Neopaganism growing fast

Pagan John Roesch of Wheat Ridge conducts a ritual. Give them that old-time religion - ancient religion - and then watch an exploding population of modern pagans give it contemporary twists.

[willow]

iv been a pagan since my teens and now im 40+ i have been asked no end of times by my friends teenagers about paganism and yes i do agree there has been a tremendous up surge in neopaganism.It to me has always been the right faith even when i didnt realise what it was called way back when and it has served me well.Todays young adults who have grown up not being taught about the religions we were taught at school seem to have made there own minds up.

[LiLi LaVeau]

I was born into and raised in a Pagan family tradition. I'm 48. We were allowed to explore any faith we wished to know more about and then we were allowed to follow any path of our choosing.

[LiLi LaVeau]

Good article.

[Shellikins]

What a refreshing article!

Nice to see something written about Pagans that tells the truth about "us".

Not that it matters to those who need to read it and understand it the most... to them, we're still "going to hell".

[FaeriPrincess]

....you know, what I always find so credulous about articles like this is that 1) pagans exist 2)pagans exist in growing numbers and 3) pagans may actually have some meaning in terms of world-population, demographics, social, political, and cultural influence.
George Bush felt pagans did not exist. The Pope refused to apologize for burning our predecessors ( but then again, perhaps he didn't apologize for burning 'heretical' Christians historically, either...) and we American pagans lead a battle for such simple things such as tomb-stone markers, but it's all a telescopic view only.
Instead, I must point out that India and the native Hindu belief system is as "pagan" as modern Wicca, modern Druidry, or modern Asatru, etc., and that there are native peoples in the world such as the tribes of the Americas, the Saami of Northern Europe (my ancestral people no less) the Kalash of the northwestern region of Pakistan, the many tribal peoples of Africa, the common peoples of parts of China and Japan, and the Aboriginees of Australia are examples of peoples who are in direct connection to the Gods and Goddesses that populate their native religions as they did for their forebears, and they are *not* necessarily followers of Christ, Jehovah, Allah, or Buddha.
So put that in your news and print it, Denver Post.

*the original article is at http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9695062

[LiLi LaVeau]

Well at least the article wasn't bashing the crap out of Pagans like most article usually do. So, its a start....I'll take that...a start.

[LiLi LaVeau]

(damn them for no edit button!)

........like most article =.....like most articleS usually do.

And the followers of Buddah are Pagan as well. I may be wrong here..and someone please correct me if I am......but in Buddahism, I believe there is no "God/dess" per se. Yes? No?

[NM Desert Rat]

Wow! What a refreshing article. I it is very nice to be able to read something that doesn't call us a bunch of baby sacrificing, Satan worshiping, drug crazed Heathens. Unfortunately those that need to read it most will miss it.

[magickmom]

Hi LiLi, How are you? I have been spending so much time on the "Are you winning souls for Jesus" thread that I haven't been on the pagan forum for a long time.

[LiLi LaVeau]

magickmom wrote:

Hi LiLi, How are you? I have been spending so much time on the "Are you winning souls for Jesus" thread that I haven't been on the pagan forum for a long time.

Hi magickmom! Nice to see you. I'm ok....still have lots of ups and downs..but I'm managing. Mom's memorial and scattering is coming up and I'm really sad about that, ya know? Makes it more....."real"...I guess...and more permenant..and it is making me soooooo very sad.

I haven't been over to that particular thread (well, not since a did a quick glance at it some time ago).......there's just been too much snipeing and bickering going on around here lately, so I've kind of stayed away/quiet/out of the way. I've posted a bit..mostly asking people to stop the bickering..but to no avail.

How are you dear?

[The Colonial]

I tucked my daughter in and kissed her good-night and had time to read the article. It certianly makes us appear as we are, quite ordinary! It's nice to read about folks following thier path. So much of the nice articles are repeats of the A-Z how to be a Pagan. this was a welcome change!

[Ilona]

LiLi LaVeau wrote:

(damn them for no edit button!)
........like most article =.....like most articleS usually do.
And the followers of Buddah are Pagan as well. I may be wrong here..and someone please correct me if I am......but in Buddahism, I believe there is no "God/dess" per se. Yes? No?

No Buddhists do not believe in Gods/Goddesses. They believe that only we ourselves can become 'Enlightened' by recognizing the "Four Noble Truths":
1. Suffering (that there is suffering)
2. Attachment (that there is a cause to suffering)
3. Liberation (there's an end to suffering)
4. The path of liberation (that there's a way to end suffering).
I am in the process of studying Buddhism. This will prepare me for when I see The Dalai Lama in 2 weeks time.

[LiLi LaVeau]

Ilona wrote:

<quoted text>
No Buddhists do not believe in Gods/Goddesses. They believe that only we ourselves can become 'Enlightened' by recognizing the "Four Noble Truths":
1. Suffering (that there is suffering)
2. Attachment (that there is a cause to suffering)
3. Liberation (there's an end to suffering)
4. The path of liberation (that there's a way to end suffering).
I am in the process of studying Buddhism. This will prepare me for when I see The Dalai Lama in 2 weeks time.

Thank you Ilona! I thought I remembered that correctly.

Ahhhhh....The Dalai Lama..a man I would truly love to see, meet and speak with.

I am green with envy.

[Ilona]

LiLi LaVeau wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you Ilona! I thought I remembered that correctly.
Ahhhhh....The Dalai Lama..a man I would truly love to see, meet and speak with.
I am green with envy.

Isn't he amazing? I love to hear him speak. He has a very calming influence on me. I couldn't be a Buddhist however. Too difficult to let go of Anger. LOL

[LiLi LaVeau]

Ilona wrote:

<quoted text>
Isn't he amazing? I love to hear him speak. He has a very calming influence on me. I couldn't be a Buddhist however. Too difficult to let go of Anger. LOL

Yeah, I'm afraid it would not be for me either sadly.........I'm just waaaaaaay too much of a control freak and I hold on to shite 4-evah!!!! LOL!