Difference between revisions of "Paganism"

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*'''Paleo-Paganism''': coined to contrast with "Neopaganism",  denoting a  Pagan culture that has not been disrupted by other cultures. The term applies to [[Hinduism]], [[Shinto]], pre-Migration period Germanic paganism as described by [[Tacitus]], Celtic Polytheism as described by [[Julius Caesar]], the Ancient Greek religion and religion in ancient Rome.
 
*'''Paleo-Paganism''': coined to contrast with "Neopaganism",  denoting a  Pagan culture that has not been disrupted by other cultures. The term applies to [[Hinduism]], [[Shinto]], pre-Migration period Germanic paganism as described by [[Tacitus]], Celtic Polytheism as described by [[Julius Caesar]], the Ancient Greek religion and religion in ancient Rome.
  
*'''Meso-Paganism''': Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what its founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, which is, or has been, significantly influenced by monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic worldviews, but has been able to maintain an independence of religious practices. This group includes Native Americans and Australian Aborigine Bushmen, Viking Age Norse paganism.  Other examples include: [[Freemasonry]], [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Theosophy]], [[Spiritualism]], as well as [[Sikhism]], early (pre-1970) [[Wicca]], and the many Afro-Diasporic faiths like Haitian Vodou and Santería.
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*'''Meso-Paganism''': Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what their founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, which is, or has been, significantly influenced by monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic worldviews, but has been able to maintain an independence of religious practices. This group includes Native Americans and Australian Aborigine Bushmen, Viking Age Norse paganism.  Other examples include: [[Freemasonry]], [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Theosophy]], [[Spiritualism]], as well as [[Sikhism]], early (pre-1970) [[Wicca]], and the many Afro-Diasporic faiths like Haitian Vodou and Santería.
  
*'''[[Neo-Paganism]]''': Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what its founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, but consciously attempting to avoid  monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic influences. This definition may include anything on a sliding scale from reconstructionist to [[New Age]] and non-reconstructionist groups such as [[Asatru]] and [[Wicca]].
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*'''[[Neo-Paganism]]''': Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what their founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, but consciously attempting to avoid  monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic influences. This definition may include anything on a sliding scale from reconstructionist to [[New Age]] and non-reconstructionist groups such as [[Asatru]] and [[Wicca]].
  
 
The terms may be spelled with or without hyphens after the prefixes.
 
The terms may be spelled with or without hyphens after the prefixes.

Revision as of 16:27, June 30, 2008

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pagan. (Discuss)

Paganism is a group of religions in which practitioners worship a deity, or deities, usually based on the earth or nature, and not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. Paganism, from Latin paganus, literally means (as a noun) "country dweller." Alternatively, pagan is used as a pejorative to describe anyone not of a certain faith, similar to the pejorative 'heathen'.

Subdivisions

Pagan subdivisions coined by Isaac Bonewits:

  • Paleo-Paganism: coined to contrast with "Neopaganism", denoting a Pagan culture that has not been disrupted by other cultures. The term applies to Hinduism, Shinto, pre-Migration period Germanic paganism as described by Tacitus, Celtic Polytheism as described by Julius Caesar, the Ancient Greek religion and religion in ancient Rome.
  • Meso-Paganism: Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what their founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, which is, or has been, significantly influenced by monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic worldviews, but has been able to maintain an independence of religious practices. This group includes Native Americans and Australian Aborigine Bushmen, Viking Age Norse paganism. Other examples include: Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Spiritualism, as well as Sikhism, early (pre-1970) Wicca, and the many Afro-Diasporic faiths like Haitian Vodou and Santería.
  • Neo-Paganism: Groups begun as an attempt to revive, recreate, or perpetuate what their founders believe(d) to be original Paleopagan beliefs and practices, but consciously attempting to avoid monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic influences. This definition may include anything on a sliding scale from reconstructionist to New Age and non-reconstructionist groups such as Asatru and Wicca.

The terms may be spelled with or without hyphens after the prefixes.

See also