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The Allergic Pagan

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Pagan

2015-01-21T16:59:38-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Neo-Pagan Mysteries, Part 3: The Eternal Return

Last updated on: January 21, 2015 at 4:59 pm By John Halstead

In contrast to the monotheistic religions with their linear view of sacred time and the progressive nature of history leading to a final eschcatological event, many Neo-Pagans view sacred time as cyclical, rotating between life and death in an eternal cycle of periodic renewal, which Mircea Eliade called "the eternal return". In contrast to the Dharmic religions, which seek escape from this cycle, many Neo-Pagans embrace it. Far from being a source of pessimism or despair, for these Neo-Pagans, the ineluctability of death gives deeper meaning to existence. Read more

2015-01-19T09:49:57-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Neo-Pagan Mysteries, Part 2: The Meaning of Death

Last updated on: January 19, 2015 at 9:49 am By John Halstead

Neo-Paganism sanctifies our ultimate annihilation and holds that death is no less sacred than life. Indeed, death possesses a holiness which transcends the individual ego’s will toward life. Read more

2015-01-15T16:19:27-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Neo-Pagan Mysteries, Part 1: Introduction

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 4:19 pm By John Halstead

Neo-Paganism may be understood as an initiatory or mystery religion. While Wiccan initiation is an example of both group and personal initiation, Neo-Pagans can experience a personal initiation without joining any group. Read more

2015-01-15T00:21:16-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Non-Violent Writing: Selma and the “Pagan” question

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 12:21 am By John Halstead

How are we to respond when other claim the exclusive right to use certain words? I think, at the very least, we must avoid making the same mistake. We must avoid returning rhetorical violence for rhetorical violence. We must at least try to practice non-violence writing and speaking. Read more

Martin Luther King Jr.

2015-01-11T20:51:26-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“In With the New, Out With the Old”: Generational Conflict Within Paganism

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 8:51 pm By John Halstead

The next time some Pagan elder is demanding I defer to their judgment about my Paganism, I think I will just turn away, turn to someone younger than me, and ask myself what I have done to help the next generation of Pagans thrive. Read more

2015-01-07T14:40:52-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

An atheist Pagan, an animist, and a devotional polytheist walk into a ritual …

Last updated on: January 7, 2015 at 2:40 pm By John Halstead

We have to accept that we can define words for ourselves, but not for others. And we have to be willing to hold hands and circle with someone who may have a very different interpretation of what is going on. Read more

Phrygianum of the Maetreum of Cybele

Unitarian Universalism

words

2014-12-24T15:31:16-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nothing new under the Winter Solstice sun: Christmas as a major sabbat

Last updated on: December 24, 2014 at 3:31 pm By John Halstead

Christmas (like Hallow’een) is a sublime mix of Christian, pagan, and commercial traditions. And I love it that way. Whether you are Christian, Pagan, or atheist, I say, ‘Embrace it. And make it your own!' Read more

2014-12-20T11:33:43-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

HumanisticPaganism.com has a new look!

Last updated on: December 20, 2014 at 11:33 am By John Halstead

HumanisticPaganism.com has gotten a facelift. Among the changes are an informative front page, a handsome look with a fun interface, and new articles about Humanistic Paganism. What is Humanistic Paganism? Humanistic Paganism, also called Naturalistic Paganism, is a unique Pagan orientation for those who are uncomfortable with or skeptical of the supernatural or metaphysical elements of contemporary Paganism. Individuals may use other self-descriptors, such as “Atheist Pagan”, “Atheist Witch”, “Pagan Humanist”, “Druid Naturalist”, etc. Humanistic Paganism has been described as... Read more

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Humanistic Paganism

HumanisticPaganism.com

naturalistic paganism

Paganism

Patheos

2014-12-12T17:06:36-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The First Commandment of Paganism: “Thou Shalt Not Judge” (and why this is a problem)

Last updated on: December 12, 2014 at 5:06 pm By John Halstead

Paganism doesn't have any commandments, like the Abrahamic religions, but if we did, I think the First Commandment of Paganism would be "Thou shalt not judge another’s experience". And I think this is a problem. Read more

Uncategorized

constructive criticism

naturalistic paganism

2014-12-07T17:30:41-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Pagan Slur: Do we hurt the environmental movement by association?

Last updated on: December 7, 2014 at 5:30 pm By John Halstead

It is probable that the people who are slurring environmentalism by association with "paganism" are already convinced that environmentalism is a bad thing, and the association with "paganism" is a post hoc rationalization. But what about more liberal Christians, who might be sympathetic to earth stewardship, but would be put off by associations with contemporary Paganism? Do we scare away more people from the environmental movement than we bring to it? Is the net effect of our association with the environmental movement negative? Do we care? Read more

Uncategorized

earth-centered

earth-centered Paganism

environmental movement

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