Paganism

Historically, paganism has been used as a generic term to describe non-Christian religions and superstitions - primarily, but not limited to, the old religions of Europe and Indo-Europe and ancient mythologies (Celt, Norse, Egyptian, Greek and Roman). Any religion other than Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. The term literally means "country dweller" and was originally used by Romans todescribe religions and philosophies not of Rome.

(See also: Paganism, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Neo-Paganism

The modern revival of paganism, emphasizing witchcraft (see Wicca), goddess worship, and nature worship.

(See also: Neo-Paganism, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

PAGAN - One who is not Christian, Islamic or Jewish. From the latin,

(See also: PAGAN, Wiccan, Wicca, Witchery, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

PAGAN:

1) the word Pagan is derived from the Latin Paganus, "peasant,"  "from the fields" and "hut dweller", deriving, in turn, from the Latin pagus, "village."

2) They are also many groups of Priests and Priestesses practicing what we call "Paganism" or "Neo (from the Greek word for new) Paganism".

3) Pagan religions are "natural" religions both in origin and in mode of expression as opposed to artificially created ideological religions.

4) General term for magic embracing religions, such as Wicca, Druid, Shaman. Sometimes used interchangably with NeoPagan.

(See also: PAGAN, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Pagan [from Latin paganus an inhabitant of the country, a villager; cf peasant]

Heathen, the Germanic parallel in origin and meaning, was also used to distinguish an urban dweller or cultured man from a country dweller or rustic; and so both words became terms of inferiority and ultimately of reproach. Pagans and heathen, in recent European usage, are those who are not Christian, Jews, or Moslems.

(See also: Pagan, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Paganism: A modern religious movement that encompasses traditions which are generally earth-centered; magickal; indigenous; stress a connection to and respect for the natural world; recognize both male and female deities; encourage diversity in spiritual beliefs, practices, and lifestyles; do not operate under a centralized hierarchy; have no official or standardized dogma that extends beyond the particular tradition; and stresses personal responsibility in matters of belief, ethics, and spiritual practice.

(See also: Paganism, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

PAGANING - Presentation of an infant to the Circle and to the Gods. Similar in aspect to the Christian Christening.

(See also: PAGANING, Wiccan, Wicca, Witchery, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Pagan (Latin). Meaning at first no worse than a dweller in the country or the woods; one far removed from the city-temples, and therefore unacquainted with the state religion and ceremonies. The word "heathen" has a similar significance, meaning one who lives on the heaths and in the country. Now, however, both come to mean idolaters.

(See also: Pagan, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

PAGANISM (Latin,  paganus, "a peasant, rustic"): Roman soldiers used the word in the pejorative sense of "hick, yokel, country bumpkin"; and this usage was continued by the early Roman Christians - who were mainly city-dwellers - to refer to everyone who preferred to continue to worship pre-Christian divinities. Hence "Paganism" refers to the worship of Pagan Deities: the Gods and Goddesses of the Old Religions that predate Judaism, Islam, or Christianity.

As such, "Paganism" is actually an umbrella term covering a broad family of religions, which may be divided into three broad sub-categories:

• survivalist - those whose religious practice has continued unbroken from their ancestors;
• revivalist - those whose religious practice attempts to revive that of their ancestors, whether by actual descent or by personal spiritual affinity and inclination;
• reconstructionist - those whose religious practice is an adaptation and reinterpretation of what they regard as the best of pre-Christian Pagan religions, adjusted to modern contemporary religious thought.

(See also: PAGANISM, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

PAGANING a term for the exercise of 'presenting' a newborn to one's Circle or Coven...see WICCANING or SAINING.

(See also: PAGANING, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

PAGANS/NEOPAGANS: Follower of a nature-based religion. The term Neopagan means "new Pagan" and is not a popular term. It seems to be a direct result of the New Age lingo.

(See also: PAGANS/NEOPAGANS, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

PAGAN/NEOPAGAN: General term for followers of Wicca and other magickal, shamanistic, and polytheistic Earth-based religions. Also used to refer to pre-Christian religious and magickal systems.

(See also: PAGAN/NEOPAGAN, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

PAGAN/NEOPAGAN -

1. Nature based Religion. (TRASB)

2. movement devoted to nature, worship, polytheism, Goddess worship ancient tribal religions. (NAD)

3. a generic term for anyone who practice an earth or nature religion. (CMM)

(See also: PAGAN, NEOPAGAN, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Paganism - Neopaganism. Main articles: Neopaganism, and [[{{{2}}}]], and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]]See also:

Paganism, Paganism - Etymology, Paganism - Pagan, Paganism - Heathen, Paganism - Terminology, Paganism - Common Word Usage, Paganism - Heathenry, Paganism - Pagan classifications, Paganism - Pagan religions, Paganism - Neo-pagan religions, Paganism - Neopaganism, Paganism - Modern nature religion, Paganism - Notes

Read more here: » Paganism: Encyclopedia II - Paganism - Neo-pagan religions

PAGAN FEDERATION: Founded in 1971 and formerly called the Pagan Front, Pagan Federation is a London-based organization that seeks to provide contact between the Craft of the Wise and “genuine seekers of the Old Ways”, and to promote harmony among the various European Pagan religions. It works with institutions, governmental bodies and the public to present accurate information on Pagan religious views and rights.

(See also: PAGAN FEDERATION, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

Follower of a nature-based religion. The term Neopagan means
"new Pagan" and is not a popular term.

(See also: Pagan, Neopagan, Magic, Shamanism, Pagan Dictionary)

Paganism - Common Word Usage. The term has historically been used as a pejorative by adherents of monotheistic religions (such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam) to indicate a disbeliever in their religion. "Paganism" is also sometimes used to mean the lack of (an accepted monotheistic) religion, and therefore sometimes means essentially the same as atheism. "Paganism" frequently refers to the religions of classical antiquity, most notably Greek mythology or Roman religion, and can be used neutrall ...

See also:

Paganism, Paganism - Etymology, Paganism - Pagan, Paganism - Heathen, Paganism - Terminology, Paganism - Common Word Usage, Paganism - Heathenry, Paganism - Pagan classifications, Paganism - Pagan religions, Paganism - Neo-pagan religions, Paganism - Neopaganism, Paganism - Modern nature religion, Paganism - Notes

Read more here: » Paganism: Encyclopedia II - Paganism - Terminology

PAGAN, OCCULT, WITCHCRAFT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP OF MENSA: A special interest group (SIG) of Mensa, the organization for persons scoring in the top two percentile on IQ testing. Only Mensa members can be full members of the SIG but non-Mensans may join as associate members. Their newsletter, Pagana, is considered to be one of the best Pagan journals.

(See also: PAGAN, OCCULT, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

PAGAN WAY: Initially a movement responding to the high demand for applicants to covens in the 1970’s. Pagan Way provided an alternative to the traditional intensive screening programs, and year-and-a-day probationary periods with an open, nature-oriented system that emphasized celebration of nature over magick.

Although the Pagan Way organization fell apart in the 1980’s, the rituals survived. Some covens run Pagan Way groups as training circles for interested persons and potential initiates. Those who aren’t initiated into the coven can remain in the Pagan Way group indefinitely, become solitaries, or form their own Pagan Way group.

(See also: PAGAN WAY, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

PAGAN REDE - this is the basic tenet of witchcraft. “As ye harm none, do what thou will” The Rede prohibits Pagan from harming any other living thing, or from violating any one’s free will. Exactly when this tenet became a conscious part of Paganism is unknown. Also seen as “Threefold Law’ and “Law of Responsibility” (CMM)

(See also: PAGAN REDE, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

1. ^  The semantic development of post-classical Latin paganus in the sense "non-Christian, heathen" is unclear. The dating of this sense is controversial, but the 4th century seems most plausible. An earlier example has been suggested in Tertullian De Corona Militis xi, "Apud hunc [sc. Christum] tam miles est paganus fidelis quam paganus est miles infidelis," but here the word paganus may be interpreted in the sense "civilian" rather th ...

See also:

Paganism, Paganism - Etymology, Paganism - Pagan, Paganism - Heathen, Paganism - Terminology, Paganism - Common Word Usage, Paganism - Heathenry, Paganism - Pagan classifications, Paganism - Pagan religions, Paganism - Neo-pagan religions, Paganism - Neopaganism, Paganism - Modern nature religion, Paganism - Notes

Read more here: » Paganism: Encyclopedia II - Paganism - Notes