The Four **** Beliefs of Paganism
At the **** of Paganism, there are four beliefs that Pagans share.
1) The Divine has made Itself manifest through many Deities in different
places and at different times. No one Deity can express the totality of the
Divine. This is called polytheism -- the **** are many. (Note: Strictly
speaking, this is more like monotheism than polytheism).
2) The Divine is present in Nature and in each one of us. This is called
pantheism -- the Divine is everywhere.
3) The Divine is represented as both female and male. The two major aspects
of the Divine are the ******* and ***, although the Divine is beyond
limitations of gender.
4) The Pagan Ethic (also called the Wiccan Rede) is followed: If it harm
none, do what you will. This means a Pagan cannot cause harm to anyone or
anything, including themselves.
The Pagan way is not the only "right" way. Because of this, Pagans do not
preach to others or try to convert people, since there is no need. Pagans
believe that there are many paths to the Divine. Pagans also believe that
there is more to be learned from meditation and contemplation than anything
we can learn from an external source. A Norse priestess called Sigrid the
Proud explained to the Christian missionaries who tried to convert her:
I must not depart from...
The Four **** Beliefs of Paganism
At the **** of Paganism, there are four beliefs that Pagans share.
1) The Divine has made Itself manifest through many Deities in different
places and at different times. No one Deity can express the totality of the
Divine. This is called polytheism -- the **** are many. (Note: Strictly
speaking, this is more like monotheism than polytheism).
2) The Divine is present in Nature and in each one of us. This is called
pantheism -- the Divine is everywhere.
3) The Divine is represented as both female and male. The two major aspects
of the Divine are the ******* and ***, although the Divine is beyond
limitations of gender.
4) The Pagan Ethic (also called the Wiccan Rede) is followed: If it harm
none, do what you will. This means a Pagan cannot cause harm to anyone or
anything, including themselves.
The Pagan way is not the only "right" way. Because of this, Pagans do not
preach to others or try to convert people, since there is no need. Pagans
believe that there are many paths to the Divine. Pagans also believe that
there is more to be learned from meditation and contemplation than anything
we can learn from an external source. A Norse priestess called Sigrid the
Proud explained to the Christian missionaries who tried to convert her:
I must not depart from the faith which I have held
and my ancestors before me;
on the other hand, I shall make no objection
to your believing in the *** that pleases you best.
The various Pagan religions are religions of tolerance. However, that does
not mean Pagans will tolerate oppression, suppression, or other
human-conceived evils.
The purpose of Paganism is to remind us all that we are not alone -- that
we are important, integral parts of the universe. The Divine is within all
living things, including ourselves. Paganism celebrates the joy of life and
all living things. Paganism teaches we are each plants from a common root,
and that hurting others ultimately hurts ourselves.
Pagans are very concerned about the state of the planet, because the Divine
should be protected. Most Pagans are environmentalists, and recognize that
the very existence of the human race is a threat to the rest of the planet.
We must honor the life forms which have lived on our planet for millennia.
We are to tread lightly on the Earth, take what we need, leave what we do
not, and honor the **** for providing for us by giving back to the Earth.
Many Pagans are also vegetarian, not only for spiritual reasons, but also
to protest large-scale factory farming and meat production that is harmful
to the planet and cruel to other species.
The newer religions of the past 2,000 years are based on what Pagans see as
a fundamental error -- that the Divine is male and only male. This is a
strange belief to Pagans. The Divine has manifested Itself over the ages as
both ******* and *** to help us understand the complexity of the Divine. If
we worship only one half of the Divine, understanding is lost. We say that
*** is made in our image, and not in yours, that one *** is Divinely
ordained over the other for certain privileges. Paganism teaches that both
***** are equally valuable and necessary, for life cannot exist without
male and female.
Pagans believe strongly in balance and harmony. No quality to excess is
good. We much learn to use qualities skillfully, but inevitably we fail at
times. Pagans accept that we are much less than perfect, and all of us will
get things wrong. To start again and make amends, Pagans must address the
imbalance and counter it -- they must give back in some way to counteract
something taken or abused. This may not happen immediately, or even not for
days or years later...but eventually, balance will prevail.
Most Pagans also believe in reincarnation -- our life on Earth is one of
many and the purpose of life is to learn and evolve. Reincarnation was an
idea taught by the Druids as well as the more well-known Eastern religions.
Not all Pagans believe in reincarnation, and some come to it later along
their paths. But it is important to remember that the doctrine of
reincarnation was widely accepted prior to Christianity.
Because Pagans believe the Divine is everywhere and in each of us, we can
be in union with the Divine in both this life and the next. Pagans do not
focus on what the neighbors do or don't have. Rather, Pagans celebrate and
enjoy life and the gift of consciousness, which is a major miracle in
itself. There is no need to flee Earth to find non-material bliss. We
should celebrate our Earthly incarnation, and enjoy life to the fullest.
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