{"id":225,"date":"2021-03-15T20:46:43","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T20:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/understandingreligion\/chapter\/sacred-texts\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T21:26:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T21:26:02","slug":"sacred-texts","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/understandingreligion\/chapter\/sacred-texts\/","title":{"rendered":"6.1 Nature as the Sacred Text"},"content":{"raw":"\"Pagan<\/a>With assistance from Denise Cush[footnote]Denise Cush is Emeritus Professor of Religion and Education, Bath Spa University. Her interests include Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and alternative spiritualities such as Paganism, as well as religious education. She taught religious studies at school and university levels, and religious education in both primary and secondary teacher education. Books include Buddhism, a textbook for A level, co-editing the Routledge Encyclopedia of Hinduism, and editing Celebrating Planet Earth, a Pagan\/Christian Conversation as well as many other publications on religious education and religious studies. In 2016 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Uppsala, Sweden.[\/footnote]\u00a0 Paganism is growing in popularity, and Pagan themes and motifs are frequently found in contemporary culture, reaching far beyond those who would consciously label themselves as Pagan. Not focused on a sacred text,\u00a0 contemporary Paganism is mostly a recent creation, and is indicative of a wider trend within the changing religious landscape. The sociologists Paul Heelas and Linda Woodhead have referred to this movement as a \u2018spiritual revolution\u2019.\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Example: Ross Douthat--is there going to be a post Christian United States?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe Return of Paganism<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_613\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\"]\"This<\/a> The pentacle and the five elements of the cosmos: water, fire, earth, air, and spirit. In some Wiccan esoteric rituals, the wachtowers, the guardian spirits of the four elements, are invoked to catalyze the energy of the goddess.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe two most influential forms of Paganism today are Wicca and Druidry, both of which have various subgroups, and, although drawing upon some elements of older traditions, they are substantially creations of the 20th century. Wicca can claim to be the one religion which originated in Britain (traced back to Gerald Gardner in the 1950s), and Druidry also places much emphasis on British land and heritage. Developing at the same time and among similar circles, Wicca and Druidry (as well as other forms such as Goddess spirituality) have much in common, and it does make some sense to talk of a generic \u2018Paganism\u2019 while also acknowledging that these two manifestations of Paganism are the most commonly practiced at this time.\u00a0 Other forms of Paganism might include believers following ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek, or Celtic deities and rituals.\u00a0 In all Pagan religions, it is up to the believer to decide what the concept of \"divine\" means, who or what Deity is right for them and how they choose to maintain or express any relationship with their chosen Deity.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

One Story: National Geographic<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1nPsyZJBTeQ\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n

Nature as the sacred text<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the central and distinctive feature of Paganism is the sacredness of the natural world, making it particularly appropriate for a society facing a human-created climate emergency which could lead to the extinction of many species, including ourselves. It could be said that the sacred text of Paganism is not a holy book but the natural world itself. Pagans may be pantheists, polytheists, animists or even atheists but they are united in finding the divine within nature, rather than beyond it. For many followers of Goddess spirituality, the Goddess IS nature, an immanent rather than transcendent deity, not a female version of the God of\u00a0Abrahamic traditions. Pagans stress the interconnectedness of all life and seek to live in harmony with nature, viewing the current environmental crisis as a result of humans considering themselves separate from and superior to the rest of life. Pagan rituals often take place outside\u00a0among trees, on hilltops, near\u00a0ancient stone circles<\/a>, by streams or waterfalls. Humans are a part of an interconnected community of all life, including all other-than-human beings, whether these are animals, spirits or deities, and actions and lifestyles should reflect this.\r\n\r\nSociologists such as Max Weber spoke of the \u2018disenchantment\u2019 of the world brought about by modernity, science and industrialization. Paganism seeks to \u2018re-enchant\u2019 the world and restore the sense of awe, wonder and magic. This may sound romantic (and much Paganism is definitely influenced by Romanticism), but this deep emotional connection with nature is a resource for environmental activism, and Pagans have been at the forefront of many protests and campaigns. Many Pagans are vegetarian or vegan to avoid harming animals or exploiting them in any way, whereas others think eating meat is natural but that we should be fully aware of and thankful for the life that has been sacrificed to give us nourishment.\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Example: More about Wicca<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n\r\nFrom The Conversation: What is Wicca?<\/a>\r\n\r\nHalloween isn\u2019t about candy and costumes for modern-day pagans \u2013 witches mark Halloween with reflections on death as well as magic<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n

Other Pagan beliefs<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nPaganism does not focus much on beliefs or metaphysical truth claims and there is no creed or list of doctrines to which one must assent. Generally, it is up to the individual, and there is a positive welcoming of diversity and pluralism. However, there are a number of shared themes, and these may be spelt out in more detail at the level of particular groups.\r\n\r\nSome Pagans are polytheist, with a pantheon of deities; Wiccans talk of the Goddess and the male God; others are more pantheist and talk of the divine energy within all things. Often, as in Goddess spirituality, polytheism and pantheism are reconciled \u2013 the many goddesses are, at a deeper level, aspects of the one Goddess. What tends to be rejected is the idea of a deity beyond and separate from the natural world.\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Example: About Asatru<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n\r\nFrom the National Museum of Denmark:\u00a0The Old Nordic Religion Asatro<\/a>\r\n\r\nFrom the Iceland Magazine:\u00a011 Things to Know about Asatru<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\nThere is a spectrum of views as to how far deities are \u2018real\u2019 or a form of colorful poetic or metaphorical language used to express spiritual experience. It is thus possible to be a Pagan atheist, accepting religion as a useful human creation. Experience, both everyday life and the more numinous\/mystical\/magical is central. While the idea of \u2018revelation\u2019 as found in Abrahamic traditions (communication between a transcendent deity and a prophet or messenger, often eventually written down as a sacred text) is not really found in Paganism, there is talk of \u2018inspiration\u2019 and insights gained from interaction with animals, plants, spirits and deities or what Druids call \u2018awen<\/em>\u2019, the creative force flowing through all nature.\r\n\r\nPagans have various views of life after death, such as reincarnation, or the otherworld of the spirits, or the Summerland, or union with the divine life-energy. Other Pagans believe that there is no life after death and that we should concentrate on living this life on earth.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Some Pagan practices<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_595\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"Sigurbl\u00f3t<\/a> Members of the \u00c1satr\u00fa religion, belief in the old Norse gods, gather at Thingvellir National Park in Iceland.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nRitual is very important in most Pagan practice, and can be simple and spontaneous or a scripted performance. Some practices in some traditions are only for the initiated, but many others are open to all. They may all be described as magic(k), which can be defined as the use of symbolic action to bring about change or transformation. This transformation can be understood either as in external reality, or in our own consciousness, or in both, as for example in healing.\r\n\r\nMany Wiccan rituals involve casting a circle, establishing the four directions and the elements of fire, water, earth and air, and inviting the presence of deities or positive energies. Many rituals are designed by participants or adapted from existing sources to suit the particular occasion. There are lifecycle rituals for events such as welcoming new babies, funerals and weddings (\u2018handfasting\u2019), the latter becoming popular even with people who don\u2019t identify as Pagan. The cycle of eight festivals, found in Wicca, Druidry and Goddess spirituality is well known beyond Pagan circles: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lughnasadh and Autumn Equinox. Symbols include the pentagram\/pentacle and the Druid \u2018awen\u2019. Stories and mythology are very important for Pagans and may be used in rituals, whether taken from traditional texts such as the Welsh Mabinogion<\/em>, 19th-\/20th-century literature<\/a>, or more recent sources. Some local folk customs (often not as ancient as is sometimes believed) have gained a more Pagan feel in recent years. An interesting example of the use of Pagan ritual beyond Pagan circles is that words from a ceremony composed by Druids Philip Shallcrass and Emma Restall Orr for an inter-faith gathering at Avebury in 1993 were used for the closing ceremony of the\u00a0Paralympics in London in 2012<\/a>; the slightly adapted version being:\r\n
The circle is unbroken,\r\nThe ancestors awoken.\r\nMay the songs of the Earth\r\nand of her people ring true.\r\nHail to the Festival of the flame\r\nof root and branch, tooth and claw,\r\nfur and feather, of earth and sea and sky.\r\n\r\n <\/blockquote>\r\n

Pagan values<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nGenerally, there is a life-affirming attitude, celebrating nature, the human body, sexuality and freedom. The approach to ethics is summed up by the Wiccan Rede \u2013 but living without fixed rules can be quite challenging as it involves making constant judgements about what is the least harmful course of action in each context. Important ethical issues for Pagans include environmental concerns, equality and diversity and social justice, and Pagan theologians and philosophers are starting to explore Pagan ethics in more detail.\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

A concern:\u00a0 What to do?\u00a0 Can people corrupt your religion?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nThis is an article from The Atlantic, a very fine journal.\u00a0 You can only get a few free articles a month from them, but they are well worth reading.\u00a0 Try this one:\r\n\r\nWhat To Do When Racists Try To Hijack Your Religion<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Key Takeaway: Values found in most Pagan traditions<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nPatheos is a website with some very useful materials, in a general way.\u00a0 It is wise to check the credentials of each author, but many authors on the site are qualified and thoughtful in what they write. [footnote]Yvonne Arburrow has been a Pagan since 1987 and a Wiccan since 1991. She has an MA in Contemporary Religions and Spiritualities from Bath Spa University and lives and works in Oxford, UK. She has written four books on the mythology and folklore of trees, birds and animals.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nPaganism for Beginners: Values<\/a>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n

Pagan identity<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIdentifying as Pagan is becoming more acceptable than it was in the middle of the previous century, and there are Pagan schoolteachers and members of the police force. The Pagan Federation joined the Religious Education Council in 2011 and the Inter-Faith Network in 2015. However, there is still something of a \u2018countercultural\u2019 feel about Pagan identity, stemming in part from its association with witchcraft (illegal until 1951), the \u2018hippies\u2019 of the 1960s and various anti-war and environmental protests. Women find the stress on Goddess(es) and the roles of witch or priestess empowering compared to the patriarchal attitudes of many older religions, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender generally feel welcome among Pagans. Young people identifying as witches or Pagans interviewed by the author found in Pagan identity a source of self-esteem and a vocabulary with which to interpret their experience. They also found that Pagan rituals gave them a sense of control and thus reduced anxiety. Many Pagans talk about \u2018coming home\u2019, finding a name and a community that shares the views and feelings they already had. As a relatively new tradition, many first identified as Pagans as teenagers or adults, but as children are increasingly born into Pagan families, it will be interesting to see how the Pagan community (or rather communities plural) develops in the future.\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Learning about living as a Wiccan: Don Frew<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/OUl8ecaYO7c\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n\r\nCush, Denise. \u201cContemporary Paganism in the UK.\u201d British Library<\/i>, Discovering Sacred Texts: Contemporary Paganism, 2019, www.bl.uk\/sacred-texts\/articles\/contemporary-paganism-in-the-uk.\r\n
<\/div>\r\n\u201cWicca: National Geographic.\u201d National Geographic<\/i>, 29 Oct. 2007, youtu.be\/1nPsyZJBTeQ.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u201cBeing a Wiccan in Today's World .\u201d Pantheos<\/i>, 6 Dec. 2009, youtu.be\/OUl8ecaYO7c.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nDouthat, Ross. \u201cThe Return of Paganism.\u201d The New York Times<\/i>, The New York Times, 12 Dec. 2018, www.nytimes.com\/2018\/12\/12\/opinion\/christianity-paganism-america.html?smid=url-share.\r\n\r\n \r\n
<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nBerger , Helen A. \u201cWhat Is Wicca? An Expert on Modern Witchcraft Explains.\u201d The Conversation<\/i>, 30 Aug. 2021, theconversation.com\/what-is-wicca-an-expert-on-modern-witchcraft-explains-165939.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBerger , Helen A. \u201cHalloween Isn't about Candy and Costumes for Modern-Day Pagans \u2013 Witches Mark Halloween with Reflections on Death as Well as Magic.\u201d The Conversation<\/i>, 27 Aug. 2021, theconversation.com\/halloween-isnt-about-candy-and-costumes-for-modern-day-pagans-witches-mark-halloween-with-reflections-on-death-as-well-as-magic-147647.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\nStaff, et al. \u201c11 Things to Know about the Present Day Practice OF \u00c1satr\u00fa, the Ancient Religion of the Vikings.\u201d Icelandmag<\/i>, 2019, icelandmag.is\/article\/11-things-know-about-present-day-practice-asatru-ancient-religion-vikings.\r\n\r\n \r\n
<\/div>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Old Nordic Religion Today.\u201d National Museum of Denmark<\/i>, 2021, en.natmus.dk\/historical-knowledge\/denmark\/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad\/the-viking-age\/religion-magic-death-and-rituals\/the-old-nordic-religion-today\/.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAburrow, Yvonne. \u201cPaganism for Beginners: Values.\u201d Dowsing for Divinity<\/i>, Patheos Explore the World's Faith through Different Perspectives on Religion and Spirituality! Patheos Has the Views of the Prevalent Religions and Spiritualities of the World., 7 June 2015, www.patheos.com\/blogs\/sermonsfromthemound\/2015\/06\/paganism-for-beginners-values\/.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\nSamuel, Sigal. \u201cWhat to Do When Racists Try to Hijack Your Religion.\u201d The Atlantic<\/i>, Atlantic Media Company, 8 June 2021, www.theatlantic.com\/international\/archive\/2017\/11\/asatru-heathenry-racism\/543864\/.\r\n
<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n ","rendered":"

\"Pagan<\/a>With assistance from Denise Cush[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Paganism is growing in popularity, and Pagan themes and motifs are frequently found in contemporary culture, reaching far beyond those who would consciously label themselves as Pagan. Not focused on a sacred text,\u00a0 contemporary Paganism is mostly a recent creation, and is indicative of a wider trend within the changing religious landscape. The sociologists Paul Heelas and Linda Woodhead have referred to this movement as a \u2018spiritual revolution\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

Example: Ross Douthat–is there going to be a post Christian United States?<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

\n
\n

The Return of Paganism<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
The pentacle and the five elements of the cosmos: water, fire, earth, air, and spirit. In some Wiccan esoteric rituals, the wachtowers, the guardian spirits of the four elements, are invoked to catalyze the energy of the goddess.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two most influential forms of Paganism today are Wicca and Druidry, both of which have various subgroups, and, although drawing upon some elements of older traditions, they are substantially creations of the 20th century. Wicca can claim to be the one religion which originated in Britain (traced back to Gerald Gardner in the 1950s), and Druidry also places much emphasis on British land and heritage. Developing at the same time and among similar circles, Wicca and Druidry (as well as other forms such as Goddess spirituality) have much in common, and it does make some sense to talk of a generic \u2018Paganism\u2019 while also acknowledging that these two manifestations of Paganism are the most commonly practiced at this time.\u00a0 Other forms of Paganism might include believers following ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek, or Celtic deities and rituals.\u00a0 In all Pagan religions, it is up to the believer to decide what the concept of “divine” means, who or what Deity is right for them and how they choose to maintain or express any relationship with their chosen Deity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

One Story: National Geographic<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

\n