This is kind of a weird and embarrassing question but I've been thinking a lot lately about WHY be a Pagan, I mean, what for?..... I know that sounds weird but Christianity (where I've come from ) is so clear in that respect- to not go to hell, and then to receive help from God and to serve him etc. But it seems like Paganism is different because the gods aren't there to help me out and "save" me, they're just kind of THERE if you see what I mean.... and in Christianity mans role is mapped out but what is there for me to do, I feel like there are spirits out there in the land but they don't need me for anything!... I'm sorry if this is a bit incoherant, I'm rather sleep deprived (and a little too much wine), just something I've been pondering.

i'm sure someone will write a proper long reply but my first thougths were

look at the imediate things around you, the spider on the wall, grass growing, sun in sky etc, notice how the seasons change, try and do what you can in being earth friendly, think about how you feel about whats going on in the world, news etc. stand up for what you believe to be 'right'.


no maybe the gods dont 'need' you but just believing in/honouring them, reverring nature and observing it is enough?

you may need more than that, maybe you could 'listen' more, dont take everything as coincidence, you might be missing out on something important?


Christians opinions are taken from the bible, Pagans opinions are take from inside of YOU. You can deside what you want to think and believe, you can interpret Pagan texts (or any other texts for that matter) the way YOU want to, you dont have anyone standing over you telling you this is what that means and this is how you are supposed to live you life. (apart from the law obviously and some of that can be skewed !)

this site may answer some of your questions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahweh

or at least set you of in the direction of the right answers!

Christianity afterall is a cult of Judaism, which was once long ago in the dim and distant a pagan religion!

Not go to hell !!! well If I dont die in battle (to be with Frejya or Wodan) I certainly hope thats where I will be, with my Ancestors

In Frith

(A very hell loving person) wolverine.

Well said Aimee!

As I've already said, I have the greatest respect for all religions - each to their own. I do however feel that the xtain faith is far too largely based on seemingly denying our very nature (freedom of will and thought etc. bla bla bla), it seems set in concrete that 'thou shall not'- ' you must believe this, xyz '- you must not question for it is my word'
For me personally, I believe in what I can see, hear and feel around me. I believe in my own nature, ethics and morals. To me, that's what being a Pagan means - Freedom of choice ( in our actions and beliefs), freedom of thought and interpretation.

In the words of the Big Yin 'Thou f+++ing shall!!!!'

Well, no, the gods don't need us, but both they and some of the wights seem to get something out of associating with us, or I'm sure they'd find something else to do!

I think it's sad to believe in something simply out of blackmail or fear i.e. "if you don't believe in me then I'll send you to the fires of Gehenna!" What sort of god is that? If he were human, I'd have to say he strikes me as an anally retentive, over defensive control freak. Do I want to spend time with someone like that? Heh, do I need to even think about that one?

That doesn't answer 'why be a pagan' of course. Most of the pagans I know feel the answer was obvious for them: that's what they were, even before they recognised it. It might be because of the gods they associated with, or the wights, or because of the world around them and how they got on with that. It's usually easy to say who one believes what ones does, but impossible to account for why others believe what they do. Especially given the diversity of religions and experiences that huddle under that umbrella word 'pagan'.

That I totally get . I feel like this is what I have always believed really, like coming home .
I know its going to take a fair bit of time to unlearn 22 years of Christian thinking . Well, more like a whole lifetime since I was brought up with Christian teaching from my earliest days, before I actually committed to it myself aged 11.

I just like being pagan - there's no fuss with this ceremony or that ceremony. I can bonk who I want (sorry if that offends) without going to hell. I can be close to nature without being political and I can explore stuff that christianity says NO THOU SHALT NOT... (Insert the forbidden thing of choice).

In short, I find it more fulfilling, less labelling - okay its more disorganised but then I like that too. it means its more personal.

fizzy

Why be Pagan... well part of that is as Moon hunter says, I feel that Pagan is what I always was even before I knew it or knew the name for what I did.
Part also is the freedom from dogma, the freedom and responsability, to think for myself, to research, to work out my own individual spiritual reality. It is a hard path, but one that is filled with fresh discovery, dedicated thinking, analysis, logic, science, but also instinct, spirit and joy.
It is also a way for me to be proud to be female, yet at the same time take joy in my Tomboyish masculine side... to find the balance between them. Which I had found lacking in other paths I looked at.

I was braught up to think for myself, to be responsable for my own actions (and non actions), to question 'fact'. These independant traits blended with my love of and observations of nature... Pagan became the only logical, instinctive choice.

And it has continued to challange and satisfy me deeply ever since.

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

You may very well not succeed there, given that our societal norms have adopted so much christian thinking. But recognising Christian thinking for being Christian thinking is useful. There are some aspects of Christian thought that seem to be quite common in many other belief systems too. So don't feel you must throw everything out. The important thing is that it should be YOU thinking. So if things crop up and you recognise them as Christian thought, spend some time reflecting on those things. If they still ring true for you then don't feel you have to discard them just because they have links with a former faith.

BB

Mike

A big part of it for me, was that teh xtian church mad eme feel ASHAMED to be female. After all, they said Eve was the sole reason for man's downfall etc. Our only role model in the church, is a compeltely unattainable one, that of the Virgin Mother!"!!
So, for me, it was about finding where my heart was and yes, it did take time.
It was also a coming home for me, once i truly realised who and what i was. Paganism, makes sense to me.it is as individual as all the people within it are, and that to me is TRULY an expression of creation.

tree x