Published by The issues involved in the “business of spirituality” among pagans is complex because the term “pagan” is often misused (intentionally by charlatans) as bait to attract the naive into joining groups pasted together to study ancient rituals. The term “pagan” means a “country dweller” and has nothing to do with a specific religion of any sort. The term was used by the invading armies of Rome to describe those individuals that could not be converted to Christianity because these people lived in such remote areas as to make them difficult to access. Eventually the term was used to describe a group of people who did not believe in monotheism and were considered to be heathens. Eventually the word “Pagan” was used interchangeably with the word “Heathen”. Essentially “paganism” was a life style constructed around the natural occurring cycles seen in nature. Of course there were Pagan religions that held to some specific beliefs regarding the nature of existence, but like any other group of people, some pagans held to no religion at all and simply attempted to live a life style in harmony with the cycles of nature. Their attempts to live in “harmony with nature” was interpreted by Christians as a form of worship of nature. It never happened except in the narrow minds of Christians.
Much of the information being passed along the Internet and neo-paganism books regarding rites and rituals of Paganism is a total sham and simply a ploy to line the pockets of shysters. The Internet is of course a primary feeding ground for these purveyors of counterfeit ancient religions and rituals. Documentation of ancient rites and rituals is extremely sparse for the simple reason that most information was passed along via stories told over campfires. Many ancient occult groups, such as the Druids, simply did not keep written records. In addition, records that were kept were often destroyed by invading armies whose religious authorities (essentially Christian) insisted on eradication of any record they deemed as heretical. However, this was not the case in the far east where records of rites and rituals from ages past still remain intact.
The only difference between neo-pagan religious groups and the three major religions of the world is the content of their mythical malarkey. And the neo-pagan, along with the followers of traditional religions, are easy prey for charlatans. The reason for all of this is the shear panic that encapsulates humans when they begin to question the nature of existence itself. Since we cannot verify the reason for our existence we become easily ensnared by the sociopaths in charge of religious institutions. As a sort of “spiritual shield” the neo-pagan seems to believe that if they adopt ancient rituals they are somehow short circuiting the influence of mainstream religion. About the only thing getting short circuited is their bank accounts as they spend money to buy books or attend classes in bogus ancient teachings and rituals.
