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Understanding Paganism

One of the first things people do when they follow a pagan path is to choose a magic name. The role of prayer in Paganism Many people hear the word “prayer” and assume that people in other religions do. When Christians talk about Paganism, some think that they have other means of Paganism.

The Origins

The word “pagan” is derived from the Latin word pagunis (pagani), a term used to describe rural dwellers who did not convert to the Christian-Jewish religion. Paganism can be understood as referring to any polytheistic religion that is sensual and materialistic in its orientation.

Pagani adhered to the ancient religions and continued to worship their many gods and goddesses but rejected the Christian-Jewish concept of a single God. Today’s pagan tradition manifests itself in communities reclaiming their ancient sites and ceremonies in eastern Europe, bringing humanity into harmony with the earth, individuals following personal spiritual paths, and small groups in Western Europe and European countries under a tutelage pagan deity.

The modern pagan tradition includes beliefs and practices, such as nature worship, that differ from major world religions. Deities of Paganism Many deities are worshipped in both modern pagan and ancient cultures. Many of the deities of pagan religions include ancestor deities.

Gods and Goddesses

Others, such as the followers of Isis and Osiris in antiquity and the Pagans in the modern world, see the goddess as one of the great goddesses of the gods or as one of them in harmony with the secret universe. Most pagans regard the Divine as a living being, but there are certain gods and goddesses in every tradition. The pagans regard goddesses and gods as communities of individuals, similar to the various human communities of the world.

Modern Paganism or Neopaganism includes reconstructive religions such as Roman polytheistic reconstructivism, Hellenism, Slavic indigenous beliefs, Celtic reconstructivist paganism and paganism, and modern eclectic traditions such as Wicca and its many descendants, Neo-Druidism and Discordianism. Paganism is considered one of the oldest religions globally and dates back to the Palaeolithic period about 23,000 years ago, as Venus of Willendorf suggests. Most modern pagans believe in the divine character of the natural world, which is why it is often described as a world religion.

Wicca is one of many different pagan religions, but it is also relatively new. It is a western movement whose followers practice witchcraft and nature worship (see below), and it is a religion based on Christian traditions of Northern and Western Europe. Despite its growing popularity, there are still many misconceptions about Wicca and many other pagan religions.

History

Since the Middle Ages, the term “paganism” has been applied to non-Christian religions because they supposedly believe in false gods. One of the most common misconceptions is that pagans worship Satan or practice black magic. Instead of making the right judgment, some Christians refer to others as “pagans,” without fully understanding what a pagan is.

Pagan religious customs can range from dissolute behavior to seemingly harmless traditions such as positioning one’s body or taking up prayer. Pagan customs do not reflect Paganism itself but are rather the forms that pagans use in their religious traditions.

Recognition of the divine nature is at the heart of the pagan faith. The pagans are conscious of the natural world and see the power of the Divine in the continuous cycle of life and death. In Paganism, there are many deities, but there is also a recognition of the diversity of nature.

Pagan religions are natural religions, and their main purpose is not to harm others. As already mentioned, pagans value life and treat everyone with respect. In Deuteronomy 12, there is no pagan way to serve their God without doing despicable things.

Life Cycle

The Yule is a key part of the life cycle for many pagans as the child is promised to be born in Ostara at the winter solstice, where he will conquer the power of darkness and come in spring to announce the triumphant return of nature. By acquiring power from God, the Sun King, at the end of his youth and running to Greenwood to represent the strength and power of the sun during summer months, the pagan remnants remember the way of the gods by shortening the days of Yule.

Like other spiritual paths and beliefs, the principles of Paganism are celebrated at all times of life. This article deals with Paganism, Paganism, and pagan practices in the light of the Gospel. Understanding this theme enables us to formulate and apply the principles that underlie many customs associated with Christian holidays.

We have already discussed how deities interact with themselves, the principles and concepts of pagan religion, and magical tools and theories. We have also talked about different interpretations of the Triple Law, one of the most common teachings of modern pagan religions.

Avalon Cares Relief Project

In 2005 our Chancellor General, Joie, proposed that we create a charity branch of our organization to raise funds for disaster relief efforts. Many Pagans expressed concerns about large NGOs with large overhead costs that eat up much of the money donated to them. Some Pagans have written to tell us that in the past when they’ve tried to forward funds and goods from their organization’s fundraising efforts to Christian aid organizations, these things have been turned away as the recipients refused to accept anything from Pagans.

In 2005 Avalon Cares raised over $28,000 for relief efforts. We rented trucks and ferried relief supplies into Mississippi and Louisiana for hurricane victims (see sidebar photos). We shipped replacement uniforms to police officers in New Orleans. This is just a start.

Help us put the word out and make your donations to Avalon Cares, a Pagan relief network.

Purpose

Our goal is to promote the image of Paganism as a positive, healthy, and modern form of spirituality. Our members are committed to providing information about Paganism and facilitating the growth of positive Pagan communities.

The purpose of Officers of Avalon, Inc. is to serve as a liaison between the Pagan community and the Public Safety and Emergency Services community, by:

  • Providing a support network for Pagans who work in the Public Safety and Emergency Services fields.
  • Serving as an example that there is a place for Pagan professionals in our communities
  • Showing other Public Service and Emergency Services employees that many who work by their sides are Pagans and that ours are valid spiritual paths.
  • Showing other Pagans that many Pagans were a badge, carry a gun, fight fires and save lives.
  • Educating the Pagan community on the best way to interact with Public Safety personnel as they are carrying out their duties.
  • Educating Public Safety personnel on what they may find as they interact with the Pagan community.

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Our Mission

Officers of Avalon is a Pagan organization whose aim is to help all those who are Pagan in any way attain the spiritual, psychic and social development they desire.

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