Well that's why I ask what you mean by "paganism".

It depends who's defining the word.

Here are some different defintions that I found on Google.

Def #1: Paganism - any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism.


By the above definition any religion other than the religions listed above is a pagan religion. That would even include Greek Mythology.


Def #2: Paganism - an Earth-based Religion; from the Latin paganus, a country dweller.

By that definition the North American Indians would be pagans. As would the Celtic Witches. Although the Celtic Witches also worship a Moon Goddess so is that Earth-based?

Def #3: Paganism - a nature-based religion. It is important to remember that all wiccans are pagan, but not all pagans are wiccan. There is a very wide variety of pagan religions, wicca is just one of them.

The above definition came from a Wiccan site that claims that Wicca is a nature-based religion. But they still worship a Moon Goddess. Wouldn't that make it a 'deity-based' religion?

I suppose that all depends on how they view the Moon Goddess. I personally view the Moon Goddess as an abstract concept rather than as an actual personified deity. So for me it qualifies as pantheism. It's just an abstract view, not really the worship of a deity.

From what I can tell from both Cunningham, and Penczak, pantheism is a valid Wicca view.

I'm not sure where Buddhism would fall in all of this.

I'm not sure if I'm a 'Pagan'. I guess that all depends on who's defining the term.

I guess the label fits me by all three of the above definitions.

Ironically it could also fit an atheist. By the above definitions even an atheist would be a 'pagan'.

Do you have other definitions to offer?

I'm not sure what you mean when you say, 'pagan'. And I'm not even sure if I am a pagan.

This is why I prefer to use the label "Pantheism" because it means "All is God".

That's my fundamental view. Witchcraft are just techniques I use.

Like Jess Lee I prefer to go labeless. But I don't want to get arrested for indecency.

Are you using "Paganism" to refer to Celtic Traditions? I'm sure they would qualify as pagan by at least some, if not all, of the above definitions, but they certainly wouldn't be the only religions that those definitions would cover.

I think if current religions don't satisfy your spiritual needs a good idea might be to withdraw your attention from them and place it on the true nature of self.

Focus on the present moment of existence and the reality you have manifested around you, and your own body which is a universe itself.

Anyway I have decided to tend to my own universe and focus on inner worlds and the infinite being that I am. Infinity goes in both directions, infinitely small (inner) and infinitely large (outer.)

Goodmorning!

I personally define anything that is not Judeo-Christian or Islamic in origin as being "Pagan." I’m sure someone would find reason to argue with that also.

The above definition came from a Wiccan site that claims that Wicca is a nature-based religion. But they still worship a Moon Goddess. Wouldn't that make it a 'deity-based' religion? huh

I suppose that all depends on how they view the Moon Goddess. I personally view the Moon Goddess as an abstract concept rather than as an actual personified deity. So for me it qualifies as pantheism. It's just an abstract view, not really the worship of a deity.

That’s crap and is no better than those Christian televangelists ripping off seniors with their scams. Can’t anyone cast a spell? You don’t have to be a Witch. The term Witch is quite subjective. I have been called a "Witch" by several of the male Christians on forum.

I guess I didn’t word that correctly. There are certainly people that possess much more knowledge of Witchcraft and spell casting but this I would attribute to the amount of time they have spent actually studying the Craft and performing spells. But I think a person could still attempt to cast a spell who is not officially a Witch. That is why I often times become annoyed with "hereditary Witches." I live in New England so of course many people here claim that they are powerful hereditary Witches and can trace their lineages back to executed "Witches." That doesn’t mean that they are superior to non hereditary Witches in my opinion.