How important is your ancestry in paganism?

[Lorgar-Aurelian]

This is a question I expect a lot of different answers for. Afterall there is no real codification of Paganism so you know expecting a uniform answer would be silly. I have had several people on several occasions tell me that the only valid way to worship any pagan deities is to worship those your ancestors may of worshiped. This poses a problem for me since I like deities from all kind of different paths.

What do you think?

 

[VioletVortex]

I'm sort of an Ethno-Pagan in that I believe certain forms of Paganism are more suited to certain groups. For example, someone of Greek descent is most suited to Hellenic Paganism, someone of Slavic descent to Slavic Paganism, Norse and Germanic to Norse and Germanic Paganism, Celts to Celtic Paganism, and so on and so forth. I do not have any issue with Slavs in Norse Paganism for example, as little record of Slavic Paganism exists today. The same goes for Celts. I have a lot of Celtic and Slavic descent myself, but I am still a Norse Pagan, in respect to the fact that I also have Germanic and Nordic ancestry.

If someone of non-European origin has an interest in Paganism and wants to be a Pagan, I have no problem with it, besides not really understanding it.

 

[Lorgar-Aurelian]

I'm sort of an Ethno-Pagan in that I believe certain forms of Paganism are more suited to certain groups. For example, someone of Greek descent is most suited to Hellenic Paganism, someone of Slavic descent to Slavic Paganism, Norse and Germanic to Norse and Germanic Paganism, Celts to Celtic Paganism, and so on and so forth. I do not have any issue with Slavs in Norse Paganism for example, as little record of Slavic Paganism exists today. The same goes for Celts. I have a lot of Celtic and Slavic descent myself, but I am still a Norse Pagan, in respect to the fact that I also have Germanic and Nordic ancestry.

If someone of non-European origin has an interest in Paganism and wants to be a Pagan, I have no problem with it, besides not really understanding it.

What about someone of mixed ancestry? I am mostly Celtic, frank and germanic I mean which side do you go with?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Conflating Paganism with ethno-nationalism is a modern construct.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

As an animist, honoring my ancestors should be something important, but I've had a hard time working it into my rituals since I really started to embrace my animism. The biggest issue I have is that there are few family grounds (the closest are about 80 miles away, others are much, much futher. And because we've (the current family and its passed ancestors) not been animists or as far as I can tell, non-Christian, for hundreds of years, there are no family shrines.

But, in most animistic cultures, ancestor worship is one of the keys, because the ancestors eventually connect to all the other-than-human persons in the environment, as well as to the founding deities.

 

[VioletVortex]

Why do you think ancestry is important?

Pagan religions are ancestral. I think it's more of a matter of inclination than it is requirement, I don't care what religion you chose, but I think a European is most suited to European Paganism. I think that DNA has spiritual significance. There's a lot that seems t support this, however, I will not go into it here because it is a complicated and multifaceted matter.

I should have added that I do not speak for the Pagan community. Most Pagans are not Ethno-Pagans. Neither were traditional Pagans in the ancient times, however, in our modern times, ancestry is more important. They were protective over their land and people, though.

 

[VioletVortex]

Conflating paganism with ethno-nationalism is a modern construct.

While that is very true, it is the case because Ethno-Nationalism itself isa modern concept that arose from neccesity.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

This is a question I expect a lot of different answers for. Afterall there is no real codification of Paganism so you know expecting a uniform answer would be silly. I have had several people on several occasions tell me that the only valid way to worship any pagan deities is to worship those your ancestors may of worshiped. This poses a problem for me since I like deities from all kind of different paths.

What do you think?

To tell you honestly, I believe Paganism must have some foundation in one's ancestry. It means keeping what and who we got our beliefs and practices from in the past and carrying it to the next generation of people. To many Pagans, it means keeping their religion alive through the elders of their faith. Compared to modern religions, paganism is high on that communal connection.

If you're talking about Pagans today, not everyone things the way they did back when. We can see mirrors of what people practice today and how they relate to get a feel of how people related in the past.

So, I will be blunt. Without the ancestors, how can Paganism be Paganism.

As for my belief, it rests solely on my ancestors, spirits of our environment, and my expression through art. It tells me where I come from, how the earth takes care of me, and how I express myself in career, self, and to others.

Whether that's call Pagan is up for grabs. I don't believe in deities but I assume that you don't have to believe in your ancestry (blood related or not) to believe in deities. It's just my view that ancestry is part of Paganism regardless.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Is ancestry important? Yes. Is it a prerequisite? No.

In Paganism - more so in Heathenry, but also in other traditions - our ancestors are quite important to us. They are who made us what we are; they are our roots, and from them we grow.

But one's ancestors do not determine which gods we can or cannot worship. People of varying ethnicities are certainly drawn to certain groups (for example, I've never met a Korean Heathen,) but there is nothing short if ignorant arrogance to say that a peoples cannot worship a group of gods because they aren't from the same lineage. Possession of the gods in such a manner is preposterous.

 

[Native]

IMO Paganism derives directly from "the following of natures rhytms in the creation" and this goes for all tribes no matter where they live on the Earth.

If taking the approach that we all live on the same Earth, in the same Solar System, in the same Milky Way galaxy and in the same local part of the observable Universe, the creative forces, no matter what they are called in different cultures, are common for all life on Earth..

The Ancestral worshipping is natural as a part in the circuit of creation.

 

[Mindmaster]

This is a question I expect a lot of different answers for. Afterall there is no real codification of Paganism so you know expecting a uniform answer would be silly. I have had several people on several occasions tell me that the only valid way to worship any pagan deities is to worship those your ancestors may of worshiped. This poses a problem for me since I like deities from all kind of different paths.

What do you think?

What could it possibly have to do with it? It didn't even matter in the ancient times... When the Celts were Celts... Celts were not a single indigenous people, they were all over central Europe. If anything, it makes the argument that mutts are welcome in all pagan religions because the ancient pagans were all mutts.

Celts - Wikipedia (really just for the map, lol)

So what ethnicity are Celts? I can't even answer that question... Most people that try to draw this distinction base that on modern Celtic-speaking areas, which has absolutely nothing to do with the people in their largest distribution.

You will find similar dilemmas with Heathenry as well, in that while there are several different major branches they're basically the same people spread apart by time. What race are they? Who knows? Some were Germanic, some are from where modern day France and Ireland were.. Some of those influences moved into Slavic folk religions as well..

There basically isn't any precedent in history for such exclusivity -- people just mingled with who and where they wanted.

 

[von bek]

Reading the question, I am reminded of the passage in the Odyssey where we discover that Poseidon regularly feasted with the Ethiopians. In other words, no, I do not believe it matters what your ancestry is. You can worship any gods you please.

 

[VioletVortex]

What about someone of mixed ancestry? I am mostly Celtic, frank and germanic I mean which side do you go with?

You could either combine aspects of Germanic and Celtic Paganism, which would be perfectly feasible, or you could follow the path which resonates with you the most.

I felt the same way (and still do, sometimes), about Satanism. After reading about the relationship between Paganism and Satanism, and thinking about it for a while, I came to understand that I am both a Heathen and a Diabolater.

 

[Lorgar-Aurelian]

You could either combine aspects of Germanic and Celtic Paganism, which would be perfectly feasible, or you could follow the path which resonates with you the most.

I felt the same way (and still do, sometimes), about Satanism. After reading about the relationship between Paganism and Satanism, and thinking about it for a while, I came to understand that I am both a Heathen and a Diabolater.

Works for me thanks.

 

[Evie]

This is a question I expect a lot of different answers for. Afterall there is no real codification of Paganism so you know expecting a uniform answer would be silly. I have had several people on several occasions tell me that the only valid way to worship any pagan deities is to worship those your ancestors may of worshiped. This poses a problem for me since I like deities from all kind of different paths.

What do you think?

If that is your choice then that is your right to do so. Others may not agree with worshipping Pagan Gods. Individual belief is precious. Whether one views another's religious belief as misguided does not give the person latitude to deem it wrong.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Others may not agree with worshipping Pagan Gods.

Well, Evie, he was asking about Paganism. So obviously others not agreeing with that worship isn't an issue.

 

[Evie]

Well, Evie, he was asking about Paganism. So obviously others not agreeing with that worship isn't an issue.

Obviously not.

 

[Lorgar-Aurelian]

Well, Evie, he was asking about Paganism. So obviously others not agreeing with that worship isn't an issue.

You'd think that would of been obvious.

 

[Evie]

L

You'd think that would of been obvious.

Obviously!!!!

 

[Lorgar-Aurelian]

L
Obviously!!!!

Look here you beautiful Baha'i person. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT !