Paganism

Paganism


     Paganism is an ancient type of religion which has quite an inauspicious

reputation today.  There are many types of paganism, most date back thousands of

years, which include Wicca, Witchcraft, Paganism, and a few other lesser known

and practiced variations.  Yet all of these religions are similar and share

common beliefs.  Wicca is the most common of these, as it also demonstrates the

shared belief of doing good that is common to most forms of paganism.  Another

common belief, is to gather in small groups, called covens, to practice pagan

rites and ceremonies with others.  There are many ancient beliefs, archaic

rituals, and forgotten traditions that are practiced by pagans.  Many of these

are also the origins of widely practiced traditions in the Christian-dominated

world of today.

     A defining characteristic of many pagan religions, especially Wicca, is

the worship and closeness to nature.  Pagans treat animals kindly and respect

all things, living or nonliving, as though they were a person (Roy N. p.).  They

also share the worship of their nature gods, which increases their respect for

all that is around them (Roy N. p.).  Pagans are very sensitive people that also

have a high regard for personal privacy (Roy N. p.).  With this belief of

privacy, many pagans have more time to keep in touch with their inner selves and

with the nature around them.  Wicca, a more popular pagan religion, focuses on

the Earth and uses pure white magic to help others (Roy N. p.).  In fact, the

Wiccan creed is, “An it harm none, do as thou will,” which agrees with the “good”

philosophy (Beliefs N. p.).  Altogether, pagans have a great deal of emphasis on

the life and beauty of the nature that thrives around them and are radically

different than the mythical rumors of witches that have been given to them over

time.

     Another defining characteristic of many pagans is the dedication to

knowledge and self exploration (Roy N. p.).  In fact it has been said that, “

Witchcraft is the oldest, most irrepressible religion in the world because it

stimulates the intellect, promotes a simple, practical way of life, and most

importantly, is emotionally satisfying” (Art N. p.).  There is a set of beliefs,

called the Laws of Magic that help illustrate the beliefs supported by Wicca and

other pagan religions.  Many of these laws are practical, yet they also relate

to the more religious aspect of paganism.  One of the most important laws, the

Law of Knowledge, states that witches believe that all knowledge is power, no

matter how big or small (Bonewits N. p.).  A related law, the Law of Self-

Knowledge, states that witches should truly know themselves, for this prevents

doing harm to others, once the understanding of the harm is seen (Bonewits N.

p.).  There are many other laws, one such law explains that coincidence does not

exist, but that everything is part of a larger plan (Bonewits N. p.).  The Law

of Similarity states that similar representations of things can be made to

represent them, such as voodoo dolls (Bonewits N. p.).  The Law of

Personification states the important belief that anything, concrete or abstract,

can be considered alive for whatever purpose (Bonewits N. p.).  One commonly

known law, The Law of Perversity, also called “Murphy's Law,” states that if

anything can go wrong, it will (Bonewits N. p.).  As if a summary of all other

beliefs, The Law of Unity says that everything is linked together to every other

thing, in any space or time (Bonewits N. p.).  So, as shown here, all pagans,

whether Wiccan or not, follow the basic guidelines and beliefs that knowledge is

power.  To support this belief are many other more specific beliefs that help

the individual learn and grow.

     Rituals and traditions also play a large role in Wiccan lives and

activities.  The most common of these includes the rituals associated with the

new and full moons, as well as the 8 sabbats.  The 8 sabbats are equally divided

throughout the year, along with the seasons, and help attune the practicing

Wiccans to the cycle
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