Pagan Culture (Pagan Culture)

Since there is no NON-Christian section Im putting this here. Its not really a faith discussion but more of a belief discussion.

Paganism includes MANY Belief systems.

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What is a "Pagan?"

Everybody has their favorite definition of the word "Pagan." Most people are convinced that their meaning is the correct one. But no consensus exists, even within a single faith tradition or religion as to what a pagan is.
Origin of the term:

There is general agreement that the word "Pagan" comes from the Latin word "paganus." Unfortunately, there is no consensus on the precise meaning of the word in the fifth century -- and before. There are three main interpretations. 16 None has won general acceptance:
Most modern Pagan sources interpret the word to have meant "rustic," "hick," or "country bumpkin" -- a pejorative term. The implication was that Christians used the term to ridicule country folk who tenaciously held on to what the Christians considered old-fashioned, outmoded Pagan beliefs. Those in the country were much slower in adopting the new religion of Christianity than were the city folks. They still followed the Greek state religion, Roman state religion, Mithraism, various mystery religions, etc., long after those in urban areas had converted. Some believe that in the early Roman Empire, "paganus" came to mean "civilian" as opposed to "military." Christians often called themselves "miles Christi" (Soldiers of Christ). The non-Christians became "pagani" -- non-soldiers or civilians. No denigration would be implied.C. Mohrmann suggests that the general meaning was any "outsider," -- a neutral term -- and that the other meanings, "civilian" and "hick," were merely specialized uses of the term. 17
By the third century CE, its meaning evolved to include all non-Christians. Eventually, it became an evil term that implied the possibility of Satan worship. The latter two meanings are still in widespread use today.
There is no generally accepted, single, current definition for the word "Pagan." The word is among the terms that the newsgroup alt.usage.english, calls "skunk words." They have varied meanings to different people. The field of religion is rife with such words. consider: --, --, --, --, --, --, --, Witch, --, --, --, etc. Each has so many meanings that they often cause misunderstandings wherever they are used. Unfortunately, most people do not know this, and naturally assume that the meaning that they have been taught is universally accepted. A reader must often look at the context in which the word is used in order to guess at the intent of the writer.
We recognize that many Wiccans, Neopagans, and others regularly use the terms "Pagan" and "Paganism" to describe themselves. Everyone should be free to continue whatever definitions that they wish. However, the possibility of major confusion exists -- particularly if one is talking to a general audience. When addressing non-Wiccans or non-Neopagans, it is important that the term:
Be carefully defined in advance, or thatIts meaning is clearly understandable from the text's context.
Otherwise, the speaker or writer will be referring to one group of people, while the listeners or readers will assume that other groups are being referred to.

This site goes on to give seven definitions of Paganism

I hope this clears up some questions. Ithought it would be better to put all this info in one spot rather than bits all over the board.


Seven definitions of "Pagan:"

First meaning: Pagans consist of Wiccans and other Neopagans:

We recommend that this should be the primary definition of "Pagan," for the simple reason that many Wiccans and other Neopagans embrace the term for themselves. "Paganism" in this sense refers to a range of spiritual paths which are Earth centered -- involving their members living in harmony with the Earth and observing its cycles. These are often Neopagan religions based on the deities, symbols, practices, seasonal days of celebration and other surviving components of ancient religions, which had been long suppressed. For example:The -- religion is based on the faith and practices of the ancient Celtic professional class; Followers of -- adhere to the ancient, pre-Christian Norse religion; -- trace their roots back to the pre-Celtic era in Europe. Other -- follow ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian and other traditions.
Some typical quotations which demonstrate this meaning of "Pagan" are:
"Witchcraft, or Wicca, is considered part of the occult, but has little relationship to Satanism. Wicca is pagan (pre-Christian, as opposed to anti-Christian) and is currently gaining popularity." 1"Witches do not worship the devil...Witches are more interested in magical arts and the divinity of nature...Wiccans are considered pagans because they worship several nature gods instead of a single god." 2"The World Christian Encyclopedia estimates 6 million Americans profess to be witches and engage in practices like these. They are a sub-group of over 10 million persons the encyclopedia says call themselves pagans, who practice "primitive" religions such as Druidism, Odin worship and Native American shamanism." 3
In this sense, "Pagan" refers to a group of religious traditions, and should be capitalized, as Christianity, Islam and Judaism are.

Second meaning: Pagans are people to hate:

Religious and social conservatives sometimes use "Pagan" as a general purpose "snarl" word to refer to cultures or religions that are very different from the speaker's. There is no general consensus as to meaning. It can be seen directed at any religious or cultural group that the speaker hates. Some examples: Dr. John Patrick, professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada was discussing at a conference the number of abortions performed worldwide. He said: "Gods and goddesses are beginning to re-inhabit the Western world. Infant sacrifice -– there are 52 million a year. It is paganism." 4Dr. Richard Swenson, director of the Future Health Study Center. said at the same conference: "We went into post-Christian and neopaganism very quickly...We want the culture to change, we want some spiritual sanity, but we need to understand that this is a pluralistic and even neopaganist society." 4Jerry Falwell appeared as a guest on Pat Robertson's "700 Club" program on 2001-SEP-13. He said that God became sufficiently angry at America that he engineered the terrorist attack on New York City and Washington-- presumably to send Americans a message. He said: "I really believe that the --, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the -- ...all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.' " Pat Robertson responded: "Well, I totally concur..." 15 [We have asked Falwell's office via repeated Emails to tell us exactly to whom he was referring with the word "Pagans." They declined to respond.] --.

Third meaning: Pagans are ancient polytheists:

The term "Pagan" is sometimes used to refer to ancient polytheistic religions. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines "pagan" as: "belonging to a religion which worships many gods, especially one which existed before the main world religions." 18
The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) contains many references to the societies surrounding the Israelites -- Babylonians, Canaanites, Philistines, etc. These are commonly referred to as Pagans:
There are allegations that these societies engaged in human sacrifices: II Kings 3:26-27: "...the king of Moab...took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall."Psalms 106:37-38: "Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood."Their altars were often referred to as "high places:" II Kings 16:4: "And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree."Surrounding tribes were viewed as committing idolatry by worshiping golden images of animals: II Kings 17:16: "And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal."

Some current examples of this usage are: Referring to sun wheels and obelisks: "...These symbols of pagan sun worship were associated with Baal worship, or Baalim, which is strongly condemned in scripture. So why are they so prevalent in the Roman Catholic Church, if they are associated with paganism and apostasy?" An anti-Catholic essay on a conservative Protestant Christian web site. 5Ancient faiths of ancient Celtic, Egypt, Greece, Norse, Rome, and other cultures are frequently referred to as Pagan religions. Even though many of these religions had strict social and sexual behavioral codes, their followers are often portrayed as hedonist and immoral: 1 Peter 4:3: "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries."

Fourth meaning: Pagans follow Aboriginal religions:

Paganism is occasionally used to refer to animistic, spirits-and-essences filled belief systems. These are based upon direct perception of the forces of nature and usually involves the use of idols, talismans and taboos in order to convey respect for these forces and beings. Many native, aboriginal religions fit this definition.

Fifth meaning: Pagans are followers of non-Abrahamic religions:

A rare use of "Pagan" is to describe a person who does not follow an main --. That is, their faith does not recognize Abraham as a patriarch. The individual is neither --, --, -- nor --. This includes Agnostics, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Humanists, Taoists, etc. About 45% of the people of the world are Pagans, by this definition.

Sixth meaning: Pagans don't belong to any of the main religions of the world:

The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives an alternative definition of the word "pagan" as: "relating to religious beliefs that do not belong to any of the main religions of the world" 18 This definition is rather vague, because it does not describe how a "main religion of the world" is defined. If it is any religion with more than, say, 1% of the world's population (i.e. 60 million members, then: Aboriginal religions, Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism would be non-pagan, whereas Judaism, Sikhism, Confucianism, the Baha'i World Faith, Wicca, Zoroastrianism etc. would be pagan. I doubt that many members of the latter religions would be happy with their classification.

Seventh meaning: Pagans are Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, etc:

The term "Pagan" was widely used by Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, etc. to refer to themselves. The word was also used by others to describe these groups. The usage dropped after the rise of Neopaganism in the middle of the 20th century, and is rarely seen today.

Canadian stats on non christian growth. QUITE interesting


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NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS DATA
FROM THE CANADIAN 2001 CENSUS

Overview:

Statistics Canada reported the following data on individual faith groups in their 1991 and 2001 census. Membership include adults and children, and is self-reported. There are major problems with this method of counting:
Some individuals identify themselves with a particular religion, even though they have never been to a religious service in years. Some are reluctant to reveal their religious affiliation to a census taker or pollster who might be a neighbor. Some religious groups are widely hated by some Canadians. Examples include --, other --, --, --, -- and --.According to Statistics Canada anyone who says they are of a certain faith is counted as being from that faith. But many people use other definitions. Many conservative Protestants, for example, do not regard --, --, Spiritualists, etc. as Christian.
Some major non-Christian shifts over the decade:
Canada is becoming increasingly secular, as more people no longer associate with any organized religion.-- and other -- had the highest percentage growth rate, at over 280%.-- is recovering from centuries of oppression, with a growth rate of about 175%.The growth of many non-Christian religions is influenced by immigration."NOTAs" (None Of The Above) -- persons with no religious affiliation -- had the greatest numerical growth; they increased by 1,463,080 individuals.
In addition:
-- remains the largest religious group.-- in total membership, by about 1.5% over the decade.Within Christianity, the conservative Protestant groups have the greatest growth.However, Christians are declining as a percentage of the population.
We have highlighted in bold those groups which are growing faster than the total population.

Total numbers and growth between 1991 and 2001:

In Canada:
Total1991 total2001 total

Percentage Growth

Total Canadian population26,994,04029,639,035

+ 09.8%

--22,503,360 (83.3%)22,851,825 (77.1%)+ 01.5
--1,093,680 (4.1%)1,887,115 (6.4%)+72.5
No religious affiliation3,397,000 (12.6%)4,900,095 (16.5%)+44.2

--:

GroupMembership, 1991 Membership, 2001Percentage Growth
Large religious groups (over 100K)

--253,265579,645 +128.9%
--318,185329,990 + 03.7
-- 1163,415300,345 + 83.8
--157,010297,200 + 89.3
--147,440278,415 + 88.8

Eastern Religions:
--14,73018,020 + 22.3
--1,4102,455 + 74.1
--445545 + 22.5
--1,7253,440 + 99.4
--3,1854,955 + 55.6

Eastern religions,
n.i.e. 24,8258,125 + 68.4

Small religious groups (under 100k)
--10,84029,825 +175.1
--5,53021,080 +281.2
-- - New Thought - Pantheist4,6104,000 - 13.2
-- 31,2001,530 + 27.5
--1,2151,525 + 25.5
--7651,160 + 51.6
Rastafarian4601,135 +146.7
--340850 +150.0
-- 416,53517,480 + 05.7
Other non-Christian religions,
n.i.e.3,0902,870 - 07.1

Persons who are affiliated with a religious group (4,900,095 in total):

GroupMembership, 1991 Membership,
2001Percentage Growth
--21,97017,815 - 18.9%
-- 513,51518,605 + 37.7
--1,2452,105 + 69.1
No religious affiliation3,333,2454,796,325 + 43.9
Other, n.i.e.27,02565,245 + 141.4

It seems curious that Atheists and Humanists show such a rapid percentage increase, yet Agnostics show a decline. Perhaps we are seeing an increase in polarization.

Notes:

1. Statistics Canada recognizes Jainism, Shinto, Taoism, etc. as "Eastern Religions." But other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc., which are found throughout the same areas of the world, are not listed as "Eastern." We are at a loss to understand this.
2. "n.i.e." means "not included elsewhere."
3. Statistics Canada quoted less than two thousand Canadians who consider -- to be their religion. There are probably hundreds of thousands who graft New Age beliefs and practices onto another religion who are not counted here.
4. For no obvious reason, Statistics Canada --. A survey of almost 10,000 -- in the U.S. found that over 46% were Humanists, and fewer than 10% identified themselves as Christian. So we have replicated there data here.
5. Most dictionaries define an -- as a person as a person who actively rejects the existence of a God or Goddess or pantheon of deities. Some Atheists define Atheism as a lack of belief in any supreme deity or deities.

References:

"Religion (95A), Age Groups (7A) and Sex (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas 1 and Census Agglomerations, 1991 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data," Statistics Canada, at: -- This list also gives membership breakdowns by age groups. This appears to be no longer a valid URL. A chart remains online at the Stats Can web site at: --

Copyright information

Census data from "Statistics Canada...is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy the data and redisseminate them, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at --, and its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136."

Last edited by selfactivated; Jan 25th, 2007 at 09:29 PM..

Glad you started this subject. I hope others join in because I find it very interesting and would love to read more. I would like to hear more about so called pagan feasts and symbols that the RC Church claims as theirs.

Well Ive tons of information to share and to be honest I'll be learning too because this is the first Wheel Ive come out of solitary to join in with others. Ive preformed Yule ceramony and it was amazing.

Ever been in a prayer circle? A really good one where everyone is really incinc with everyone else? You feel the tingle in your body and the lump in your throat, tears come as your heart pounds knowing your prayers ARE being heard..........THATS magic! I try to feel that at LEAST once a day. Pure Magic.

Hi ya Self...

All praying is circular....

Uh huh and therefore perfect and complete.

Paganism embraces Wiccan, New Age, Astaru, Druidism and many other spiritual paths. Variations occur in deities, symbols, and terminology. Most are earth centered with a respect for nature. Pagans embrace a return to earlier times when perhaps the pressures of modern civilization did not exist. Keep in mind that pressures from ancient times did exist (starvation, plague, war). Maybe not so different pressures. Family and kin are very important. In aims and golas paganism does not deviate much from the aims and goals of christianity. Live a good life and do no harm. Respect the earth and honour your ancestors. Wiccan holidays are fairly representative of pagan holidays. Astaru follows old Norse traditions, and as such may have a slightly different cant on holidays. Wiccan holidays are closely related to the old Celtic celebrations. Most pagan religions or spiritual paths relate to the equinoxs, solstices and days which fall halfway between them. They roughly correspond to agricultural schedules of northern europe such as planting, and harvest.

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The Pagan Roots of Modern Holidays

Many Pagan traditions are still seen today.

Many of the holidays we celebrate today are considered Christian, but the origins of many modern-day holidays are older than Christianity.
Easter
The Christian holiday of Easter commemorates the crucifixion of Christ, and his rise from the dead into heaven. Then where do all the symbolism of bunnies, and eggs come from? It's more than coincedence that the early Pagans had a holiday to mark the Spring Equinox, called Ostara, usually celebrated around March 21st. With the return of spring, came the birthing of the farm animals for the year. Which is why we see bunnies, chicks, eggs and little lambs as symbols for this holiday. Part of the Ostara mythology involved the return of various deities from the underworld (symbolic of the end of winter). So it's not surprising that this holiday got enmeshed with the Christian story of the ressurection of Christ.
Christmas
Even non-Pagans use the term "Yule" around the Christmas holidays. Yule is celebrated on the Winter Solstice (December 22nd), on the shortest day of the year. Since the days get longer from this point in the year, Yule is a celebration of the returning sun and the rebirth of the God who died at Hallowe'en. As with Easter, the Christian story of the birth of Jesus fits nicely with the Pagan mythology of a God reborn. Traditions such as wreaths and Yule logs are remnants of the original beliefs. Gifts were exchanged at Yule long before the Wise Men offered their gifts to the baby Jesus.
Groundhog Day
Well, it's not specifically Christian or celebrated as intensely as the two holidays just mentioned, Groundhog Day is still part of the modern-day year. Candlemas (or Imbolc) is celebrated on February 2nd. Because spring is just starting to show itself at this time of year, there were various superstitions about predicting the weather, and how long it would be until the end of winter. The original idea was to watch for a hedgehog, but as people immigrated to North America, the tradition changed to a ground hog to suit local wildlife.
Hallowe'en
Ok, everyone knows that Hallowe'en is a Pagan holiday, but there are many misconceptions surrounding what the holiday really means. Pagans call the day Samhain (SOW-en or sow-EEN). The old God dies on this day, and the Goddess mourns him until his rebirth at Yule. We use this day to honour and remember our loved ones who have passed on. In an effort to diffuse the interest in this heathen holiday, the Church created All Saint's Day (November 1) as a holy day to recognize all the Catholic saints. But it wasn't a powerful enough idea to wipe out the traditional Hallowe'en celebrattions. Ironically, many Christians do not approve of the celebration of Hallowe'en because of its Pagan origins, not realizing that almost all of the holidays they observe had Pagan beginnings.
Why are major Christian holidays layered on older Pagan festivals? The central reason is that as Christianity was struggling for acceptance in Europe, the country-folk would not give up their age-old traditions. By blending the old with the new, it was easier for the Church to convert the locals.

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Sabbat Basics

What are the Wiccan holidays and what do they mean

The Wiccan calendar is often referred to as the "Wheel of the Year", emphasizing the cyclical nature of the world around us. Each holiday has a wealth of history and tradition surrounding it, but this page should explain the basics of each Sabbat and how we celebrate.
Yule
Approx. Dec 21
Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, Alban Arthan
The holiday of Yule was celebrated long before Christians adopted the date. Many of the Christmas traditions we see today stem from old Pagan customs. As the solstice, it is the longest night of the year. From this day forward, light begins to return and we celebrate the rebirth of the Sun God.
Traditions: lighting the Yule log, wreath making, gift giving
Correspondences: pine, holly, myrrh, cinnamon,
Imbolc
Feb 2
Candlemas, Imbolg, Brigid's Day
Imbolc is a day to celebrate the first glimpses of Spring, and it is also dedicated to the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Non-Pagans celebrate today as Groundhog Day. Make new starts in life, as you give your home a thorough cleaning.
Traditions: Burning fires and candles, cleaning, making a bed for Brigid
Correspondences: carnation, rosemary, chamomile, milk
Ostara
Approx. March 21
Spring Equinox, Lady Day
This is another holiday that has been overlaid with Christian meanings (Easter). Eggs and bunnies are typical symbols, representing new birth and new life. Plant the seeds of long-term goals.
Traditions: Colouring eggs, decorating with flowers
Correspondences: jasmine, daffodil, lotus, new spring flowers
Beltane
May 1
May Day, Walpurgis Night
The God born at Yule is now a man, and the sacred marriage between God and Goddess is consumated. Beltane is a celebration of fertility, growth, love and passion. However you celebrate Beltane, do it with joy and happiness.
Traditions: Dancing around the May Pole, lighting bonfires
Correspondences: Rose, lilac, vanilla
Midsummer
Approx. June 21
Litha, Summer Solstice, Whitsun
Midsummer is the longest day of the year, and the strength of the Sun God begins to wane. The Goddess has left her Maiden form of Imbolc and is now in her Mother aspect. Refill your herb collection for the coming year.
Traditions: Fairy magick, collecting herbs
Correspondences: Orange, lemon, honeysuckle, vervain
Lammas
August 1
Lughnasadh,
As the first of the three harvest festivals, much of the symbolism for Lammas revolves around grains and bread. Sacrifices were common, though mostly symbolic, in order to ensure the continued success of the harvest.
Traditions: Bread baking, making corn dollies
Correspondences: corn, sandalwood, heather
Mabon
Approx. Sept 21
Autumn Equinox, Cornucopia
Day and night are equal again, and the weather grows colder as winter approaches. This is the second harvest festival. Rituals of thanks at this time have brought about the modern holidays of Thanksgiving. Take some time to think about what you are thankful for.
Traditions: Making and drinking of wine, share with the less fortunate
Correspondences: grapes, blackberries, cedar, patchouli

Samhain
Oct 31
Hallowe'en, All Hallows
Samhain (SOW-en) is the one Sabbat that is also widely celebrated amongst non-Pagans. The God has died, and the Goddess mourns him until his rebirth at Yule. It's the last harvest festival, and the end of the Wiccan year.
Traditions: Divination, honouring the dead, carving Jack o' Lanterns
Correspondences: pumpkins, apples, sage, mugwort

This is called Pagan Norse Its quite artistically done and the music iswell moving earthy shamanisticamazing It runs a bit fast for my tired eyes so you may have to run it twice to catch all the words