Today I finally finished the list of spell components in my Book of Shadows, which is a personal ritual, spell, and holy book for Pagans. Before anyone starts screaming, "WITCH! WITCH!" and burns me at the stake, I should probably explain what Paganism is and isn't.
First, and most important, PAGANISM IS NOT DEVIL WORSHIP!!!!!!!!!! That is rumor that was started by Christian soldiers in the early B.C.'s so they would have an excuse to commit mass genocide on Celts, Germans, Saxons, and Norse. This was based on the fact that the Celtic God had goat legs. So our God is a satyr, so what? You don't see Texans bombing India because they won't eat steak. Different beliefs can only add to a culture, not threaten it. Now, I won't lie, there are a few devil worshipers who claim to be Pagan. If you are one of those people, hear this: no, you are not a Pagan. Paganism is an entirely separate system of beliefs.
Which brings me to my second point: Paganism is not truly a religion in the strictest sense of the word. If anything, Paganism is a catchall phrase to describe various forms of nature and spirit worship. I have found 10 general types of pagans:
Nordic Revivalist
Greek Revivalist
Egyptian Revivalist
Meso-American Revivalist
Gypsies
True Celts
Hippies
Native-American Animism
Wizard Wannabes
Neo-Pagans
My beliefs fall between Gypsy and True Celt, with a tinge of Greek Revivalism.
Finally, many believe Pagans to be only a counter culture, teen-age rebellion thing. Only if you're a teen when you're a 40 year old holding a job and owning a house and taking care of a family. Almost all the Pagans I knew as such were at least 30 and in all other ways normal people. And this is hardly new. Not only is Paganism the oldest religion in the world, but also the renewed interest started in the 60's, possibly earlier.
My final word, freedom of religion means ANY RELIGION. Thank you.
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