can we actually go into a deeper detail with this one? because call me uneducated ect... ive been studying for 5 years now, but only in wicca... but as i keep dabbling and reading... pagan keeps sticking its head out toward me, but im confused as what the complete differences are. are there different beliefs? different ways of doing things? whats going on with this here. but i would appreciate the clarification.
yes and no... wiccans essentially all believe and practice the same things the same way from what I understand. Pagan simply means you believe in and practice something to do with manipulating energy beyond a scientifically provable way.
Pagan = Polytheist (Someone who believes in multiple god/dess/s/es)
Wiccan = Someone who follows the teaching of any branch of Wicca which originated with Gerald Gardner and his version known as Gardnerian Wicca
All Wiccans are Pagans because we are polytheists but not all Pagans are Wiccans because they don't all follow that belief system
It's not a dumb question at all, and it's one that confuses a lot of people at first.
Paganism is an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of religions from Asatru to Zoroastrianism. It's hard to come up with a generic definition that covers all of those. Some...but not all...believe in the existence of many Gods and Goddesses. Some...but not all...are very in tune with the Earth beneath us. Some might describe them as any religion which is not Christianity, Islam, or Judaism.
Wicca is a very specific religion which falls under the general umbrella of Paganism. Wicca was introduced to the world in the 1940's and 1950's by Gerald Gardner. It has specific beliefs and practices that differ from those beliefs and practices of other Pagan religions.
It might be easiest to understand the concept if you think of the specific religions such as Asatru, Druidry, Wicca etc as being different denominations of Paganism.
Lark, I have a question for you; Hermeticism is considered a pagan religion/ philosophy is it not and yes it incorporates elements of both Christian and Jewish Kabbalah.
Hmmm, personally I would not consider Hermeticism as a Pagan religion. To me it is more a philosophy and magical practice. And yes, it certainly does contain elements of Jewish and Christian mysticism; although I would not consider it to be either of those religions.
That's the problem with trying to define what is Pagan. There are too many exceptions to the rule. For instance, most would say that Pagans are polytheists, but I know some Pagans who are essentially monotheists. I tend to lean towards the position that if someone believes they are Pagan by whatever definition, then they are Pagan.
