~Will it Evolve or Die Out?~

[vermindaspirit]

Iv been thinking about this question and wording it may come across all wrong, but do you think 'Paganism' will in the future change?~ Will it either die out, or evolve into something else?

I know that what we call Paganism has been around since the dawn of mankind, but has it changed and evolved and if so if someone that practiced this path thousands of years ago recognize it if they were to step into the 21st century?

I know that there is more to this question then i am posting at the moment, but it's early and im in a rush so i may come back to it and expand it a little further~

[LunaCat]

Everything evolves, that is the ways things are. But I would like to believe that the core of what we all belive in would stay the same. Maybe the way in which we practice will change? Who knows.

I would like to think that in time to come people can be more open about their paths and beliefs, without fear of being judged by those who do not understand.

Just a few thoughts from me.

[createholly]

I wonder this a lot too. I mean, it has already changed so much. I kind of feel anxiety about it beacuse I think how will I teach my kids if what I learned is out of date or something. And then what if what I am learning now is wrong I don't know it's kind of strange.

[Ebony]

I already think if a Pagan from a thousand year ago came to our century, she would not recognize how we practice. Perhaps she would follow what we are doing, understand what sabat we are celebrating, but our methods would be totally different. ;D

I mean, so much has been lost, verbal instruction may not have been passed on to children, perhaps to protect them, or from written information being destroyed from fires, floods, others.

Families who have been pagans for generations, have probably made changes, made ceremonies and things easier as technology grew. Maybe they changed things to be more mainstream to hide what they are doing from bosses, neighbors.

So in my opinion paganism has evolved, is still evolving, and will continue to evolve. All we can do is preserve what we learn for our future generations, and hope we don't loose perspective.

[watershield]

Of coarse it's changed. I mean really, other than some artifacts in various museums and some interesting stories in National Geographic, what do we really no of Paganism prior to 1950.

I do know it's a softer gentler belief. After all, we don't slite the throat of the head man if the crops fail.....or do we?

Will it continue to change? Well, as long as we continue to see things from our own unique perspective what is there to change?

[Desladon]

Its a hard thing to even ask if it will change, due to the very open nature of paganism many different aspects which may be considered key to certain groups may be considered trivial to others. As it is it will probably continue to expand as well as experience changes within progressive lines of followers, however whether this is change or not is up for debate because already due to the numbers of those who are and have practiced what hasnt really been done?

[createholly]

I really would like to know the old ways because when I think about it I dread how soft our religions are going to be in 50 more years*sigh*

[watershield]

Be sure you understand what you ask for.
The old ways meant that if the crops failed, the Gods were angry and it was time for a blood sacrific.
In a National Geo. article I read some time ago, if you were a Celt you would slite the throat of your Chieftan and sprinkle his blood across the fields.

[vermindaspirit]

I think there are a few leaders that we could do that too WS~

[pixiedust]

vermindaspirit said:

I think there are a few leaders that we could do that too WS~

Someone call the sacrificial throat slitter? ;D

Yeah I think paganisum will always be there. I think it's in the nature of all religions to evolve in line with the thinking of the people. True it's usually a few steps behind, but I think that practicality is always going to over come spirituality.Lets pretend for example, I'm the Godess of the Pixieites. My commanments are:
1. Be nice to each other
2. Never eat animals of any kind
3. Carrots must be eaten on a friday
4. The mighty godess should be appeased with offerings of chocolate

Od dear the glowing goddess took a holiday and the carrot is now extinct. Now my followers can't adhear to the 3rd commandment. Are they any less Pixieites? Hell NO!
( Just so long as they diligently follow the 4th )

[watershield]

reaching through the monitor with a box of Lindt
Ye art the Godess of the Pixieites and I a lowly naive.
Low, I offer thee thy chocolate and prey thy righn shall continue until the farities and the pixities unite and become the majorities. And a 1,000 years more....... ;D


Seriously, Paganism has not changed nor will it.
A pagan is someone who believes in something other than the Abrahamic God.
How we respect what we percieve is what varies and evolves.
But that has been the case since the dawn of time.
The more things change, the more they remain the same!

[thylasos]

I'd imagine steady growth will continue in terms of numbers of adherents, but there's always going to be schisms within traditions, new ones breaking off, and so on, so I'm not sure whether growth in adherents necessitates a growth in influence; we'll probably continue pretty much as we are.

[WulfcwenStar]

Interest in Pagan beliefs is growing and more people are turning to it everyday. Paganism has changed over the years we no longer have a blood sacrifice and we do not kill off our leaders (though some would like to I am sure).
There are a lot of Solitary practioners today as well so we have slowly evolved into what we see today.
Things will change in the future as nothing stands still Christianity has also changed from its origins as have other religions. Will things become too soft in their approach? I doubt it as there seems to a growth in reclaiming what was once done in the past minus the blood factor.
So things will change naturaly just as our own paths change over the years as we learn and grow.

[cheshire]

Our number count according to the Census is entirely off I'm sure, due to many reasons. Our religion is generally a silent one, in a world of ignorance and stupidity. Most people just don't want to be harassed by fools trying to save them on a daily basis. It will still be in existance - the belief systems we share, but how often will people in 50 years speak up? Will we ever become a strong, unified order? Gain respect?

Alone we practice, alone we are, but unified we can stand strong. Due to modern technology we know we're not alone, but in the real world there are about 30 hateful Christians for every Wiccan or Pagan, and that number is probably a really low estimate. The short answer is that I think we'll be here in the future as we have been for hundreds of years, but we'll still have to walk in the shadows. It may be a negative outlook, but if our closest friends and family are still being taught ignorance by the churches (And they will be) we'll always be pressured to stay in the broom closet.

We can't forget that the grand George Bush actually tried to have Wicca removed from the official list of religions - while he didn't get away with it, it's an example of the modern day attempt to remove what little recognition that the religion has earned.

I'm done now, lol.

[starhawk]

Hi cheshire what you say is true there are a number of religions who would be worse than Christianity if they had power to do so, I wont name them for fear of coursing religious hatred as the law in the UK supports some and not others in practice.
I don't feel as pessimistic as you though we have been around for years longer than these religions and it is noticeable that the older religions such as Hindu and Buddhism and a few others don't have a problem with us.
As for Mr Bush he will soon be gone as all politicians come and go, we will live through times of trouble and we should be aware of this, but on the whole our lot has improved over the last sixty years and will continue to do so.