Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods.Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller, rustic") is a term which, from a Western perspective, has modern connotations of spiritual practices or beliefs of any folk religion, and of historical and contemporary polytheistic religions in particular.
Paganism describes a group of contemporary religions based on a reverence for nature. These faiths draw on the traditional religions of indigenous peoples throughout the world.
Most Pagans share an ecological vision that comes from the Pagan belief in the organic vitality and spirituality of the natural world.
Due to persecution and misrepresentation it is necessary to define what Pagans are not as well as what they are. Pagans are not sexual deviants, do not worship the devil, are not evil, do not practice 'black magic' and their practices do not involve harming people or animals.
Paganism is a collection of diverse contemporary religions which are rooted in or inspired by indigenous and classical traditions worldwide. This faith tradition is one of the fastest-growing spiritual practices in the U.S. Pagan religions are characterized by belief in the interconnectedness of all life, personal autonomy, polytheism, and immanent divinity. Pagans value diversity, good works, living lightly on the Earth, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and gender equity. They cherish their children, their elders, and their communities, and believe that religious liberty is an inalienable human right which must not be abridged.
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NEO-PAGANISM....WHAT IS IT?
Neopaganism covers a wide range of belief systems which have emerged in the past 50 years, primarily in the UK, Europe, and the United States. This includes the better known Wicca, which is a synthesis of traditions from the British Isles, as well as many less visible groups which draw inspiration from other parts of the world. Based on folk-lore, traditional spiritual practices, anthropology, and a synthesis of esoteric systems, Neopaganism does not have any sacred texts of the same vintage as other religions, although unverifiable claims have been made in a couple of cases (e.g. Aradia, and The Gardnerian Book of Shadows).
Neopagan religions are modern faiths which have been recently reconstructed from beliefs, deities, symbols, practices and other elements of an ancient religion. For example, the Neo-Druidic religion is based on the faith and practices of the ancient Celtic priesthood class; followers of Asatru adhere to the ancient, pre-Christian Norse religion; Wiccans trace their roots back to the pre-Celtic era in Europe. Other Neo-pagans follow Roman, Greek, Egyptian and other traditions.
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