X, I agree with what you are saying about paganism, and I think that is where a lot of the confusion about it comes from. Obviously, historically everyone was originally pagan, in that they worshipped the elements of nature, animals, and multiple gods and goddesses. There were a lot of human and animal sacrifices also. These are now thought to be purely evil, but really most often represented primitive men wanting to appease nature and ensure things like rain and healthy crops, who were offering gifts to the gods.
My Catholic girlfriends have described collecting money to baptize the world's pagan babies, so they would not go to hell. I am sure that did not help reinforce a positive image of paganism, either.
Just to clarify, when I talk about paganism I am talking about modern paganism, which is mostly about environmentalism, ecumenicism, general reverence for nature and all life, respect for the energy and power of women, and often vegetarianism, and would most clearly be described as the U.S. Army did in that url I cited. Some modern pagans adapt beliefs in ancient gods and goddesses to cement and focus and represent their beliefs, and some do not. I definitely do not, and it is not necessary to do that to be pagan in a modern sense. |
