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It seems to me that "pagan," which is an old Roman-Empire-era slur meaning "unlettered hayseed," could use some adjusting, especially since so many practicing pagans are city dwellers. But I have no clue what should replace the familiar term.
It seems to me that "pagan," which is an old Roman-Empire-era slur meaning "unlettered hayseed," could use some adjusting, especially since so many practicing pagans are city dwellers. But I have no clue what should replace the familiar term.
Its new meaning is more nature based, non-judeo christian sort of religion, though its hard to define exactly the meaning. It's sort of catch all. I think we use it since 'pagan' religion is so diverse and there isn't another word. It is also very dynamic and prone to sharing, unless you are a purist to your tradition.
Other words have changed meaning. No reason why this one shouldn't. My only reservation is it is not considered on equal par with the christan/jewish/arabic/budist ones. We each get to find out own and each should be equally respected.
The other really big gripe is book stores who put all the 'pagan' books under New Age, not religion.
I can see a problem with that. There are most likely pagan religions somewhere with only one deity. There are certainly non-pagan religions that are polytheists. Hindus aren't pagans and they are polytheists. Christians are not pagans and they are certainly polytheists, with their father, son, holy ghost, Virgin Mary, and Lucifer.
I can see a problem with that. There are most likely pagan religions somewhere with only one deity. There are certainly non-pagan religions that are polytheists. Hindus aren't pagans and they are polytheists. Christians are not pagans and they are certainly polytheists, with their father, son, holy ghost, Virgin Mary, and Lucifer.
I've never personally met another Pagan who believes in only ONE God/ deity. However like me I only pay heed to one deity but that's a personal choice in my case. I know others exist but choose to only worship one. Again it's about choice in the end.
I've never personally met another Pagan who believes in only ONE God/ deity. However like me I only pay heed to one deity but that's a personal choice in my case. I know others exist but choose to only worship one. Again it's about choice in the end.
I look at it as the universe/existance/the group mind is not in reality what we selectively see, but there is some intelligence/being involved. and we in our own perceptions see this god in their own terms. I remember being a kid told to go to chappel and not really believing in Jesus, since it didn't make sense, but did in god. I don't think I ever saw the same 'god' the minester saw, but the Episcopal church doesn't force doctrine down the throat so I could feel 'god' there and it was okay to me if I didn't share the rest.
To me the essense of 'god' was in nature and this led me to paganism. I would call myself a naturilistic, eclectic wiccan. I believe the God and Godess are part of one being. I don't use but don't discount other symbols as holding some aspects of that power. But to me there exists only one deity and its reality is far different than our own. Its purpose is to merge us into the real universe, but we see this God/Spirit as we are prompted to by our own choices and our own perceptions.
So I am not by any means christan, but would say I belived in one god with different aspects which can be venerated seperately.
I've never personally met another Pagan who believes in only ONE God/ deity. .
I haven't either, but there are a lot of pagans out there that I have never met and a lot of religions I know nothing about. So, I do not expect the Pagans that I have met to set an intractable standard for all Pagans in the world.
While I would not call it god in the traditional definition,
I believe in a higher power. It's 'one' but is also all.
My perspective is somewhat pantheistic, but they don't 'believe' in paranormal type things, and I do.
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