I would tend to believe that for any deeply and sincerely held religious belief system, the way one lives is a manifestation or an enactment of that system. It doesn't have to be pagan; I'm probably overspeaking in saying that this is something tied necessarily to religion. The stuff at the core is going to be stuff that manifests everywhere.
One of the advantages that paganism may have in this over mainstream faith is that for the most part people have to come to it for themselves; there aren't that many people who are raised with it. That means that there aren't as yet many people who are pagan out of a sort of inertia, sticking with what they know because they're familiar with it rather than because it resonates with their innermost.
The disadvantage to that advantage is that paganism, unlike mainstream faiths, attracts people because they want something that's Different to believe in, something that isn't what their parents taught, and the more different the better. Not all of those people find something that resonates with their core in paganism; some of the drift back, out, or other. Others actually do settle down and find in some paganism or other what works for them, rather than what will irritate their blood-kin.
I also think of this that I don't celebrate Sabbats or Esbats, but then again, that could be because I'm not Wiccan. ;)
For every religious belief I'm familiar with, I've seen people who live their faith at their core, and people whose behaviour is not in accord with what they profess.
Indeed, everyone is different; if we were all the same, what would we talk about, and who would bother to speak our Names? :)
One of the advantages that paganism may have in this over mainstream faith is that for the most part people have to come to it for themselves; there aren't that many people who are raised with it. That means that there aren't as yet many people who are pagan out of a sort of inertia, sticking with what they know because they're familiar with it rather than because it resonates with their innermost.
The disadvantage to that advantage is that paganism, unlike mainstream faiths, attracts people because they want something that's Different to believe in, something that isn't what their parents taught, and the more different the better. Not all of those people find something that resonates with their core in paganism; some of the drift back, out, or other. Others actually do settle down and find in some paganism or other what works for them, rather than what will irritate their blood-kin.
I also think of this that I don't celebrate Sabbats or Esbats, but then again, that could be because I'm not Wiccan. ;)
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But hey, everyone is different I suppose. :)
That is very true. Especially with people my age or younger, you tend to find them becoming Pagan for all the wrong reasons. It is really sad.
:)
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Indeed, everyone is different; if we were all the same, what would we talk about, and who would bother to speak our Names? :)
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