Here is what the Merriam-Webster dictionary says about pagans:
Main Entry: pa·gan
Pronunciation:
'pA-g&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from pagus country district; akin to Latin pangere to fix -- more at PACT
1 : HEATHEN 1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)
2 : one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person
3 : NEO-PAGAN
- pagan adjective
- pa·gan·ish /-g&-nish/ adjective
Used with a capital "p", Pagan means someone who is not a Christian and follows a polytheistic religion. It probably is also fair to describe most Pagans (capital "p") as hedonists as well, since most of us enjoy life and all that the God and Goddess have blessed us with. Most of us adhere to the Charge of the Goddess: "All acts of love and pleasure are My rituals." We are not completely out of control, as we also follow some form of the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do as thou will". And what constitutes harm can be a broader ranging definition than was ever covered by those famous Ten Commandments. It also includes hurting oneself, directly or indirectly.
If you ask 20 Pagans what they believe in, you will get 20 different answers, but there are some ideas that are prevalent. These may include:
There is one Divine Being, with gods and goddesses being aspects of this--and every person you know is also an aspect of the Divine.
Nature is really important, as the Earth is our Mother; she gave birth to us and sustains us.
Reincarnation is as good an answer to the afterlife as any. How it exactly works is an individual belief.
Each person is responsible for their beliefs and no one should tell you what to believe; ask questions.
Magick is only science we haven't explained yet--but it exists.
What are your beliefs? Check out this quiz:
Here is a quick quiz that might help you understand what path you follow:
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Kathleen S. Granville, WebMistress
Date last modified:
08/17/2008