What is Paganism?

I will start my documented journey by talking about what paganism is. But first, there is a need to define it. I will spend a few days defining and writing about different aspects of paganism.

Everyone has a different idea about what Paganism is or is not. Christians will differ in answer from Pagans. Some Pagans will also differ with each other. I currently hold my own views as well, I am sure, do you. Here are a few definitions that I found on the web and in books:


Pagan is defined (by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary) two different ways:
1. 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


Pagan is defined (paraphrased from many websites and books) as
1. one who holds a reverence for Earth and sees all life as interconnected
2. a general term for polytheistic, nature-centered religions
3. a non-Christian


Let’s discuss these definitions a bit, shall we?

The first definition suggests that “a pagan” is a follower of a polytheistic (multi-god) religion. So the belief in many Gods/Goddesses is central to this belief system. Many books and website refer to the duality of the belief in a God/Goddess reality. Each practitioner and/or group seems to have their own “favorites” that they follow. Many systems of pagan belief have several gods (ie - Celtic culture) but each adherent does not necessarily follow or know about all the gods of that belief system.

The second Webster definition is, I am sure, the one that many Christians will hold to. “One who has little or no religion” is in my understanding usually referred to as an atheist (no belief in a God) or agnostic (does not deny the possible existence of God, but says that we can not know). As for pagans being those “who delight in sensual pleasures and material goods” or are “hedonistic” (pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life) – I think that this could currently include most people in the world, including Christians, due to our unfortunate consumer oriented society. I don’t think that this is the definition I am looking for as it would seem to include too many groups of people without regard to what they actually believe.

As for the pagan website definitions, each individual one brings up too many unanswered questions to be complete. The first one, while it may be part of paganism, has too much of a fluffy bunny feeling to it to use it exclusively. The second one is good but too general and seems to leave a lot of information out. The third one, again, can include too many groups.

So what is Paganism? There seem to be a plethora of definitions but none of them seem to cover every aspect of what a pagan religion covers. No definition will ever cover all aspects of what this word means. Unfortunately, not everyone will ever agree on a definition for what constitutes Paganism either. And even I may not be able to satisfy your need to know what paganism is defined as.

For use of this blog and for myself I will currently be using these definitions:

1. Pagan: a follower of a polytheistic, nature-centered religion who is not of one of the main-stream religions
2. Neo-Pagan: a person who practices a contemporary form of paganism such as, but limited to Wicca
3. Paganism: the quality or state of being a pagan and following pagan beliefs and practices.

Why am I doing this blog?

I have always been interested in the what and the why of other peoples’ beliefs. Did they grow up with that tradition/religion? Did they leave behind the one of their childhood to take up another? What made them chose the one they now practice and believe in? What are the differences between belief systems? What are the similarities? What is the history behind the individual religions?

One tradition/religion that has always intrigued me is paganism. Although I do not consider myself pagan, I have spent many years collecting books, reading, studying about many different religions, but especially paganism. I have never been consistent about my study and slowly lose my knowledge of it over time until another round of renewed interest. Consider me interested once more.

My interest peaked again due to a conversation I had with a college classmate months back, but I just didn’t have any time to pursue it until now. Our conversation started with an overview of how we felt as non-traditional students in a university full of teens. As conversations do, it soon morphed into talk about traditions and then to traditions in religions and then religions themselves.

Although I would like to learn about all religions, I currently don’t have time to research them all. Eventually, I may start other blogs based on other religions as my curiosity peaks about them. For now I will start will paganism. I have decided to dedicate this next year to the study of this tradition. Why a year? you may ask. Because paganism revolves around nature and the seasons among other reasons.

Currently, I have no intention of learning about paganism to bring the practice of it into my life. I just have the need and desire to learn about it and explore it through connections: connections with history, connections with other religions, connections of community. I also have a need and desire to understand it from a psychological viewpoint, as yes, I am a psych student. The psychological aspect of religion, any religion, is in my opinion, what brings people to the practice of religion in the first place.

Sometimes this blog will contain almost research-like papers about different subjects that I am currently interested in knowing about. Sometimes it will contain my thoughts on my journey. Sometimes it will contain links to interesting sites I find on the web. Whatever I include, I hope you enjoy following my journey.

I ask that you, as the viewer, please be respectful with any comments or suggestions you send my way. I have intentionally left out mention of my religious/spiritual beliefs and ask that you don’t try to push yours onto me. No one likes to be told what to do, especially by well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) strangers. I will be educating myself about this religion whether you approve or disapprove based on your own beliefs. And keep in mind, you still don’t know what I believe. It might just be the same thing you believe!

I have chosen to go by the name of Sojourner, as that is what I am doing. I am taking an intellectual journey. I am a seeker. I seek to understand the world around me through the eventually understanding of religion.

Gastblogschaft

Gastblogschaft

Main Entry: gast·blog·schaft
Pronunciation: ‘gäst-blog-shäft Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -en
1 a : responsibility for hospitable treatment, or response, exhibited by a blogger to readers’ comments 1 b : a blogger’s respect for readers that includes a commitment to accuracy; a tendency to respond to readers’ comments with consideration and a level of respect commensurate with that expressed by readers
2 : a blog commentor’s reciprocal responsibility to comment with the courtesy and respect shown by the blogger
3 : the aura or atmosphere of fun, engaging interaction created by such commitments to respect by bloggers and readers

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Orignial Source: Bernulf from Expanding Inward who has this to say about the creation of this term:

*my thanks to Webster’s OnLine for the format, Sojourner for some of the ideas for requirements, and to Hrafnkell for providing the encouragement to see this definition through (using a pre-existing definition is one thing, creating a new one, even a small one such as this, can be an interesting challenge)!