|
|
Hinduism is often called Pagan, as is Shinto. In this case, those are not being considered. Many churches would like to consider any religion no theirs as being Pagan. (The term Heathen also comes to mind. Though it is usually meant to be derogatory, I rather like it.)
The word Pagan means 'country dweller.' It was originally used, in Roman times, to describe those who lived in the country, and their religious practices. In this usage, it was something akin to 'bumpkin.' Those religious practices were often rather different from those of people who lived near cities, and this is the reason, rather than the stigma that some churches have tried to tie to the word, that some religions today embrace the term.
Generally, Pagans worship more than one God. Their practices may cross over into pantheism at times as well. Paganism is often a form of Nature worship. What we now refer to as Paganism predates Christianity as a whole, and possibly Judaism as well. Some Pagan religions, such as Wicca and Stregga, have claims to direct lines from antiquity. Some, such as Asatru, are reconstructions. Others, such as Church of All Worlds, while they may adhere to ancient practices and values, are mainly modern.
Among the various Pagan religions are Asatru, Odinism, Wicca, Stregga, Church of All Worlds and the Temple of Aphrodite. Some traditions, such as Native American spiritualism, are not clearly Pagan or non Pagan, at least in my mind. Oppinions may vary, though many of their practices are similar. Others, such as the Temple of Set are borderline, and generally not considered Pagan. Santeria, Voodoun, Brujaria and the like tend to be mixtures of Pagan or Pagan like religions and Christianity or other more conventional religions.
Then, of course, there are those who don't really fit under any of the labels... like me. Perhaps we are just non-conformists. Perhaps the Path that is right for us is no longer, or has not yet appeared. Or we just have not yet found it.
Unfortunately, Paganism has acquired a somewhat 'New Agey' atmosphere. In truth, many New-Agers are Pagans. Although there is nothing wrong with the New Age movement as such, the image of what are affectionately referred to as 'crystal wavers' does tend to colour some people's perceptions and cause them to take a somewhat less than serious attitude towards some quite respectable religions.
Links to information on the varying Pagan religions can be found on
the Links
page.
Basically Wicca is Witchcraft. Or, as some would insist, a form of Witchcraft, Stregga being Italian Witchcraft, and closely related, in some cases. Certainly, the word Witch comes from the Saxon word 'Wicca', meaning a male Witch. The Feminine was 'Wicce', and the plural, 'Wiccan'. In modern times, 'Wicca' refers to the religion and 'Wiccan' means a practitioner of that religion. The root word for Wiccan is 'Wic'. This has alternately been linked to 'Wicker', in which 'Wic' meant 'to twist or bend', and to 'Wit', in which case 'Wic' meant 'wise.' It is possible that the words are all related, and both derivations are true.
It is important to note here that Witches are not Satanists. The terms are not interchangeable, nor even related. Witches do not believe in Satan. A few types of Witches may, in an offhand way, believe in the concept in the same way they believe in the Christian God. (In other words it is a viable, if somewhat distasteful, spiritual path.) Though there are what are termed Christian Witches, this usually refers to someone with the beliefs of a Christian and the practices of a Witch. These practices are incompatible with the philosophies of Satanism. LaVeyist, COS type Satanism cannot pre-empt the term, no matter how much they would like to. A Satanic Witch is a null term and simply cannot reasonably exist. Period.
The practices of Witchcraft stretch back into the mists of history, and no one is really sure exactly how things changed over the years. Modern Wicca is mainly attributed to Gerald Gardener, a Witch who, in the 1950s, published the first book about modern Wicca. (Charles Leland published a book about Stregga around the turn of the century, and Gardener did borrow somewhat from that book to fill in holes in his own Coven's Book of Shadows. Incidentally, my chosen pseudonym 'Leland' is not in reference to Charles.) Some have attempted to put forward the notion that Gardener invented the whole thing with a few choice quotes from Crowley and Leland, but the evidence extant on definite, if somewhat disorganized Covens prior to Gardener's time, make such arguments rather absurd.
Wicca is basically Duo theistic, believing in a Goddess and a God. The Goddess is usually placed slightly higher than the God. Both deities are usually known by varying names taken from one or more ancient pantheons. Generally speaking Wiccans revere and even worship nature, observe the cycles of the moon, and celebrate the changing of the seasons.
There are 8 major holidays, called Sabbats. 4 of them are the Solstices and Equinoxes, and the other 4 are 'cross quarter' days, just about equal length between each Solstice and Equinox. (This includes Samhain, pronounced 'SOW-an', more commonly known as Halloween, which is the New Year.) There are also about 13 lesser holidays, called esbats, celebrated on the Full Moons.
Wiccans have two major points of Dogma. There is the 'Wiccan Rede.' Mainly, the Rede is a moral code, though the word 'Rede' actually means advice, and it is not, therefor, really a law. The Rede states: 'An it harm none, do what thou wilt.' Many interpretations exist, but it is fairly self explanatory. The only true 'Law' in Wicca is the 'Law of Three' or 'Threefold Law.' This is a Karmic law which has parallels in other religions, but simply states that whatever one does will be visited back upon them three times over. 'Three times bad or three times good.'
Since Gardener's time many different traditions have sprung up. Some come from 'fam trad' (family traditions) while others are modern constructions. It is said that organizing Pagans is like herding cats, and this individualism shows up well in the varying practices of modern Witches. There are 'Gardenerians', following Gerald Gardener's original teachings. There are 'Alexandrians', following the teachings of Alex Sanders, self proclaimed 'King of the Witches,' who when rejected by a Gardenerian coven, stole a Book of Shadows and started his own. There are 'Dianic' which almost completely ignore the male aspect of divinity and focus mainly on the Goddess, usually with predominantly or entirely female covens. There are Pecti-, Faerie-, Dragon-, Celtic- and many other '-' Wiccans.
Many good books exist on the subject of Wicca. Most books by Scott Cunningham are quite good, if a bit simplistic. Silver Ravenwolf has written several on this particular topic, though she is not my personal favourite. Buckland's earlier works are good. Gardener. The Farrars.
Back
to Main Page.
