Paganism FAQ
Paganism is an old, naturistic religion that dates back even before Christianity. In fact, Christianity has taken a few things from Paganism. Paganism is a joyful religion that celebrates the Earth. There is no "true" structured belief, like Judaism or Christianity. However, all Pagans honour the Earth and respect it's creatures (but, that doesn't mean we don't have phobias). Pagans also honour-worship Gods and Goddesses. Some Pagans are monotheistic and only honour on God or Goddess. Some are polythiestic, that honour many Gods and Goddesses in a certain pantheon (and some may jump from one to another) and some are antheists and only honour the Earth itself.
Paganism has many traditions with subtraditions. Wicca, a religion on the rise, is a peaceful tradition of Paganism honouring a God and a Goddess (of any choice or the Mother Goddess and Father God). "And Ye Harm None Do As You Wilt" is the policy of Wicca, but also applied to Paganism. There are Celtic, Egyptian, Norse, Mayan, etc. traditions in Paganism. Native American traditions can also apply in Paganism.. Shamanism is another tradition of Paganism.
Pagans are anybody who believe in the system of Paganism. They can be adults like Project Managers, Police Officers, Animal Trainers, Computer Programmers, Web Site Designers, Fire Fighters, Lawyers, etc. And even Teens and Children can be Pagans, Students, etc. Pagans are people who are willing to bask in their religion, but we are human.... so we must do the work-to-succeed tango also. We have fears, phobias, hopes, dreams, emotions, we *are* people. :)
No. Pagans do not believe in a so-called "evil deity". Pagans accept the world as ever changing and that things that go "bad" are natural. Pagans do not aknowledge, farless worship, anything like "The Devil". Who is to say which God is or isn't real? So as a wrap-up, we do not worship any "devil" or "evil deity".
The answer again is, no. Pagans do not do sacrifices, what-so-ever. Pagans honour all animals, and people. Christianity has the saying "Do unto others as you would have them to unto you." Paganism has the same "An It Harm None Do What You Wilt", meaning if it harms nobody, you may do it. Some Pagans who are vegetarians, do not smoke or do not drink, do out of choice. Those who do eat meat, do out of choice also. We aren't perfect... nobody is.
So, no. We do not perform sacrifices do any gods. The only sacrifices that would be are time and energy. If you do run into someone who says they are "Pagan" and they say they worship the "devil" and/or do "sacrfices", I'm sorry to say they are NOT Pagan.
You can't pick us out of a crowd, like a drunk bug in white wine. We're normal people, we have likes and dislikes, favorites, etc. However, occult stores are most likely where to find notes posted on the billboard for info, etc. But, I wouldn't jump to the next person you see in the occult shop and say "Hey, You're Pagan aren't you?". What if you had somone come up to you and ask "Hey, how's it going?" and you didn't know the person.
The best thing to do, is read info., ask questions, and get familiar with the new faith. Some people get right into it, others have a stretched period. It doesn't hurt to be interested. But, note: Paganism is not all about MAGICK and SPELLS.
Some Pagans do do magick, others do not. Some do spells, and others do not out of choice. It's all on the basis of personal beliefs. Paganism is a religious belief and not just "magick". Magick is like a side order and Paganism is the main course-meal. Go to my Other Pagan Home Pages page, and my Pagan Organizations page. More info can be provided if you want to know more.