Why paganism is good

British Broadcasting Corporation Home. Pagan beliefs incorporate a respect for nature, varying concepts of the divine and Pagan theology.

Although Paganism covers a wide spectrum of ideas, these elements sum up the beliefs of the majority. The recognition of the divine in nature is at the heart of Pagan belief. Pagans are deeply aware of the natural world and see the power of the divine in the ongoing cycle of life and death. Most Pagans are eco-friendly, seeking to live in a way that minimises harm to the natural environment.

Pagans worship the divine in many different forms, through feminine as well as masculine imagery and also as without gender. The most important and widely recognised of these are the God and Goddess or pantheons of God and Goddesses whose annual cycle of procreation, giving birth and dying defines the Pagan year. Paganism strongly emphasises equality of the sexes. Women play a prominent role in the modern Pagan movement, and Goddess worship features in most Pagan ceremonies.

Wicca as a religion can be traced to s England and a man named Gerald Brousseau Gardner. After a period of time working across Asia, Gardner published the book Witchcraft Today in and started a movement based on pre-Christian traditions with three main pillars: magic , respect for nature, and worship of a goddess and other deities.

The word wicca can be traced back to —75 with roots in its Old English meaning: male sorcerer. The Old English wicca is also the origin for the word witch. The words witch and wicca can scare those who associate them with Satanism and devil worship. There is no connection, however, and there never has been. Wicca is based on traditions, rituals, and beliefs that existed long before Christianity and what people today understand as the concept of hell and Satan.

Today, wicca is considered a form of modern witchcraft, and the focus on magic is one of the biggest differences between wicca and paganism.

This magical angle was built into wicca practices from the start with ceremonial magic and rituals. How well-versed are you on the intricacies of those connected to the spiritual and supernatural? Do you know the difference between a psychic and a medium?

As you might be able to conclude from the definition, pagan is an umbrella word that influences or encompasses many other types of spirituality. The word has existed in its modern sense for centuries, and its beliefs have existed for even longer.

Today, the neopaganism spiritual movement centers on pre- Christian rituals and traditions, as well as a deep respect for nature. Neopaganism can be traced back to the s, and versions known today were strongly shaped in the s in the United States, United Kingdom, and Scandinavia as a revival of nature and fertility worship.

Followers have a diverse set of beliefs that focus on connection with the natural environment and treating people equally. Even though I grew up in an atheist home, I was always drawn to religious places and rituals. Churches, ceremonies and customs -- I loved them all.

I was the kid who peeked through the church window to watch people take the Eucharist. I was the kid who, when she got a box of Smarties, ate the red ones last. There are many people like me. People who love ritual and long for spiritual expression, but who can't get on board with Abrahamic religious dogma or scripture. There are many people like my husband, too. People who were indoctrinated into religious belief as a child, but who have rejected that belief as an adult. And these are the folks who are increasingly turning to modern paganism.

I was several years into my couples mediation practice when I found myself -- and many of my non-religious clients -- longing for a spiritual focus for their homes. I had more than one client say she was ready to leave her family and head to Bali where she would scale a mountain and find her own guru or Yoda or at least someone wearing a robe who could tell her what life was all about. I just turned kind of bitchy. Despite having a happy marriage and family life, I longed for a sense of meaning and ritual.

I found it, too, by revisiting an experience in my past. When I was 20 years old, I had visited Rome where I was quickly schooled in the ancient gods and goddesses, and even met a pagan priestess who was keeping the "old ways" alive. It was the first time I was exposed to a spirituality beyond the monotheistic, androcentric variety.

And I liked it. It meant something to me. The experience sparked a lifelong interest in Roman classics and mythology ; however, it wasn't until midlife that I found myself embracing modern paganism -- specifically the New Vesta tradition -- as a form of personal spirituality, one that resonated with me and reflected my humanist values.

Midlife crisis? But a real experience nonetheless. In antiquity, Vesta was the goddess of the home, hearth and domestic life. Residing in the household fireplace and symbolized by a flame, she warmed and lit the home while providing a "spiritual focus" for the family.

At each meal, offerings of salted flour or libations of wine or olive oil were sprinkled into her flame. This ritual did more than symbolically "feed" her spirit. It nourished and strengthened the family bond while bringing tranquility to the household. Modern followers of Vesta typically have a Vestal candle on the table and make similar offerings. It is a simple family ritual that makes the home a sacred space, and that reinforces a sense of family solidarity. As well as meal-time offerings, New Vesta adherents usually have a lararium or family altar located near the entrance to the home.

Mementoes of family members -- living and dead -- are kept here, as is a Vestal candle. The position of the lararium -- near the home's entrance -- serves to "bless" the comings and goings of family members, and to serve as a visual reminder than home really is where the heart is.

Despite having been brainwashed to fear and loathe pagans, my husband did a bang-up job of accepting this tradition into our home. Because it didn't raise any of his "religious red flags.

It didn't require us to outsource the morality we imparted to our son, and it didn't involve him being indoctrinated into supernatural belief. It wasn't angry or judgmental and it didn't put anything -- man or god -- above our own marriage and family. Obviously, this is only a superficial look at New Vesta, which itself is only one expression of paganism. Contemporary paganism is an umbrella term for many beliefs, which are as diverse as they are rich. There is insufficient space here to do justice to the practices that many people hold dear.

My purpose here has been to give you a snapshot of what modern paganism looks like in our home. There is no dancing naked in the woods at midnight. There are no human or animal sacrifices in our basement. There are no mystery chants, secret rites or orgies. There is just a family who really loves watching Battlestar Galactica re-runs and who is doing its best to tread lightly upon the Earth while being decent to our fellow travelers.

I think it is time to challenge the stereotypes surrounding modern paganism and its various beliefs. It has so much to offer, from its fascinating history and cultural influence to its contemporary efforts to create a better world. And that's something I'll expand upon next week. Visit NewVesta. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism.

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