The front page of the August 16th Whig Standard had an article on the Pagan Pride day hosted in City Park last Saturday. What is paganism, or what is more commonly referred to today as Modern Paganism?
Mr. Webster?
The word “pagan” is of Latin origin, from paganus, meaning “country dweller.” It is defined as:
1: Heathen, a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)
2: one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person
3: Neo-pagan [a person who practices a contemporary form of paganism (as Wicca)]
(Merriam-Webster.com)
As I read that, I thought,
‘That must describe ancient paganism. I imagine modern paganism must be different in some respects.’
I knew that modern pagans take a polytheistic view, revering many of the same gods and goddesses which belong to the ancients. What I did not know was that modern pagans, like their ancient counterparts, focus heavily on sensual pleasure and hedonism. Hedonism is defined as “the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life” (Merriam-Webster.com).
Sexual rituals were part of many pagan religions in antiquity. Some of these perversions are spoken of in the Bible (Deuteronomy 23:17; Amos 2:7-8; Isaiah 57:7-8; etc.). Though sex is not used in all pagan worship, it is not uncommon. Things such as Sex Magic and the Great Rite were used in ancient times, and are still found in pagan worship today.
Some Pagan Religions
Pagan is a generic term under which a number of religions fall. Wicca and Druidry are likely the most widely known, but several others exist (Asatru, Feri, Gwyddons, Hellenismos, Kemeticism, Thelema, Dis-cordianism, etc.).
Since there is such a wide variety of pagan religions, there is an equally wide variety of practices and beliefs. Common to all pagans are the following:
- Divinity manifests itself in all aspects of the world.
- All beings are considered to be part of Mother Earth.
- The physical world is good and to be enjoyed by all.
- Ethics are based on avoid-ing harm to other beings, including the earth (thus most pagans are environmental activists).
- Solar and Lunar cycles are inherent in the customs of pagan worship.
- Individual responsibility is emphasized, not doctrine.
- Avoid Messiahs & gurus.
- All beings are emanations of the Divine – all are gods and goddesses.
What’s Wrong With It?
The apostle Paul spoke of paganism as he wrote to the Romans. Of them, he wrote:
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Romans 1:22-27)
Pagans corrupt the truth, applying the glory of the Creator to His creation. They magnify animals, rocks, trees, etc., but not the One who made it all. Being so materialistic, is it any wonder they also misuse the body and sexuality, not to give glory to God who gave it, but to burn in their passions?
Paul went on to identify the root of the problem. He wrote:
…even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting… (Romans 1:28)
How can the problem be a lack of spirituality? Surely pagans are spiritual – they acknowledge not just One God but many gods and goddesses! In Athens, the apostle commented,
Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscrption: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. (Acts 17:22-23)
Indeed, pagans are a very religious people, but the problem is they worship everything and everyone but the God of heaven. Paul would use this inscrption as an opportunity to tell the Athenians about the true God.
Each of the altars which Paul saw in Athens represented a different goddess or god. Do not misunderstand – no one would go to all of the temples and worship all of the gods; there wouldn’t be enough time, energy or funds to do so. A worshiper would choose which goddess or god he would “serve” and devote himself to that particular one. Paganism is like Baskin Robbins, it is up to you which flavour you get – it’s about you, not the deity. Do you like two different flavours? Go ahead, mix ‘em together. Is it really worship when the worshiper determines what is involved? How is it worship if the worshiper makes his deity in the way he wants it to be, and then worships it as he wants to worship? You can’t get any more self-made than that!
Is There Pagan Power?
Though most pagans do not believe in Satan, he is the source of their power and they glorify him. Paul spoke of the working of Satan, in all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). The experiences of some with pagan practices that have been described to me sure sould like the lying work of Satan. Is there real power? In the mind of those who are overcome, yes. Like many of Satan’s ploys, it has whatever degree of power you will give it. To those who know the Lord and are faithful to Him, such things appear as they really are – the lies of the devil!
Paganism is an old way, but it was wrong in the past, and is still wrong in the here and now.
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
Return to the article archive
