[k9markiii]

I don't entirely understand paganism. What is it? Do you believe in gods that control different small parts of life. Most of the info on wikipedia refers to early pagans like greeks, romans and celts.

[Teao the Cat]

The simple answer is: we all believe different things. Paganism isn't a religion like Christianity or Islam, where there is a holy text to follow, and people believe (by and large) the same things. Pagans tend to follow a nature based path, and most have some belief in deities, but past that...

[Hylean]

(Original post by k9markiii)
I don't entirely understand paganism. What is it? Do you believe in gods that control different small parts of life. Most of the info on wikipedia refers to early pagans like greeks, romans and celts.

Try searching "neo-paganism" or "new age religions", that might help. Also terms like Ásatrú, Wicca, Gardner, Druidism, etc.

[k9markiii]

Aha I will try those searches Hylean. A friend of mine that I sit by in orchestra is head of the pagan society at my uni and I've been embarrassed to ask what it's all about.

[Skwee]

Happy belated Mabon, everyone.

[Etoile]

Blessed Samhain!

[Hylean]

(Original post by Etoile)
Blessed Samhain!

And to you.

[MrHayden]

Ah you loony bunch of bastards - count me in!

[Etoile]

(Original post by Hylean)
And to you.

Best sabbat of them all

(Original post by MrHayden)
Ah you loony bunch of bastards - count me in!

[DangerMouse94]

I wish everyone a very happy Samhain! Have a great night

[Ahotaru]

I just went today with the Pagan Soc of my uni to a forest to celebrate Samhain with a ritual. It was, indeed, my first. Very interesting and filling!

All hail the pagans!

And happy Samhain to all of you =)

[KrisCussans]

I am suprised there are any pagans left after what the Catholics did. Its nice to see that you have the freedom to practice your religion without being murdered and tortured or being attached to any stretching devices.

[Just Another Girly]

is being a pagan when you leave your religion because i left mine but it wasnt Christianity's it was Islam

[Stiff Little Fingers]

(Original post by Just Another Girly)
is being a pagan when you leave your religion because i left mine but it wasnt Christianity's it was Islam

Not necessarily - that's being an apostate. If you've left it because you don't believe in any sort of god then you're an atheist, if you've left it because another religion makes more sense then you're a member of that religion, paganism is more pantheism or belief in spinoza's god (nature) - so you'd be a pagan if you fall under that umbrella.

Having said that, I'm not a pagan and one of the resident pagans would probably be able to give a better definition of what it is to be a pagan.

[Just Another Girly]

(Original post by Alofleicester)
Not necessarily - that's being an apostate. If you've left it because you don't believe in any sort of god then you're an atheist, if you've left it because another religion makes more sense then you're a member of that religion, paganism is more pantheism or belief in spinoza's god (nature) - so you'd be a pagan if you fall under that umbrella.

Having said that, I'm not a pagan and one of the resident pagans would probably be able to give a better definition of what it is to be a pagan.

hmm thanks but one quick question what if i left my religion but did not go into another o however i still believe in a god and agree with different aspects of different religions

[Stiff Little Fingers]

(Original post by Just Another Girly)
hmm thanks but one quick question what if i left my religion but did not go into another one however i still believe in a god and agree with different aspects of different religions

Well - do you believe in a god that still interferes with day to day life, or one that started things off but then just sat back and watched thereon in?

If it's a god that still interacts with the world - then irreligious theist. If it's one that started things off but doesn't meddle with the world - then deist.