International Pagan Values Month--coming to Terms
I've seen a few people posting about the International Pagan Values Month, including a very thought-provoking post by my good friend, sannion here. Despite my overall aversion to Philosophical discussions anymore, I feel myself somewhat drawn to this topic.
Unfortunately, like any decent Philosophical conversation, we first need to define our terms. WTF is a "Pagan," anyway? Christians use the term to denote anyone "not-Christian," and often think "Pagan = Satan-worshipper." Many people think "Pagan = Wicca (or something very close)." Many people also think "Pagan = Polytheist," and "Polytheist = Pagan," and let it stop there.
One of the many problems with trying to define a "Pagan" is the fact that the term itself was has such broad and sweeping meanings. Not coincidentally, much like the original meanings of the word, "Paganism" tends to be a "catch-all" term for a wide variety of religio-spiritual practices and beliefs that go against the grain of our Traditional Judeo-Christian religion, and the culture that has arisen from that over the course of the past 2000 years. Many people may begrudgingly use the term "Pagan" to describe them or their Practices, for the sole reason that there doesn't seem to be a better descriptor for them or their Practices. The term "Pagan" has almost become a placeholder for "alternative, pre-Christian-ish religious Beliefs or Practices." What unites these (often disparate) Paths?
Most succinctly, Pagans reject the MonoTheism of the Judeo-Christian "God."
I think that trying to define specific Values of a culture that is largely derived from a "rebellion against" another movement (i.e., Judeo-Christian MonoTheism) is going to be a difficult endeavor at best. Not that I believe this is because "all Pagans are all wrapped up in rebelling against Christianity," but because people comprise Individuals. And Individuals who go to the trouble (personally, spiritually, and socially) to seek out more-difficult-to-find sources for their Spiritual nourishment tend to be very Individual persons. Many people, unfortunately, never graduate past the "I don't hafta be a Christian anymore, so nyaaaah!" mentality, which only further perpetuates the "rebelling against Christianity" motif that seems so typical of much of modern day Paganism. OTOH, people who are naturally inclined to be Tricksters and whatnot are often drawn to Paganism because, let's face it, most mainstream religions don't really seem to cater to such individuals. No wonder Discordianism is lumped in with Paganism. If Christianity encourages people to feel included in a "flock," then Paganism seems to encourage Individual Self-Expression of all kinds and manners. Perhaps this is one of the first Values that is commonly found in Pagan religions.
I also think that Personal Responsibility and Self-Reliance is also highly stressed in Pagan circles. Not that other religions don't also teach this, but when you are a part of a comparatively much smaller network like Paganism (cf. Christianity), you are forced to be more Self-Reliant and Personally Responsible for the simple reason that Pagans don't have the social, financial, and other types of support structures that more populous and well-established religions have (e.g., in their charity work, etc.). As I once quipped:
"Never trust someone who requires a Savior."
I think this also leads to a greater role of Magick and so-called "supernatural" practices in Paganism compared to other more mainstream religions. Whilst there are certainly Magickal Practices in other religions, few religions seem to so identify with Magick as many (though not all) Pagan Paths. Indeed, many "Occultists" are often lumped in with the Pagans, even though Occultism seems to be more "Magickally focused," whereas Paganism seems to be more "Religiously focused." Not that they are exclusive, but they can be just as divergent as any other 2 Paths grouped under the large umbrella of "Paganism." Many Occultists (who often will use the "Pagan" moniker just as a verbal short-hand) have actually created/found their own Path, using little more than Trial-and-Error and Personal Experience from their own Magickal Practices as their "religious Path."
I think that brings up another important Value that most Pagans would agree to--the supremacy of Personal Experience over all else, particularly over any sort of "Authoritative" or "Hierarchical" stances on issues.
I may have more thoughts on this topic later (I've already written more than I had thought I would), but I think this post is a good start, if nothing else.
Unfortunately, like any decent Philosophical conversation, we first need to define our terms. WTF is a "Pagan," anyway? Christians use the term to denote anyone "not-Christian," and often think "Pagan = Satan-worshipper." Many people think "Pagan = Wicca (or something very close)." Many people also think "Pagan = Polytheist," and "Polytheist = Pagan," and let it stop there.
One of the many problems with trying to define a "Pagan" is the fact that the term itself was has such broad and sweeping meanings. Not coincidentally, much like the original meanings of the word, "Paganism" tends to be a "catch-all" term for a wide variety of religio-spiritual practices and beliefs that go against the grain of our Traditional Judeo-Christian religion, and the culture that has arisen from that over the course of the past 2000 years. Many people may begrudgingly use the term "Pagan" to describe them or their Practices, for the sole reason that there doesn't seem to be a better descriptor for them or their Practices. The term "Pagan" has almost become a placeholder for "alternative, pre-Christian-ish religious Beliefs or Practices." What unites these (often disparate) Paths?
Most succinctly, Pagans reject the MonoTheism of the Judeo-Christian "God."
I think that trying to define specific Values of a culture that is largely derived from a "rebellion against" another movement (i.e., Judeo-Christian MonoTheism) is going to be a difficult endeavor at best. Not that I believe this is because "all Pagans are all wrapped up in rebelling against Christianity," but because people comprise Individuals. And Individuals who go to the trouble (personally, spiritually, and socially) to seek out more-difficult-to-find sources for their Spiritual nourishment tend to be very Individual persons. Many people, unfortunately, never graduate past the "I don't hafta be a Christian anymore, so nyaaaah!" mentality, which only further perpetuates the "rebelling against Christianity" motif that seems so typical of much of modern day Paganism. OTOH, people who are naturally inclined to be Tricksters and whatnot are often drawn to Paganism because, let's face it, most mainstream religions don't really seem to cater to such individuals. No wonder Discordianism is lumped in with Paganism. If Christianity encourages people to feel included in a "flock," then Paganism seems to encourage Individual Self-Expression of all kinds and manners. Perhaps this is one of the first Values that is commonly found in Pagan religions.
I also think that Personal Responsibility and Self-Reliance is also highly stressed in Pagan circles. Not that other religions don't also teach this, but when you are a part of a comparatively much smaller network like Paganism (cf. Christianity), you are forced to be more Self-Reliant and Personally Responsible for the simple reason that Pagans don't have the social, financial, and other types of support structures that more populous and well-established religions have (e.g., in their charity work, etc.). As I once quipped:
"Never trust someone who requires a Savior."
I think this also leads to a greater role of Magick and so-called "supernatural" practices in Paganism compared to other more mainstream religions. Whilst there are certainly Magickal Practices in other religions, few religions seem to so identify with Magick as many (though not all) Pagan Paths. Indeed, many "Occultists" are often lumped in with the Pagans, even though Occultism seems to be more "Magickally focused," whereas Paganism seems to be more "Religiously focused." Not that they are exclusive, but they can be just as divergent as any other 2 Paths grouped under the large umbrella of "Paganism." Many Occultists (who often will use the "Pagan" moniker just as a verbal short-hand) have actually created/found their own Path, using little more than Trial-and-Error and Personal Experience from their own Magickal Practices as their "religious Path."
I think that brings up another important Value that most Pagans would agree to--the supremacy of Personal Experience over all else, particularly over any sort of "Authoritative" or "Hierarchical" stances on issues.
I may have more thoughts on this topic later (I've already written more than I had thought I would), but I think this post is a good start, if nothing else.