Is Paganism A Nature Religion? (priest, ritual, Earth, tradition)

[Sunstone]

From Pagan Sojourner's blog:

But respect for nature and actually knowing about it enough for worship are two different things. I would argue that many modern Pagans (as well as the general population) do not spend much time outside, do not know the natural cycles (beyond the holidays) and do not have much knowledge about nature itself. (Be honest - if you went for a hike, how many trees, flowers, etc. would you be able to identify?)

Another theme that is mentioned is that Paganism is based on the natural cycles. While Pagan holidays themselves are based on the traditional yearly harvest festivals, I really don't see much in the way of natural cycles being emphasized. After all, how many people are growing most of their food? Is there really an emphasis on life cycles through the use of rites of passage? Do we know the yearly cycle intimately enough to call Paganism a religion based on nature?

While the holidays are still based on traditional harvest festivals, most modern Pagans do not have that intimate connection with the earth. That is why books such as City Magic by Christopher Penczak are becoming popular. Pagans are try to relate to both their spirituality and the mundane world around them.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://pagansojourn.blogspot.com/200...ion.html#links

Is it possible to be Pagan and live in a city out of touch with nature?

How important is a knowledge of and intimacy with nature to being Pagan?

[Random]

It's not just a Nature-based religion. What about the Pagan City-gods and goddesses, of which there are many? The attributes and portfolios of many Pagan gods (war, love, sexuality, the arts etc) are compatible with urban dwelling, and most of those that aren't can be adapted. Certain aspects of it, like Druidism, do require intimate contact with Nature, but then the Earth is their Temple (so to speak) so their faith is with them everywhere and anywhere in the world.

[MaddLlama]

I think that Pagans concentrate too much on the "spiritual" aspects of nature, and not enough on nature itself. I don't know many Pagans who stock a field guide to nature, or botany books next to The Elements of Ritual.

I think the larger issue is that Paganism, in it's modern writings and traditions are based on older traditions when life was very very different. Pagans accept this cycle of life that was true hundreds of years ago as universal and timeless, and that just isn't true. There is an attachment to an "idealized" view of nature that simply isn't practical for most Pagans, however they don't take the time to pay attention to thier surroundings, even in a city area, to the life cycle around them.
From The Circle Within:

Another problem with the Wheel [of the year] as it is currently celebrated is that, for the majority of the community, the Wheel of the Year only seems to happen eight times a year. Never mind that there are 357 other days, and that the seasons don't change right on schedule at equinoxes. The Wheel turns slowly, gradually, wth each season fading into the next. [It] doesn't stop on each sabbat and wait for us to have a party. In is continuous, moving as we speak

A lot of people don't really understand that. In NY, seasons change at random times. I can't think of any year in my past experiences as a Pagan that I felt like it didn't become fall until the astrological equinox. Fall seems to come quicker every year, and here the seasons don't always even mesh with the months. Another example of modern Pagan disconnectedness to real nature:
From the same book:

I attended a Yule ritual once in which the priestess recited a beautiful invocation to the Goddess that mentioned "Her winter mantle of glistening white" and "the snow that lies soft and deep." I've lived in Texas all my life and never seen more than half an inch of snow. In fact, on December 21st of that year it was about sixty degrees Farhrenheit.
Unfortunately, it doesn't occur to a lot of Wiccans that the nature we're supposed to revere is the nature where we live, not some abstract idea of winter or summer.

Also, I know some Pagans who don't get out into nature much - not becase they don't want to, but they believe that in order to do so they have to put on some hiking boots, pack some granola and go on a hike through the Catskills. That's just simply not true - your front lawn is nature too.

[Luke Wolf]

While the holidays are still based on traditional harvest festivals, most modern Pagans do not have that intimate connection with the earth. That is why books such as City Magic by Christopher Penczak are becoming popular. Pagans are try to relate to both their spirituality and the mundane world around them.

I have that book, it's interesting.
It does point out that city life is another type of nature.

Unfortunately, it doesn't occur to a lot of Wiccans that the nature we're supposed to revere is the nature where we live, not some abstract idea of winter or summer.

That is a very good point.

[Kay]

Sojourner has a great new post on what "nature religion" might mean from the perspective of "Her Hidden Children" - a book by Chas Clifton.

It (the post) touches upon the previous post "Paganism as nature religion."

[Kcnorwood]

Being Pagan ourselves we try to do thing like recycle & honor the earth in our woship of her. We get out & walk our dogs weather premitting. Be aware that times have changed we know the cycles but say 500 years ago they lived by the seasons because they tended crops. Not all people live that way anymore. I do agree some Pagans have lost thire connection to nature but like I said times have changed, people are busier with work,children, the list goes on. We don't attend services in buliding where there is central heat & air. No one does not need to pack up the car & head for the mountains to enjoy the Goddess, that you can do on your front porch.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Is it possible to be Pagan and live in a city out of touch with nature?

I guess that would depend on what type of Pagan you are. While I would automatically say no to those questions, upon deeper thinking I would say yes.

I don't view the city as being separate from nature, it has a nature all its own (). To me, if something exists at all, then it apart of nature; the city exists, therefore it is of nature, just a different type of nature. A pagan who works a type of city magic and is strong in it can be just as powerful as the rural pagan strong in folk magic. It's all on how you utilize the information and what works for the individual.

How important is a knowledge of and intimacy with nature to being Pagan?

I think it definately helps to understand how the world works around you, be that in a city environment, or a forest environment.

[IanAlmighty]

Paganism has little to do with nature. Modern Pagans tend to be downright opposed to totally natural things such as the consumption of meat or Darwinism.
It may be a harsh fact, but the laws of Nature still apply and show themselves even through our 'advanced' society.
While I know this is a vast generalization, religions such as Wicca tend to only embrace the light an fluffy aspects of nature, filling in the gaps with "magick" and Gods and Godesses.
Of course, I am speaking from the most prejudice perspective possible as I embrace the religion of true Nature.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by IanAlmighty

While I know this is a vast generalization, religions such as Wicca tend to only embrace the light an fluffy aspects of nature, filling in the gaps with "magick" and Gods and Godesses.

I know that some "Wiccans" do this, but it's not a part of what it is. This Wicca doesn't believe that everything is white, fluffy and always positive, in fact, I can be pretty negative when I get in one of my ' moods'