty years. Sexual practices are common in this form of Paganism, but, as always they must be consentual.

Electic - This is not a tradition really, but is a kind of pagan. These people have their own theories that they have taken from may different religions and made into their own. For each electic pagan their belifes, ideas, and practices will be unique.

Hellenism - This is an ancient indigenous traidtion that evolved in Hellas, Greece. A very interesting part of this religion is that the Gods did not create the Heavens, rather the Heaveans created the Gods.

Hinduism - This is the worlds thrid largest religion, the largest being Christianity. Hinduism is a group of thousands of different religious groups taht have evolved in India since 1500 BC. It is also the world's oldest organised religion and is one of the world's most tolerate religions. Some people do not view this as a poltheistic religion because it recoginses on supreme god, Brahman but others do consider it polythistic because it is seen as worshipping multiple deities. Actually, it is a henotheistic religion (a religion that recognises a single deity, but also recognises other goddesses and gods as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God. Usually it falls into two major divisions, Vaishnavaism (which sees Vishnu as ultimate deity) and Shivaism (regarding Shiva as ultimate deity). They believe in reincarnation, and the goal of the religion is the renounce the world. Medidtation (such as Tantra and Yoga), daily devotions, public rituals, and ceremonial dinners for the Gods are pracitcied.

Kemetic - This religion is the revived version of the religion of the Ancient Egyptians. The Egyptian panatheon is used in this tradition with gods and goddesses such as Isis, Osirus, and Netjer. It is called "Kemetic" because the ancient name for Egypt was "Kemet."

Native American - Yes, this again, another "group" of religions. The Native American religions are the religions of the people indigiounous to the Americas, both North America and Central and South America. These religions are exteremly nature oriented and often their gods take the form of animals. Feritlity and the cycles of nature play a huge role in these religions.

Roman - This is the religion of pre-Christian Rome, or as close to it as we can get in this day and age. It is simple and earth-based and emphasises duty to the Gods, called pietas, and serving them though exact rituals. Within this form of Paganism there are mystery traditions also.

Romuva - This religion celebrates the Old Religion of the Lithuanians and is very ancient. It is similar to the religion of the Old Prussians and other Baltic peoples and was the state religion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until 1387. It is a very strong religion, more like a way of life and way of thinking native to this area. These people have strong religious or spiritual experinces and everyone experinces them differently and they cannot be fully understood or described. The people of this religion seek inner harmony and peace with themselves, families, communties, the universe, and ancestors. To them everything is sacred, nature adn life are holy and humans are a part of nature; dieties are seen everywhere.

Satanism - The Official Chruch of Satan was founded in the 1960s by Anton LeVaey. Satanists do not worship the Christian "Satan." There are people out there who do, but they are not actually Satanists. These people believe in the indulgence of carnal pleasures and in do not believe in a God or Goddess, rather they are their own gods and goddesses.

Shinto - This is an ancient Japanese religion that started around 500 BC or possibly earlier. This religion has no real founder, written scriptures, body of religious laws, and just a loosely organised priesthood. The deities are called the "Kami" and are very unlike the Christian God. This religion places great emphasis on ancestors, nature, and humanity.

Spiritualism - This is a religion, a philosophy, and a science. In spiritualism there is a belife in God but it allows you to define god in your own way. Spiritualist believe in Jesus, but not in the Chrisitan way and overall doesn't accept the savoir but he is viewed as a great medium and the Bible is used a inspiration but doesn't play a huge role and can be worshiped without. In spiritualism ther eis no Devil nor a hell. Common spiritualists are mediums, meaning they communicate and believe in communication with the spiritworld.

Stregheria - While some put this in the groups of traditions of Wicca, it is not really. Also known as La Vecchia Religione (The Old Religion) it is Italian Witchcraft but I think it is not Wicca, and considers itself a religion and not a practice so, I will group it as Paganism. As we know it this tradition began in the 1300s with the teachings of Aradia, the Holy Strega. The Gospel of Aradia is based on an earlier belief system that has roots in the pre-Etruscian Italians. It is a worship of the "Source of All Things" through personification of the God and Goddess. In this tradition Nature is the great teacher and rituals tend to be very structured. They also believe the after life consisits of reincarnation until we are ready to pass through the Sun to be made into our new bodies for return to the Stars. Ancestors are also worshiped and family plays a large role in this religion.

Wicca - Wicca is an earth-base religion founded by Gerald Gardener in the 1950s. It has Celtic roots and roots in the Order of the Golden Dawn also. This religion worships a god and goddess and nature. The god and goddess are seen in nature.