Being Pagan

It was in May 1997 that I decided to myself that I was "pagan". As far as I understood, this meant having an Earth-based spirituality, a connection with Nature, reverence for the Earth. I figured these sounded like lovely things, and it was at that time of year when Nature really comes to life and everything is wonderfully green. I knew that I felt a strong connection with all this Earthly stuff, and that this was what fed my spirit.

The word "pagan" derives from Latin "paganus" which means “rural”, “of the countryside” or “outside the city”. It inherently has connotations of the uncivilised, the peasantry, the wild. In reference to religion, we are talking about the diverse temples and holy sites of country folk. When the Roman Empire adopted Christianity as its official religion, it was out in the wilderness that the ancient folk religions continued. Paganism referred to those practices outside the control of government officials.

Before the Empire adopted Christianity, the cult of Jesus Christ was just another pagan religion. Like the Dionysian mysteries and Druidism, their unfamiliar ways were considered a threat to society. Thedangerous aspect of Christianity was the fact that it became a powerful underground force in urban centres across the Empire. The secretive cult seems to have operated much like the many other mystery religions of ancient Rome. A mystic was someone who belonged to a mystery religion, and these religions were mysterious by definition. It meant that you were sworn to an oath of secrecy, and took part in esoteric rituals. The purpose of such rituals was to experience altered states of consciousness, by which the mysteries of the universe were revealed. For the initiates of the Jesus mysteries, that great secret was to do with the divinity of Christ as man-god. In the 4th century, emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. When Christianity became the official religion of the Empire, all other beliefs were considered pagan.

The word "pagan" was equated with “epicurean” to signify a person who is sensual, materialistic, self-indulgent, unconcerned with the future and uninterested in sophisticated culture. Epicurus was a 4th century philosopher who taught that the gods were unconcerned with human affairs and their worship was fruitless. He was regarded as the ultimate heretic by Christian authorities for rejecting all forms of religion.It became increasingly popular to question the validity of religion itself during the Age of the Enlightenment. Epicureanism was re-introduced by the Baroque philosopher Pierre Gassendi, described as a “new paganism” in the history of philosophy.

In 1675 Benedict de Spinoza’s Ethics was published, inspiring the “pantheism controversy” among late 18th century philosophers. Pantheism became a popular philosophy in the 19th century, redefining the traditional concept of God, from a personal celestial king to an impersonal cosmic being. In the late 19th century a magazine called The Pagan Review was published in Britain. A critic wrote, “The neo-pagan movement in England (whatever it amounts to) is no more theological than the neo-Christian movement in France. The “Pagan Review” cares no more for the arguments of Colonel Ingersoll than for those of Paine or Voltaire. Now Theology has so long been a house divided against itself that interest in its controversies has greatly dwindled; this generation, rightly or wrongly, cares far less for abstract theories than for practical results. But the moral teachings of the Gospel are more revered, more firmly intrenched than ever. In this sense the civilized world has an Established Religion.” 

Again the word pagan denotes a wreckless abandonment of the state endorsed religion. To be pagan was to be wild and uncivilised, a threat to societal norms. Although neopagans were praised for their support of feminism, their attitude toward sexuality was regarded as deviant. To be pagan was to let loose an unbridled sensuality. “Paganism, old or new, attacks this principle at the root. It says, “Be a healthy animal. Don’t resist a natural appetite. If you want a thing, reach out and take it. Let yourself go.” We have seen what comes of that. We may see it any day still; and the result is not usually happy. But why confine the application to a single passion? Why not say, “Don’t check any impulse, be it greed or hate or what-ever. If you want your neighbor’s property, or his life, reach out and take it. Be the free, natural man.” They have not come to that yet—unless the anarchists But it would be logical. Gentleman Pagans, it will not do. Without self-control, self-restraint, self-repression, there is no character for yourselves nor the safety of the community.” (Source)

Paganism is used to describe a non-traditional lifestyle, unorthodox or anti-establishment beliefs. It has never referred to a specific religion, merely those marginal religions and philosophies that have the potential to revolutionise our way of life. With this in mind, I confess to paganism.