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Can anybody explain to me what being Pagan means? My boyfriend says he is a Pagan, but doesn't know how to explain it to me.. Sooo, if anyone here could tell me, it would be greatly appreciated

oops forgot my manners.. Please

Someone who doesnt have a religion but isnt atheist...

The difference is that atheist doesn't believe (denies the existance of god)
and the pagan just doen have a real religion... hope that helps you.

it sorta lost me like major

oh thanks yes that helps a bit yes

What is a "Pagan?"

Everybody has their favorite definition of "Pagan." Most people are convinced that their meaning is the correct one. But no consensus exists, even within a single faith tradition or religion.

for more info < a href= "http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm">click here

i hope this answers your questions.

^_^

Per dictionary.com the definition of Pagan is:

-One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
-One who has no religion.
-A non-Christian.
-A hedonist.
-A Neo-Pagan.

There is no set definition of what a Pagan is. It has meant many different things throughout history. In the olden days, it was a way for the Monotheistic religions "Christians" to differentiate themselves from the Polytheistic crowd "many Gods", or Pagans.

Also later, the wiccans and other frenge religions adopted the word to describe themselves.

Also used to describe non-Abramic religions, that is, they do not recognize Abraham as a patriarch. Christians, Muslims & Jews would be Abramic religions. Where as Budhist would not.

The common line that links these definitions is that a Pagan is a non-conformist in the popular "single God" religious sence.

Although I think your boyfriend just uses the word to be cool.

Sorry Angelpie, didn't mean to restate the obvious.

I just posted before the whole page loaded :)

Thank you everyone, that is a lot of help yes.. And lol my boyfriend never tries to sound cool.. I doubt he uses it to impress anyone.. (i know him a tad better then you, ill just ignore the comment and not take it personally thanks)

No problemo. =)

Pagan is a blanket term for people of other than mainstream religions....although wicca is becoming fairly mainstrem
generally nature based religions or magickal paths

Daer I was scrolling and wandering where you were in this thread.. and right on queue I find your post.

I love it when my expectations are met >:)

*smooch* to my favourite little (and I don't in size *winks*) pagan

Loved your post Darkness....I have to agree I am glad somone finally noticed the little things...

Lust it does sound so as your boyfriend doesnt know what he is...in that statement please dont take it personally but most who are *Pagan* seem to know exactly what to say whe that question arises. Personally I like to look into the history of paganism and magicks ...if he is truly pagan maybe you could ask him to teach you something. Just a thought, again please dont take it personally.

From what I have learned the pagan religion is a derivative of old celtic earth worshiping in old Ireland... (the belief of wicken rituals and spirits of land, water...etc

i have one thing to say about the whole matter, Wicca, Pagan, witchcraft it's all different branches from the same tree. no matter what you call it, it's all the same and i think that's the simplest way to say it.

I have to agree with Alassiel about this one...but i would like to add that I believe that Pagans are more into things like earth magic and such..they worship nature basically...Not really believeing in any one diety, but worshiping many different ones.

Here's a few more sites to learn more about the history of Paganism...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/beliefs/index.shtml

http://home.earthlink.net/~glbtrainbow/id10.html .... this one also has some great graphics

very good info......thx for noticing morey dear
heheh
I definately agree with Alassiel...that is what I was meaning....but sometimes words evade me in the sense I am trying to convey them

there are many definitions of the word, and im sure their are a million. I must admit that I belong to what is considered mainstream religion, yet oddly enough am considered a pagan by many people that know me. hmmm, go figure

Not going for self-promotion here, but if you would like to look at the story in my journal, it is about a Pagan wedding I attended a few weeks ago and some of the things involved.

I am going to the Pagan Society this Monday a uni, as I am quite interested infinding out more.

Dont know if that helps or not, but I can always put a post in of what happens on Monday is the thread is still going.

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been by as of lately. Would love to give hugs for how great this thread is.

I've been practicing nearly all my life. I have yet to find a 'definition' for myself that fits. Dark Necromancer, earth based faith with mulitiple deities, the list goes on.

It's up to him how he wants to perceive it, and it's great that he's discovering himself in such multifaceted ways.

As ElderDaniel words it, "Pick one, pick some, pick all the above. I love them all."

Be well and my blessings.

hmm yes, I have done some research and I think I have a good idea now, I am still very interested to learn more, by the sounds of it Alassiel puts it in the most true and simplest form.. Echo, if you wouldn't mind posting what you learned I would definately appreciate it, Thanks again everyone :)

My only thoughts on this that haven't already been said, are that if someone is unable to describe, in detail, what their religious beliefs are, they are either labeling themselves to be cool, labeling themselves to fit in, or just don't know what they're talking about.
Religion is serious, no matter what path you follow.

I'm an 8-Winter Ecclectic Wiccan, myself.

If you've any definate questions dear on any aspect, let me know.

Otherwise, I'm currently keeping opinions to myself at the moment. Something rather shook me up at work this evening, so I'm not quite up for making long speeches about something so dear to my heart.

I've nocited that Wicca has become a common thing.You can't walk into a mall with out at least seeing to or three wiccas and the awesome thing is they are so nice so when they see a person like me or one of you they are always nice enough to come up and say hi.They never wear all black but they make it a poin that they where is alot and you can always tell if they have flowers in there hair!

But Pagan is a common thing for people to say.Most times there just saying it so people can't call them things.It takes away the empower meant that relgion gives people expect for hard core religions people then they use it against you to make you feel bad.