Peace and Blessings to one and all! To introduce myself a bit, I identify as an Eclectic. Unfortunately, I do have a problem, seen? PAGANISM. This is my problem, in a word. To be more specific, there are a two complications I have with Paganism:
#1) The biased and (otherwise) vague definition used by many Neo-Pagans:
I speak of this definition: ‘any non-Abrahamic religion’.
Yeeeeeeeaaaaah....this one is so nonsensical and problematic that it's funny. There are plenty of religions that are non-Abrahamic but yet, are not Pagan. Zoroastrianism? Non-Abrahamic, not Pagan. Jainism? Non-Abrahamic, but still not Pagan. Confucianism? Non-Abrahamic, again NOT PAGAN. Sikhism? Non-Abrahamic, NOT PAGAN.
Buddhism? Non-Abrahamic, but again, still NOT PAGAN.
Need I say more? This definition constitutes just plain foolishness.
If I may suggest a more coherent definition,
Paganism: “a diverse array of specific ethnic and indigenous religions (living or dead), as well as folk traditions, differentiated from those religions which are culturally universal.”
I believe that the proposed definition above is not only more coherent (which is necessary in establishing a solid identity as a community of religions), but it's far more accurate historically due to the fact that ancient people groups had defined their religious traditions culturally or ethnically, or in terms of which tribe they belonged to.
(Yoruba religion, Ewe religion, Zulu religion, Celtic religion, Slavic religion, Chinese folk religion, Hinduism, Shinto, Cherokee religion, Navajo religion, etc.)
#2) The tendency of many Neo-Pagans to define Paganism as being absolutely immiscible with Abrahamic religions:
Well, that, I suppose, is a product of their own prejudices, their own negative experiences. I'm not trivializing any person's experiences, positive or negative. However, to state the above in any sort of absolutist sense, IS to downplay, to deliberately ignore more positive experiences with Abrahamic religions (specifically, the Christian religion). Additionally, such statements (especially since they come from, for the most part, white Neo-Pagans) run the effect of invalidating the very real forms of Christianity and, indeed, other religions as practiced by so many ethnic groups of people around the world. This, to me, constitutes a subtle act of racism. (I guess traditional African religions and Indigenous American religions must not count as ‘Pagan’...)
There have been throughout history, and are today, forms of religions that mix Pagan beliefs and practices with Christianity (especially, Roman Catholicism). Some examples are:
#1) African Diasporic Religions: Santería, Candomblé and Umbanda in Brazil, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vúdu, Puerto Rican Sanse, and so many others.
#2) Indigenous American-derived religions, such as the Native American Church (which mixes Native American and Protestant beliefs and practices) in the United States, and the Mexican cult of La Santa Muerte (a mixture of Roman Catholicism and Aztec religion).
#3) Systems of Folk Magic in the United States which are INSEPERABLY Christian-influenced, such as Hoodoo in the South and Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow.
So, understanding all of this, it's most certainly NOT the case that Pagan religions and Christianity are not miscible. Not at all.
If you've read this, I thank you. If you felt insulted, I humbly apologize. Peace and Blessings, again.
#1) The biased and (otherwise) vague definition used by many Neo-Pagans:
I speak of this definition: ‘any non-Abrahamic religion’.
Yeeeeeeeaaaaah....this one is so nonsensical and problematic that it's funny. There are plenty of religions that are non-Abrahamic but yet, are not Pagan. Zoroastrianism? Non-Abrahamic, not Pagan. Jainism? Non-Abrahamic, but still not Pagan. Confucianism? Non-Abrahamic, again NOT PAGAN. Sikhism? Non-Abrahamic, NOT PAGAN.
Buddhism? Non-Abrahamic, but again, still NOT PAGAN.
Need I say more? This definition constitutes just plain foolishness.
If I may suggest a more coherent definition,
Paganism: “a diverse array of specific ethnic and indigenous religions (living or dead), as well as folk traditions, differentiated from those religions which are culturally universal.”
I believe that the proposed definition above is not only more coherent (which is necessary in establishing a solid identity as a community of religions), but it's far more accurate historically due to the fact that ancient people groups had defined their religious traditions culturally or ethnically, or in terms of which tribe they belonged to.
(Yoruba religion, Ewe religion, Zulu religion, Celtic religion, Slavic religion, Chinese folk religion, Hinduism, Shinto, Cherokee religion, Navajo religion, etc.)
#2) The tendency of many Neo-Pagans to define Paganism as being absolutely immiscible with Abrahamic religions:
Well, that, I suppose, is a product of their own prejudices, their own negative experiences. I'm not trivializing any person's experiences, positive or negative. However, to state the above in any sort of absolutist sense, IS to downplay, to deliberately ignore more positive experiences with Abrahamic religions (specifically, the Christian religion). Additionally, such statements (especially since they come from, for the most part, white Neo-Pagans) run the effect of invalidating the very real forms of Christianity and, indeed, other religions as practiced by so many ethnic groups of people around the world. This, to me, constitutes a subtle act of racism. (I guess traditional African religions and Indigenous American religions must not count as ‘Pagan’...)
There have been throughout history, and are today, forms of religions that mix Pagan beliefs and practices with Christianity (especially, Roman Catholicism). Some examples are:
#1) African Diasporic Religions: Santería, Candomblé and Umbanda in Brazil, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vúdu, Puerto Rican Sanse, and so many others.
#2) Indigenous American-derived religions, such as the Native American Church (which mixes Native American and Protestant beliefs and practices) in the United States, and the Mexican cult of La Santa Muerte (a mixture of Roman Catholicism and Aztec religion).
#3) Systems of Folk Magic in the United States which are INSEPERABLY Christian-influenced, such as Hoodoo in the South and Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow.
So, understanding all of this, it's most certainly NOT the case that Pagan religions and Christianity are not miscible. Not at all.
If you've read this, I thank you. If you felt insulted, I humbly apologize. Peace and Blessings, again.
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