What is the Pagan Religion ( Archived) (11)

On the other thread was a question about the pagan religion being first and copied by Christianity. I do not know what the ground beliefs were of the pagans to be able to decide. Does anyone know what the beliefs were?

In lay mans terms Paganism is the oldest recorded religion known...hoes back to the 'caveman' days.
It's basically an Earth religion,meaning that life is seen as comming from the earth and all she gives us.
It is mostly based on the female aspect (Godess) and the male (Lord)
(just using these titles as references).
Basically it's mostly respect and give thanks to the Earth and all for what we have.Respect all, accept all and harm none.
As with any belief system there is also the mystical side,prayers,rituals,ceremonies and such.
It's another way of seeing the same thing.That there is a higher power.

MTC

BlessedBe

google it

many people years a go in ancient times believed in idols and many false gods. The athenians had many statues of false gods and worshipped them as false gods and thought they had powers etc....that was their "false "religion . I am sure there is a lot more on it...I know the apostles went out to some of them and tried to teach them of the One true God.... It talks of the apostle Pauls speech before such a group in Acts 17verse 16-34....there is a discription of pagans in those verses...

Thank you for writing this response, I couldn't of said it better my self. Merry Meet & Blessed Be

Oh You are very welcome Merry Christmas and God Bless you!!!!

Paganism is a term which has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or cultic practices or beliefs of any folk religion, and of historical and contemporary polytheistic religions in particular.

The term can be defined broadly, to encompass the faith traditions outside the Abrahamic monotheistic group of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The group so defined includes the Indian religions (such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism,etc.), Native American religions and mythologies and Shinto as well as non-Abrahamic ethnic religions in general. Characteristic of Pagan traditions is the absence of proselytism and the presence of a living mythology which explains religious practice. The term "pagan" is a Christian adaptation of the "gentile" of Judaism, and as such has an inherent Christian or Abrahamic bias, and pejorative connotations among Westerners, comparable to heathen, and infidel, mushrik and kafir in Islam.

Most Pagan traditions are polytheistic, but interpretations of the nature of a deity may vary widely. In principle, there is the distinction of hard vs. soft polytheism. Hard polytheism is the notion of the existence of gods and goddesses independent from the human mind and from one another. Soft polytheism considers the plurality of gods as "aspects" of other notions of the divine, including Monism, Pantheism, Panentheism or Deism, Mysticism or Psychologism (Jungianism). Historical polytheism was not founded on religious belief in gods, but focussed on ritual, tradition and notions of virtue. The historical Pagans did not see "All Goddesses as one Goddess; all Gods as one God", but some types of modern Pagans believe that there is but a single divinity or life force of the universe, which is immanent in the world. The various manifestations and archetypes of this divinity are not viewed as wholly separate, but as different aspects of the divine which are ineffable.

I'm not sure what other thread you are referring to but the person was probably attempting to point out that common symbols of Christianity (like the fish and cross {if Jesus does come back do you really think he wants to see another cross?}) were in use in Pagan traditions long before Jesus came along. The person most likely wanted to point out the seeming overlay of Christian holidays like Christmas, Easter, ect. onto the Pagan holidays along with symbolism that seems to fit more closely to the Pagan celebrations then anything in Christianity. Most Pagan religions celebrate the cycles and seasons of nature through a festival calendar that honours these changes. The timing of festivals, and the rites celebrated, may vary from climate to climate, and will also vary (sometimes widely) depending upon which particular Pagan religion the adherent subscribes to.

While many of you celebrate Christmas this year think about this.

Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Christmas is essentially the symbology and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it. Yule traditions include decorating a fir tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration and merriment.

Have a Happy Yule/Merry Solstice... Oh, and a nice Christmas too...

this is the way the Native Americans feel.