The Pagan Discussion Thread

[Wilgrove]

Hello, I am a Norse Pagan. I actually refuse to put myself into a category and I do not belong to any national organization. Mainly because 1.) I like to worship the gods in my own way, and 2.) Pagan religion was a tribal religion, everything from the name of the gods to the method of worship varied differently from tribe to tribe. Which is why I never understood the whole unification under a national organization thing, or all the groups worshiping the gods in the same way.

If you truly want to worship the same way as your ancestors, then meditate, talk to the gods, talk to the wights, and worship them in your own way.

[Korintar]

Hello, I am a Norse Pagan. I actually refuse to put myself into a category and I do not belong to any national organization. Mainly because 1.) I like to worship the gods in my own way, and 2.) Pagan religion was a tribal religion, everything from the name of the gods to the method of worship varied differently from tribe to tribe. Which is why I never understood the whole unification under a national organization thing, or all the groups worshiping the gods in the same way.

If you truly want to worship the same way as your ancestors, then meditate, talk to the gods, talk to the wights, and worship them in your own way.

Hey Wil, I was wondering when you would show up

Just curious, were you raised Pagan or did you convert as an adult? What led you to the beliefs you currently have?

[Wilgrove]

Hello, I am a Norse Pagan. I actually refuse to put myself into a category and I do not belong to any national organization. Mainly because 1.) I like to worship the gods in my own way, and 2.) Pagan religion was a tribal religion, everything from the name of the gods to the method of worship varied differently from tribe to tribe. Which is why I never understood the whole unification under a national organization thing, or all the groups worshiping the gods in the same way.

If you truly want to worship the same way as your ancestors, then meditate, talk to the gods, talk to the wights, and worship them in your own way.

Hey Wil, I was wondering when you would show up

Just curious, were you raised Pagan or did you convert as an adult? What led you to the beliefs you currently have?

I converted as an adult, and a lot of research and soul searching.

[CVT Temp]

I suppose being an atheist makes me "pagan" by default, at least in the eyes of fundie Christians.

[Imperium Nova Roma]

Let's just say as an Italian-American Roman Catholic, who was raised to look down upon other religions, I find Paganism ridiculous. It should have been stopped permanently at the end of the middle ages. I have no qualms with Pagans, just their beliefs. As I'm sure others have with Roman Catholicism.

I still like it more then Islam, however.

[CVT Temp]

I find Paganism ridiculous.

He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.

[Imperium Nova Roma]

I find Paganism ridiculous.

He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.

Except I know what I said, cannot be reversed onto myself and cause any damage.

My faith in God is a fortress that cannot be sieged. I have put down my opinion on Paganism, not pagans. Say what you want.

[CVT Temp]

Except I know what I said, cannot be reversed onto myself and cause any damage.

My faith in God is a fortress that cannot be sieged. I have put down my opinion on Paganism, not pagans. Say what you want.

You said that you find Paganism to be ridiculous. Know that there are many here who find your faith to be just as ridiculous as Paganism. We're just too polite to phrase it that way.

[Imperium Nova Roma]

Except I know what I said, cannot be reversed onto myself and cause any damage.

My faith in God is a fortress that cannot be sieged. I have put down my opinion on Paganism, not pagans. Say what you want.

You said that you find Paganism to be ridiculous. Know that there are many here who find your faith to be just as ridiculous as Paganism. We're just too polite to phrase it that way.

Read what you quote.

My faith in God is a fortress that cannot be sieged.

Say what you want, it doesn't change a thing. I didn't post to convert, I posted to state an opinion on the subject matter. Don't attempt to derail the thread.

[CVT Temp]

Say what you want, it doesn't change a thing. I didn't post to convert, I posted to state an opinion on the subject matter. Don't attempt to derail the thread.

Yes, you posted an opinion. I then pointed out that your opinion could be perceived as both rude and, in the context of people such as myself, rather precarious. I'm not derailing at all. I'm simply humbling the zealous.

[Galla-]

I intend no offense, but what is it that draws people to these religions? You weren't raised in these traditions (I'm assuming), and I doubt anyone proselytized to you about them, so what beliefs do they have that draw you to them on your own accord?

Rebellion against the establishment and their parents.

Or something.

[Wilgrove]

I intend no offense, but what is it that draws people to these religions? You weren't raised in these traditions (I'm assuming), and I doubt anyone proselytized to you about them, so what beliefs do they have that draw you to them on your own accord?

Rebellion against the establishment and their parents.

Or something.

Either that, or it really speaks to us in a way that Christianity hasn't.

[Faolinn]

I intend no offense, but what is it that draws people to these religions? You weren't raised in these traditions (I'm assuming), and I doubt anyone proselytized to you about them, so what beliefs do they have that draw you to them on your own accord?

Rebellion against the establishment and their parents.

Or something.

Watch your tongue.I'll have you know I was pretty much raised without religion in a very permissive household.It was I who brought myself to the wisdom of the old deities.This is not the place to speak with disrespect of them or our ways.

As for Galla's question and anyone who would like to know my reasons for following this path, you need only look a few pages back.We all have many different reasons for being pagan and following the specific traditions we do.So I cannot say that my reasons are the same as everyone else but they might help one to understand to a point at least.

[Thisbia]

Finally! I tried to start a post but it didn't catch on. There are too few of us.
I was actually raised catholic, got into Edgar Cayce, astrology and then LaVeyism. Then I studied with JW's and learned Wicca. Dabbled in Scientology. Delved into Chaos, Whitcomb and a host of Cunningham. Became born again, learned basic hebrew and a little greek. Watched Nova discovery on archaeology and studied documentary hypothesis. Felt doomed to atheism. Studied Quantum physics and realized I am pagan.

[Choronzon]

If I wanted to learn about the myths and legends of the celts, particularly the Irish, where should I start? Anyone got any good books or sites?

And please only send me to reputable resources too, resources with some degree of rigor. None of that fluffy bunny neopagan crap.

[Cill Airne]

If I wanted to learn about the myths and legends of the celts, particularly the Irish, where should I start? Anyone got any good books or sites?

And please only send me to reputable resources too, resources with some degree of rigor. None of that fluffy bunny neopagan crap.

I'd suggest reading the Mabinogion. The Mabinogion are eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. Although the style of writing and story telling is that of Wales' well-developed mediaeval tradition, it is likely the stories, or aspects of the stories, hark back to older Iron Age traditions.

[Thisbia]

So out of curiosity, since I noticed a number of the pagans here are of this type: What is Druidry?

If you have the time this is an article I wrote, "A Brief Introduction to Druidry" for my blog, and I have used it to answer questions on Y!A as well as here. For a more in deepth understanding I recommend reading "What Druid's Believe in" By Philip Carr-Gomm. Other books that I recommend are The Path of Druidry: Walking the Ancient Green Way by Penny Billington and The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth by John Michael Greer

Perhaps one of the most striking characteristics of modern Druidry is that it has managed to remain, to a high degree, free of dogma, and a fixed set of beliefs or practices. As a result of this, Druidry has been able to establish itself as a spiritual path that avoids many of the problems of intolerance and sectarianism that the established religions of today face.
Druidry does not have a sacred text, or equivalent to the Bible. There is no universally accepted set of beliefs amongst Druids, either. However, there are a number of ideas and beliefs that are commonplace amongst Druidry.
Druidry is a spiritual path – a religion to some, to others a way of life – Druids share a belief in the fundamentally spiritual nature of life. Some druids favour a particular way of understanding the source of the spiritual nature: calling themselves to be animists, pantheists, polytheists, monotheists, and duotheists. Other druids hold the belief that understanding or knowing what a deity is by its very nature unknowable to Humanity and chose to avoid any concept of a deity. This leads to one of the greatest characteristics of modern day Druidry: its acceptance of diversity. This is because Druidry realises that none of us has the monopoly on truth, and that diversity is healthy and natural.
Perhaps one of the key characteristics of Druidry is nature. Nature is an important focus of the Druid’s reverence, that all druids sense Nature as divine or sacred. Druids believe that every part of nature is part of the great web of life, and no part of nature is superior to another part. This is unlike religions that are anthropocentric (believing that Humanity occupies a central role in the scheme of life), Druidry sees humankind as just one part of the wider family of life.
Philostratus of Tyana reported in the 2nd century about what the ancient Celts believed happened after death. Many modern Druids share this belief today. Philostratus of Tyana reported that the Druids believed in the Otherworld, stating that after we died we would be reborn there, and live our life in this world. Then, once we died in the Otherworld, we would be reborn here in this world. The good and the bad went to this Otherworld, as the Celts did not believe in a place of ever lasting torture for those who were wicked in this life. As a result, the Celts were reported to mourn births and celebrate deaths. Other druids believe in reincarnation, as either human or another form of life.
Druids are taught to seek above al the cultivation of wisdom, creativity and love. In the stories of Fionn MacCumhaill (Finn MacCool) of Ireland, and Taliesin of Wales, we are taught to seek wisdom. Both stories begin by elders searching for wisdom, and in both stories a young helper gets to taste the wisdom the elders searched for. Apart from teaching the virtues of innocence and helpfulness, both stories contain instructions to search for wisdom. As exemplified by the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD), Bards and their practice has been part of Druidry during the times of the Celtic Druids, and is today. In the past, Bards are believed to have sung the wisdom of the Druids. And today, many people are drawn to Druidry because it helps develop their creativity. Rather than stressing the idea that this life is only temporary and that we should focus on the afterlife, Druidry conveys the idea that we are meant to participate in life on earth, and that we should express and share our creativity as often as we can. Finally, Druidry teaches us to love the land, Earth, the stars and the wild. Druidry also encourages us to love peace. Historically Druids were known to be peacemakers, and this holds true to this day. Often, Druid ceremonies begin with offering peace to each of the cardinal directions, there is a Druid’s peace prayer, and Druids plant peace groves. Druidry encourages a love of history and a reverence for the ancestors.
Today, many Druidic Orders are divided into three grades: the Bard Grade, the Ovate Grade, and the Druid Grade. The three goals sought by the druid can be related to the work of these three grades. Bardic teachings help to develop our creativity, Ovate teachings help to develop our love for the natural world and the community of all life, and finally the Druid teachings help us in our quest for wisdom.

So what is your take on McCrossan and Druidactos? Have you read The Sacred Cauldron?

[Eireann Fae]

Four pages, and only four votes (including mine)? NSG needs more Pagans :)

I don't believe in any deity, per se, but I lean toward Wicca in basic philosophy, and I'm rather fond of the rituals and such (such as handfasting, celebrating the solstices/equinoxes, and the concept of candle magick), so I voted Wicca. My favourite aspect is, of course, the Wiccan Rede (see sig/nation's motto), and I think the world would be a better place if such a concept were an essential part of every person's lifestyle :)

[Cameroi]

i don't "belong to" anything other then my own feeble attempts to avoid deceiving myself. that nonphysical beings and other things are capable of existing i do not doubt.
that any statistical majority of them must be benign is witnessed by our continued existence.
one god, no god, or however many god-like beings see fit to exist, what people pretend to know about it or them, is people pretending.

names, inclinations, behavior patterns, any of it, mono, poly, or none, as the individual belief might happen to be.

anything good though, would be loving, generous, and well meaning, or at least two out of three at any rate.
this to me implies, that whatever there is, cannot possibly be pleased to see people kill and injure each other over differences between what they each claim to know about it/them.

i believe the neo-pagan inclination is a good thing, in so far as it recognizes how inconsistent fanatical narrowness, is with the kind of universe anyone can observe that we actually live in.

i'm no one flavor of any one belief. i just like to be nice to invisible things that might exist an make as good of friends as anyone else. i like the idea of people doing that.
i like the idea that doing so, might help people be nice to each other.
it's all about what kind of experience we create for each other to have to live, more then any one belief or what any of us call ourselves.

i refuse to identify myself as either monothiest or polythiest, because again, even that, is pretending to know something that is not known. possible even incapable of being known.

i once met someone who called themselves an agnostic polytheist. i kind of like that.
i believe that is in closer tune with what we can honestly know, then to come up with names and hierarchies and call it knowledge to do so.

i believe in being nice to everything as much as can be done. i don't mean this as worship. i have a hard time believing any good thing would want worship. but rather, being nice to it and everyone else, makes sense to me, as what any good being, physical or non-physical, powerful or otherwise, would want.

[Kotonesia]

Hi everyone, I'm Wiccan and have been searching for a Pagan community here on NationStates forum for a long time, I only just began playing again after leaving last year.
I am an Eclectic Wiccan but I lean towards Dianic Wicca, even though I worship the God as well as the Goddess.
I enjoy candle magic (I dislike the spelling 'magick' for some reason, I don't know why ), some rituals, celebrating Samhain and the like and the Wiccan Rede is a major part of my beliefs.
When I was younger I was especially interested in different cultures and religions. I was a Christian for a while but it felt a little too formal, if you know what I mean. I grew up in a multicultural society, so I was surrounded by Muslims and Christians and Sikhs, Jews and other religions, but there were never many Wiccans in my community.
Even so, I don't feel different, being the only Wiccan in my community. I am comfortable with who I am and I'm not ashamed of being Wiccan - as you can probably see in my signature

[Forster Keys]

If I wanted to learn about the myths and legends of the celts, particularly the Irish, where should I start? Anyone got any good books or sites?

And please only send me to reputable resources too, resources with some degree of rigor. None of that fluffy bunny neopagan crap.

The Book of Invasions perhaps too?

[Forster Keys]

And I think I've integrated some paganesque thought into my belief system.

[Faolinn]

If I wanted to learn about the myths and legends of the celts, particularly the Irish, where should I start? Anyone got any good books or sites?

And please only send me to reputable resources too, resources with some degree of rigor. None of that fluffy bunny neopagan crap.

The Book of Invasions perhaps too?

Well I'm not entirely sure.You might not like to hear it, but Isaac Bonewitz does differentiate between reconstructionist practices and non-reconstructionist in some of his writing.I also will not and cannot reccomend the Lebor Feasa Runda. Primarily because it's a hoax.It has some useful stuff in it, but I cannot call it reconstructionist.

[Cetacea]

Let's just say as an Italian-American Roman Catholic, who was raised to look down upon other religions, I find Paganism ridiculous. It should have been stopped permanently at the end of the middle ages. I have no qualms with Pagans, just their beliefs. As I'm sure others have with Roman Catholicism.

I still like it more then Islam, however.

personally I find Roman Catholic paganism somewhat ridiculous

in particular it's linking of astronomical cycles to the life of it's resurrected god and the ongoing veneration of ancestral saints.

at least Islam is consistent

[Faolinn]

Let's just say as an Italian-American Roman Catholic, who was raised to look down upon other religions, I find Paganism ridiculous. It should have been stopped permanently at the end of the middle ages. I have no qualms with Pagans, just their beliefs. As I'm sure others have with Roman Catholicism.

I still like it more then Islam, however.

personally I find Roman Catholic paganism somewhat ridiculous

in particular it's linking of astronomical cycles to the life of it's resurrected god and the ongoing veneration of ancestral saints.

at least Islam is consistent

I don't see why.The Catholic Church itself is pretty pagan as it is.Hell, some of the saints are pagan Gods in disguise.