Are There Any Other Pagans Here Besides Myself?

[svid2]

I did some wicca for a while, I guess I thought it was exotic or something. I’ve long since reverted.

Mother Church, I love you.

By the way, gatewood, why are YOU here?

 

[gatewood1988]

I did some wicca for a while, I guess I thought it was exotic or something. I’ve long since reverted.

Mother Church, I love you.

By the way, gatewood, why are YOU here?

I am here because I still love people of all faiths. Just because I am pagan/witch doesn’t mean I HAVE to hate Christians. I know a lot of pagans who would disagree with me on that stance, and after all y’all have shown me love and kindness, why can’t I show that same respect to you as well?

 

[Aelred_Minor]

When I first joined here a couple months ago there were several Pagans, one especially active who called herself a “Vanic Pagan”, but I haven’t seen them around lately.

The word “pagan” gets used differently by different people, so its meaning is difficult to pin down.

I prefer to use the word broadly, to include adherents of all those natural religions or philosophies that developed independent of or in opposition to Judaism and Christianity. Thus an atheist, an agnostic, a Hindu, a Taoist, a Buddhist, a Wiccan, an African animist, a follower of a “Native American religion”, and a New Ager would all be pagan. Those ostensibly within Christianity or Judaism who no longer see their religion as being uniquely revealed by God would probably also qualify.

On the other hand some pagans themselves, especially those who follow reconstructed or reinterpreted pre-Christian European natural religions (or African, apparently), like to use the term specifically for themselves, as opposed to say a Buddhist or a secular atheist. Furthermore some who go by a Germanic/Norse pagan tradition sometimes use the synonym “heathen” specifically for themselves, as opposed to even a Celtic or Hellenic pagan (I assume because the word has a Germanic origin as opposed to “pagan” which has a Latin origin). It all gets very confusing.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

The dictionary defines pagan as “neither Christian, Muslim, or Jewish”. So, I guess basically any religion that is not monotheist.
We Muslims consider Christianity to be polythestic. Jesus was a great prophet, not a diety.

I would suggest not calling a religion that insists on the existence of one, simple, indivisible God “polytheistic.” But let’s not derail the thread about that. I just want to ask though, why do you call yourself “Catholic” if you are, in fact, a Muslim?

More on topic, there are non-Abrahamic monotheists in the world. I would suggest that a pagan can in fact also be a monotheist.

 

[John_of_Woking]

Turn back to Jesus without delay. Your immortal soul is in grave peril.

 

[Izdaari]

To be a true Christian, one must first be a Pagan.

On paganism and C. S. Lewis:According to Lewis, paganism, therefore, is intricately interconnected to Christianity historically and theologically through their shared “myth.” In this sense, paganism, rather than the enemy or adversary of Christianity, was the precursor to Christianity, the older “sister” of Christianity. As Walter Hooper wrote of Lewis’ concept, “he viewed paganism not as an evil child of Satan but rather as a ragged and wild but essentially good uncle of Christianity.”

The implications of C. S. Lewis’s ideas on paganism:But if we are to take his ideas seriously, we must be willing to follow through on their implications.

First, the implications for Christian self-understanding are far reaching and potentially life changing. Suddenly Christianity is not merely an extension of Judaism, but the fulfillment of the expectations of all ancient pagans as well. Just as Jesus was the long awaited Messiah for the people of Israel, so Jesus is the long awaited dying and rising god of the pagans, the god-man who dies, just as the winter solstice observes death, and rises to life, just as the spring fertility rite celebrates life. Christ becomes the “Fulfiller” of human expectation to the pagan peoples throughout the world. If this is the case, then we, as Christians, must seek to learn more about our roots and learn to be more respectful rather than simply dismissive of our pagan brothers and sisters. The continual demonization by Christians of those who follow the pagan path must cease in light of these realizations.

I agree with the above quotes.

I am a Christian who explored several spiritual paths on the way to Christianity, including Zen, Taoism and Wicca. I retain quite a bit of Zen and Taoism, primarily non-verbal insights that don’t conflict with Christianity.

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

Gatewood, welcome to CAF forums

No offense, but you will be included in my prayers.

Second, what does “feeling” have anything to do with truth?

 

[Lokabrenna]

Vanic (A.K.A Non-recon Norse Pagan who almost exclusively honours the Vanir) Pagan here!
There were some others here awhile ago. I don’t know where they went though. I lurk on here almost every day, so if you want to chat, I LOVE receiving PMs!

 

[seeker57]

Hmm, well, the Unitarian Universalist faith includes earth-based spirituality among its seven principles and six sources.

The principle states we covenant to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The sixth source of our faith is the spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

So, based on that, I suppose one could call UUs Pagan, and some do practice Wicca and other, similar, devotional practices.

I find this interesting, because members of my religion would sometimes bristle at being called Christian, although Christian teachings are included in our sources as well.

Peace,

Seeker

 

[CompSciGuy]

Wow.

By the way, my cousin is a voodoo practicing Catholic. She goes to mass every day.

She calls herself an “advisor” and gets paid for her services.

I could never understand how one could mix the two belief systems.

You cannot mix the two. Voodoo is a form of witchcraft, and is condemned by the Catholic Church. Is she aware of this?

 

[Lokabrenna]

Wow.

By the way, my cousin is a voodoo practicing Catholic. She goes to mass every day.

She calls herself an “advisor” and gets paid for her services.

I could never understand how one could mix the two belief systems.

Many Voudouissants consider themselves to be faithful Catholics. There’s a joke in Haiti: “Haitians are 50% Catholic, 50% Protestant, and 100% Vodou followers.”

To say the Catholic church disagrees is an understatement.

 

[vsedriver]

I was completely alone and it was hard for me to let go of seeing the Earth as my Goddess, my Mother and I also believed Jesus to be an ascended master and I couldn’t get past that hang up.

You worship dirt?

 

[Lokabrenna]

You worship dirt?

Speaking for myself, I worship gods.
Reminds me of that joke: “What’s a benefit of having Wiccan friends? They worship the ground you walk on.”

 

[FabiusMaximus]

Eh, I’ve never been a fan of paganism. I’ve had a few friends that dabbled in it. I’ve always seen it as a kind of “hippy” thing though I do know some people who are fans of old Norse/Germanic paganism.

To each his own, I suppose.

 

[vsedriver]

Speaking for myself, I worship gods.

What is a ‘god’ by your definition?

Reminds me of that joke: “What’s a benefit of having Wiccan friends? They worship the ground you walk on.”

:clapping: Good one!

 

[Lokabrenna]

What is a ‘god’ by your definition?

A being of great power and scope, a personification of natural forces. Some would say that the gods are wights (tutelary spirits) writ large, the difference is a difference of degree.

 

[gatewood1988]

A being of great power and scope, a personification of natural forces. Some would say that the gods are wights (tutelary spirits) writ large, the difference is a difference of degree.

:thumbsup:

 

[John_of_Woking]

Ever considered that your ‘god’s’ are demons?

 

[gatewood1988]

Ever considered that your ‘god’s’ are demons?

Absolutely never. And I don’t fear for my soul at all. I know it will survive to be reincarnated into a different body based on my Karmic rewards and punishments. I love the Goddess Yemaya with all my heart body mind and soul and yes I would die for her if needed to. I do believe in evil spirits and have come in contact with them (not intentionally) but the Goddess is complete opposite of those.

 

[Lucky10279]

The dictionary defines pagan as “neither Christian, Muslim, or Jewish”. So, I guess basically any religion that is not monotheist.
We Muslims consider Christianity to be polythestic. Jesus was a great prophet, not a diety.

Why do you say “we Muslims”. It says that your religion is Catholic.