Ask a Pagan

[Lokabrenna]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been receiving lots of questions about my path since I joined (which is understandable) so I had a thought that, rather than derail more threads discussing my beliefs, I’d start a thread of my own and people can ask me whatever they want.

Now, this topic has been covered before, so I would recommend that those who are looking for more information check out these threads in particular?

Neo-Pagan Apologetics

Neo-Pagan views of the Christian God

I do realize that both threads are very long, but there’s a lot of good information in them for anyone who cares to learn more.

Also, keep in mind that I am just one person, and my opinions and views by no means represents the whole of Paganism (being that it’s a umbrella term that describes a diverse number of individual religions). I can only speak for myself and my own experiences. I would also encourage interested individuals to do their own research and draw their own conclusions.

Anyways, those caveats aside, ask me anything!

 

[Inishfree]

Hi and welcome!

I have a question. Do you know what religion the ancient Gaelic Celts practiced. I think it may be Druid, but I am not sure.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lokabrenna]

I actually do not know that much about Celtic religions, that would be more of a question for a Celtic reconstructionist. I can tell you that “the Celts” were in fact a collection of diverse tribes, so say, someone who worships the gods of pre-Christian Ireland will be different than say, someone who focuses on Welsh traditions, even though both are “Celtic” in the popular sense of the term.

As for druidry, the term “druid” is more of a professional designation, not everyone who follows a Celtic path will call themselves a druid. It’s a bit like saying that to be Catholic, you must be a priest, which isn’t true.

If you’re looking for more information on Celtic reconstructionism (and Celtic religion/mythology in general) I’d recommend the Cauldron’s guide:

ecauldron.net/reconcelt.php

There’s a recommended reading list on that page as well.

For modern neo-Pagan druidry, I’d check out Ár nDraíocht Féin. I believe its the largest Neopagan druidic organization in existence:

adf.org/core/index.html

As I said, I’m not an expert on Celtic things, but I hope those links are of some help to you.

 

[dcointin]

What is Vanic Paganism? I’m familiar with Wicca and Celtic Reconstructionism, but not Vanic Paganism. Thanks,

Don

 

[Rolypoly]

What were you raised as? And if you were raised as a non-Pagan could you share your conversion story?

 

[Inishfree]

Thank you Rolypoly!

I am doing a family tree and am finding clan (family surnames) back to pre-christian Ireland. This is very exciting for me and really appreciate your help.

I may have an early Irish saint and possibly a king or two in my heritage.

 

[CountrySteve]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been receiving lots of questions about my path since I joined (which is understandable) so I had a thought that, rather than derail more threads discussing my beliefs, I’d start a thread of my own and people can ask me whatever they want.

Now, this topic has been covered before, so I would recommend that those who are looking for more information check out these threads in particular?

Neo-Pagan Apologetics

Neo-Pagan views of the Christian God

I do realize that both threads are very long, but there’s a lot of good information in them for anyone who cares to learn more.

Also, keep in mind that I am just one person, and my opinions and views by no means represents the whole of Paganism (being that it’s a umbrella term that describes a diverse number of individual religions). I can only speak for myself and my own experiences. I would also encourage interested individuals to do their own research and draw their own conclusions.

Anyways, those caveats aside, ask me anything!

hey i got a question, one of my buddys says he’s pagans but doesn’t believe ion any specific deity is he still pagan or is he agnostic?

 

[SteveVH]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been receiving lots of questions about my path since I joined (which is understandable) so I had a thought that, rather than derail more threads discussing my beliefs, I’d start a thread of my own and people can ask me whatever they want.

Now, this topic has been covered before, so I would recommend that those who are looking for more information check out these threads in particular?

Neo-Pagan Apologetics

Neo-Pagan views of the Christian God

I do realize that both threads are very long, but there’s a lot of good information in them for anyone who cares to learn more.

Also, keep in mind that I am just one person, and my opinions and views by no means represents the whole of Paganism (being that it’s a umbrella term that describes a diverse number of individual religions). I can only speak for myself and my own experiences. I would also encourage interested individuals to do their own research and draw their own conclusions.

Anyways, those caveats aside, ask me anything!

I have a question. What do you think of Jesus Christ? Was he just a good man? Was he insane? Was he a liar? Or was he who he said he was, the only Son of God?

 

[StrawberryJam]

hey i got a question, one of my buddys says he’s pagans but doesn’t believe ion any specific deity is he still pagan or is he agnostic?

I’m an agnostic with catholic leanings so I can’t help you understand that not believing in fairies makes you agnostic or pagan.
Or does it? I don’t know because I really don’t get out to the country as much as I should.
Google Deism, Pantheism.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Lokabrenna,

I have a couple related questions if you have time for them.

First, what is the role of sacrifice in the types of Paganism you are most familiar with?

Second, which, if you could choose, would be considered more important, the deity worshiped or the act of worship itself?

 

[Lokabrenna]

Okay, now everyone just calm down and take a number lol.
I will try and answer all the questions in sequential order:

dcointin:

What is Vanic Paganism? I’m familiar with Wicca and Celtic Reconstructionism, but not Vanic Paganism. Thanks.

Vanic Paganism (also known as Vanatru to some) is the worship of the Vanir gods of the Norse/Germanic pantheon. I call myself “Pagan” to differentiate myself from other people who worship the same gods but attempt to reconstruct the practices of pre-Christian Iceland, Germany, etc. You might also see the term “Norse Pagan” or “Northern polytheist”, both those labels could also apply to me, “Vanic” just indicates the specific family of gods that I honour, most are not so specific.

Rolypoly:

What were you raised as? And if you were raised as a non-Pagan could you share your conversion story?

Catholic, actually and I wouldn’t call it a “conversion story” of sorts, just a realization that my beliefs didn’t line up with Church teachings, so I went seeking something else. I found Wicca first, but I soon realized it wasn’t for me, eventually I found Norse Paganism, and well, it fit. It wasn’t a dramatic “thunder and lightning” thing where all of a sudden I’m one thing and then BAM, a revelation happens (although that has happened to other Pagans). I just happened to find a spiritual niche that suited my needs. It’s been my experience that while Paganism can be said to be a “religion of converts” (in the sense that very few are born into their traditions) most see it more as a “homecoming” to a path they’ve always been on but weren’t able to put a name to it.

CountrySteve:

hey i got a question, one of my buddys says he’s pagans but doesn’t believe ion any specific deity is he still pagan or is he agnostic?

Great question! I actually know of a few Pagans who are atheists. In general, Pagan religions are orthopraxic. Individual Pagans may have their beliefs about the gods, some may see them as archetypal energies or see all gods as aspects of the One (“soft” polytheism) while others may see each god/dess as a separate, individual entity with their own personalities (“hard” polytheism), and of course, agnosticism and atheism, but what you do is important, not what you believe.

Also, I think it’s worth pointing out that many Wiccans will honour a more “generic” Lord and Lady rather than a specific God/Goddess pair (like say, Zeus and Hera), in that case, I wouldn’t call that agnosticism, I would say that perhaps they might not feel particularly connected to any specific pair. Again, that’s Wicca, which is one branch of the Pagan tree.

SteveVH:

I have a question. What do you think of Jesus Christ? Was he just a good man? Was he insane? Was he a liar? Or was he who he said he was, the only Son of God?

Ah, the old “liar, lunatic, or lord” argument, which conveniently neglects a fourth option (ie. “was he simply non-existent?”). I think it’s quite possible that a historical person named Jesus of Nazareth existed, but I think it’s also quite possible that he never existed, or that, perhaps, the “Jesus” of the gospels is a composite figure of sorts of other teachers who were teaching around that same time. Even assuming that Jesus did exist, which “Jesus” would you have me believe in? The “Jesus” of the canonical gospels? The “Jesus” of the heretical so-called “gnostic” gospels? The two figures are quite different.

I suppose my thoughts on the matter are that perhaps Jesus did exist, but I don’t think what’s been written about him is entirely accurate.

 

[fons_vitae]

I suppose my thoughts on the matter are that perhaps Jesus did exist, but I don’t think what’s been written about him is entirely accurate.

…So, why do you think that? I know certain Gnostic gospels contain actual historical inaccuracies. Someone must have been causing quite a stir during Jesus’ purported lifetime, at least enough to gain a following.

I understand Dan Brown is quite fond of alternative histories, but… he’s just a terrible writer, sorry to say. XD (I prefer my heresy from far better minds, like Vonnegut.)

 

[fons_vitae]

To ask a separate question entirely:

What think you of those that condemn the entire concept of religion or a spiritual dimension to life? (Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, et al.)

 

[havana1]

Anyways, those caveats aside, ask me anything!

Anything? Why did pagans hijack (for lack of a better word) the card game of tarocchi? The suits were originally batons, swords, cups, and coins - and pagans threw out the coins (replacing it with a pentacle) and swapped the ordering of Strength and Justice of the trumps. Pagans, in short, are responsible for occulticizing an innocent card game - why? What’s your answer for that?

 

[Lokabrenna]

Lokabrenna,

I have a couple related questions if you have time for them.

First, what is the role of sacrifice in the types of Paganism you are most familiar with?

Second, which, if you could choose, would be considered more important, the deity worshiped or the act of worship itself?

I always have time to answer questions!

It depends what you mean by “sacrifice”. If you mean animal or human sacrifice, every Pagan that I’ve spoken to over the years is aware that animal sacrifice is now illegal in most parts of the world, as is human sacrifice. Most also recognize that we do not now live in a time where whole cities would offer sacrifices, and very few can afford to offer fifty cows to Hera (for example). Many Pagans make bloodless sacrifices (which I would term offerings), but some do (and this is a controversial subject in itself) offer their own blood to the gods.

As to the reasons for making offerings, it varies. I personally see it as a way to strengthen my relationship with the gods, in the same way that you might buy a good friend something “just because”, or as a way of saying: “For all you have given me, here is a gift in return.” I think this is where modern Pagans differ from our ancient counterparts. In my experience, at least, most gods are not seen as angry beings to be appeased with offerings (or Bad Things will happen) but offerings are one way of deepening a relationship with the gods.

As for sacrifice as a concept, Paganisms aren’t generally religions of “atonement”, that is, no one has to “die for our sins” to do so, one would have to have a concept of “sin” in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, there are ways that you can “screw up” and offend the gods (in my tradition, breaking one’s oath is a serious matter) but “atoning” for that screw up is between you and the gods (and possibly your religious community), no one else can do it for you. Again, different traditions have their own way of dealing with religious faux-pas.

 

[Sonic]

Anyways, those caveats aside, ask me anything!

Why is the Three-fold Law necessary? What is the foundation from which this law is based? Is the law ethical or moral?

Is there any disagreement within the neo-pagan community about the Three-fold Law?

 

[Lokabrenna]

Anything? Why did pagans hijack (for lack of a better word) the card game of tarocchi? The suits were originally batons, swords, cups, and coins - and pagans threw out the coins (replacing it with a pentacle) and swapped the ordering of Strength and Justice of the trumps. Pagans, in short, are responsible for occulticizing an innocent card game - why? What’s your answer for that?

Well, according to Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divinatory,_esoteric_and_occult_tarot)–have–have) a bucket of salt ready–tarot cards weren’t given occult significance until the 18th and 19th centuries, whereas the modern Pagan revival began in the 70s (and Wicca began in the 50s). I don’t think it’s a matter of Paganism hijacking tarot (and only a few Pagan traditions–and many non-Pagans use tarot cards) it was already “occultized” and Pagans (in particular, Wiccans) simply jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak. I think you might want to rephrase the question to “Why did the Freemasons/theosophists/18th/19th century mystics/[insert secret society/group of people here] hijack tarocchi?”

I should mention that I do have a collection of tarot/oracle cards, mostly for the art, I do occasionally do readings for myself but I don’t ascribe supernatural abilities to them–they’re just ink and paper.

 

[Lokabrenna]

To ask a separate question entirely:

What think you of those that condemn the entire concept of religion or a spiritual dimension to life? (Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, et al.)

I’ve read some of Dawkins’ book “The God Delusion” and found it to be very thought-provoking, but to answer your question: I don’t think about them that much.

I believe in a lot of strange things, I admit that, and I respect the fact that some atheists think all religious people are crazy and that religion is bad for humanity (some days I even agree with them) but I don’t focus on “getting it right”, I focus on living my life now and worrying about whether there is such a thing as an afterlife, or gods, or what have you, since I figure it will all be clear enough after I die. Some Pagans have had intense experiences that have convinced them that the gods exist and there is life after death, I am not one of them, yet I have still found that Vanic Paganism is a path that addresses my spiritual needs. If some atheist gets his underpants in a wad because of it, that’s fine, he’s welcome to disagree, and he might have good reasons for disagreeing, but I just don’t feel too choked up about it.

 

[fons_vitae]

I’ve read some of Dawkins’ book “The God Delusion” and found it to be very thought-provoking, but to answer your question: I don’t think about them that much.

If some atheist gets his underpants in a wad because of it, that’s fine, he’s welcome to disagree, and he might have good reasons for disagreeing, but I just don’t feel too choked up about it.

Well I certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything regarding either party’s underpants … I just find these inflammatory Englishmen amusing in their almost Evangelical fervor. Anyway, just curious about your opinion, so thank you.

 

[SteveVH]

Ah, the old “liar, lunatic, or lord” argument, which conveniently neglects a fourth option (ie. “was he simply non-existent?”). I think it’s quite possible that a historical person named Jesus of Nazareth existed, but I think it’s also quite possible that he never existed, or that, perhaps, the “Jesus” of the gospels is a composite figure of sorts of other teachers who were teaching around that same time. Even assuming that Jesus did exist, which “Jesus” would you have me believe in? The “Jesus” of the canonical gospels? The “Jesus” of the heretical so-called “gnostic” gospels? The two figures are quite different.

Yes, quite right. I just didn’t think that anyone would realistically consider that a possiblity when one considers the odds of a religion as large and influencial as Christianity springing from a non-existent founder. That’s quite a conspiracy. And for what purpose? So that one could be fed to lions, stoned to death, boiled in oil, or skinned alive? Or do you discount the stories of the martyrs as well, including the first 33 Popes of the Catholic Church?

I suppose my thoughts on the matter are that perhaps Jesus did exist, but I don’t think what’s been written about him is entirely accurate.

Based upon what?