Paganism reference??!?!?!?! (OT)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2003
Paganism reference??!?!?!?! (OT)
27
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 4:25pm

I have been curioUs about it for along time..and my cousin is studying it in some special learning thing or another in college..I didnt even know they offered that kind of thing in school?!?!?!(WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED A RELIGION???)


Anyways I was wondering if anyone knows of any good books to introduce it be it fiction or non I am just curious about the whole Pagan culture . TIA and sorry so off topic but I dont know where to look and I am among friends here so...:)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 5:18pm
Any particular branch you are curious about? Pagan covers a lot of territory! There are some good online sources, but you need to be a little careful since there are also some pretty inaccurate and inflammatory ones. I am Wiccan (and YES it is most definitely a religion!LOL). I could recommend a few books - anything by Scott Cunningham or Raymond Buckland would be very good and can be found in the "new age" section of most bookstores (all specific to Wicca, though). There is a wiccan and pagan parenting board at Parents Place on ivillage, and you might like to check out http://www.witchvox.com for information and links. I can also answer some questions for you if there is anything in particular you want to know.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-02-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 6:24pm
I used to be very familiar with this subject, but am a little rusty. There's a publisher called Llewellyn or something (you may have to google for a spell check) that publishes this kind of material. Some stuff is good, but Llewellyn also publishes a few quack jobs, so you have to kinda judge for yourself. I can ask around a few places and see if I can find some resources for you.

I know that for the most part Paganism entails goddessworship, but I don't know anyone who is "into" that kind of thing anymore. Alot of people think it's schmooey, to be polite.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 6:48pm

Yeah but every religion/belief sects have people who believe they are schmooey.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 6:49pm
Yea, where is that Gothratty anyhow?!?!?

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

Avatar for brens2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 7:00pm
"When Someone You Love Is Wiccan:A Guide to Witchcraft and Paganism for Concerned Friends, Nervous Parents, and Curious Co-Workers"by Carl McColman

I haven't read this book,but I've heard it's good for those who want to know what it's about.Someone else mentioned Witchvox which is an awesome site.Paganism is in large made up of all sorts of spiritual paths...some people generalize it like saying christians,which can stand for many different christian religions.Also,like someone else said,be careful what you read on the internet.

A few books I've read from the library were:A womans guide to earth traditions(can't remember author,but was an interesting read on a few earth religions),Celebrate the Earth(again,can't remember authors name),The Spiral Dance by:Starhawk(alot of personal opinions and thoughts but a good read).There were a few others,but these are the ones I can remember without having to go through all my books,lol.

Bren

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 7:35pm
I dont like that WitchVox.... =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-02-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 8:11pm
Definitely- lots of people think ALL religions, some, parts, etc, are schmooey.

What do you MEAN not a word! I use that word all the time!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 8:28pm
WOOHOO!

I am absolutely THRILLED to read posts from such open minded ladies! I a Unitarian Universalist, and have dabbled in Earth-centered religion. Currently, I worship a female deity, kind of on my own terms... I can't recommend any great nonfiction, but I LOVED "The Mists of Avalon" (and anything by Marion Simmer Bradley, really). That would be my recommended read. :)

-Tina

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Abby Lane is

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 9:21pm

Well, that is kinda cool =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2004
Fri, 04-23-2004 - 4:13am
Quick...somone cover karrietex's eyes....

Paganism is a very generic term for a very broad scope of earth/nature based religions. Anthing I say about paganism can not be taken for exact fact because I am refering to hurndreds if not thousands of different religions. Each one haveing something about it to set itself apart. Every ancient culture had a pagan religion. Unfortunately alot of information about some of these religions have been destroyed by others, other information was simply lost with the passing of time. Wicca is rather new with its roots planted in what information we do have. Many of the old religions were centered around the Goddess, others were a mix of gods and goddess. The strong devotion to the Goddess is why some believe that the Catholic church puts so much emphasis on Mother Mary. Most did not believe in a hell, but rather focused on some form of karma. One of the debates I have ran into most often between christians and pagans is that the pagan has to take responsibilty for their own actions and it will reflect in their karma. If the pagan does something bad then that negative energy will come back to them, however, all the christain has to do is pray to their God and ask for forgivness and say "the devil made me do it" and it is as if the bad act never took place. Personaly I think that a pagan who belives in karma and takes responsiblity for thier own actions shows alot of self awarness. Paganism isnt for me, but there is alot of spirituality there.

I don't know if you are christian or not, but if you are, some small fragments of our pagan past still exist within the chruch. This mainly goes with the more traditional churches, Catholic, Episcopal...etc. Christian reglious holidays fall on or very near the major european pagan holidays. Many theologist believe that the church did this to stamp out the old religion, or to make it more tempting for pagans to convert. In many of the Puritan settlements in the colonies, Christmas was illegal to celebrate due to many of the traditions that had pagan roots.

The origianl post was a request for books to read, any that I would suggest mel has already posted. I just wanted to give a very brief idea of what paganism was/is and how its influence was strong enough to show up in the christain church, a faith that tried to destroy it.

BTW I am an Epicopalian. If anyone would like to talk or kindly debate religion with me, I would be happy to start a new thread. This thread isnt the right place to do that.

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