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Gray-Spirit > BLOG ARCHIVE

Pagan Q & A

Posted by: Tanoro - January 05, 2007

This file might be one you'll want to read a few times. Here you'll find a few questions most people ask when they find out that you're a Pagan. These questions come from parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, everyone! Some of them are to laugh! I've also included some good responses for you. Remember them well. They're a good help in a spot. I make a lot of comparisons between Christians and Pagans here because almost all of these questions came from Christians. This article is not meant, in any way, to offend the Christian concept or Christian God.

1. Q: Aren't Pagans devil-worshippers?

A: NO! We're NOT! This is among the most common questions and it's the Christians' fault that it is. Pagans acknowledge deities both God and Goddess from many different pantheons (Celtic, Norse, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, etc.). We have no deities by the name of "Satan" or "The devil," as stated by the American Council of Witches, nor do we even believe in his existence or the existence of Hell. We strongly believe in the universal balance between all opposites. Because of this, we don't believe their is a entity which is all evil and not good. You can't have free will without both. Though the pentacle symbol that Pagans use (five pointed star within a circle) stands for Satanic worship when reversed, so does the Christian Cross. Used as Pagans use it, it is the symbol of the five elements of our world; Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.

2. Q: I think magick is scary. How do I know you won't hurt me without me knowing it?

A: For one, our Rede forbids it. "An it harm none, do what ye will." We're not allowed to harm any living creature nor are we allowed to let ourselves be harmed. For another, if I had reason to harm someone, I wouldn't waste my powers on them. That wouldn't be worth it.

3. Q: Pagans? Don't they wear creepy robes and light candles and other creepy stuff like that?

A: You've obviously never been to a Catholic service. Yes, we do wear robes, cloaks, tunics, and other ritual clothing when the situation calls for it. But then again, so do many Christian preachers during religious services. When we are in ritual, we are Pagans and as such, we must dress like them. One can't focus like a Pagan without feeling like one and one naturally would feel most like a Pagan when dressed like one. In addition to this, dressing like a Craft user does NOT include dressing Gothic. The Gothic style is nothing more than a modern fashion fad not unlike the hippy and disco fads of previous decades. It does not indicate one as a Craft user. In fact, most Craft users dress suprisingly normal.

4. Q: If Pagans don't believe in the Devil or Hell, do you believe in Heaven?

A: We believe in an afterlife, but it is not defined as the Christians define it. We have many names for the afterlife depending on the practice and pantheon the Pagan studies. Some are: The Spirit World, The Great Hereafter, Tir Na Nog, Summerland, etc. This list simply goes on and on. It more applies to personal belief.

5. Q: If Pagans don't believe in Hell, then where do the bad people go when they die?

A: Interesting question! Pagans believe in reincarnation just as Buddhists do. We hold the belief that the impurities gained from life is quickly forgotten and cleansed from our memories during death and we are reborn again as another person and will start anew. Therefore to us, death isn't something to fear. It's a cleansing period in which all corruption is washed away. So the answer to your question is simple: We all go to the same place. I like using the analogy of the water cycle in relation to reincarnation. A single drop of water has endless cycles between evaporation (death) and rain (rebirth) which spans endlessly throughout time. Each drop picks up impurities over it's life on Earth, then it evaporates, destined to fall back to Earth as a clean, new drop. Life, I truly believe, follows this exact same natural cycle.

6. Q: Why should I give your religion any credibility? We've got a Bible that's been around for hundreds of years! What do you have?

A: For one, I don't expect any credibility from you, but it would be neighborly of you. (Reference to the Ten Commandments there. Did you catch it?) As for what Pagans have, we have traditions and the grimoires passed down to us that have been around for thousands of years. Most serious Pagans write a Book of Shadows to pass on to their children, which contain practices that worked for them, thus credible. The actual practice of magick itself, however, is highly personal. We don't like the idea of practicing religion from a book because books are subject to alteration, misinterpretation, and are not adaptable to the ever changing human race. By keeping our practice by experience, personal teachings, experimentation, and revelations, we keep it adaptable, comprehendible for all, and open for evolution and progression.

7. Q: I heard Pagans and Witches do blood sacrifices and are required to kill people and animals in their rituals. Isn't that what an athame is for?

A: Once again, NO! Our Rede forbids it! We are not allowed to do such things. At some point in history, most any religion has been known to do sacrifices of human or animal nature, including Christianity. The death of Jesus on the cross would, by all definitions, be considered a human sacrifice. Also, contrary to popular belief, human sacrifices have always been voluntary. The life energy of a sacrifice can never be directed toward a spell unless the sacrifice understood and was willing to cooperate. But no religions that I'm aware of still perform human sacrifice today. We're required to obey the laws of the land like everyone else. Also, we're taught to use plant resins and inanimate sacrifices for our magick nowadays. As far as the athame, or ritual dagger, it is used with similar respects as a wand and is never used for cutting anything, let alone flesh. It is a tradition that if blood ever touches an athame, it must be destroyed. Athames are often expensive too, so we don't use them for cutting flesh.

8. Q: Aren't Pagans required to dance naked at some rituals?

A: Actually, it's not required. Also, if there will be children present, then it is usually not done. This is called "Skyclad," by the way. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a sexual practice. It is a practice which puts everyone into their natural states, the states in which all life is born; nude. Careful measures are always taken to protect the personal rights of everyone at such rituals. However, this is a fully optional practice. I don't go skyclad at rituals. Primarily because I love my cloak dearly and I find myself better focused while wearing it. Not to mention, I don't like mosquitoes.

9. Q: If you can do magick, will you demonstrated it for us?

A: No, I won't and I'll tell you why. For one, my personal religious routines are as private as your personal prayer time. Can you pray knowing someone is watching you? Do you like being asked to demonstrate prayer for the purpose of proving it can be done? I don't practice magick to impress people nor to prove I'm better than others. I only cast spells when they are absolutely needed and I don't do it for entertainment. If you want to see magic tricks, buy a ticket for the next local magic show in your area. Secondly, most of what happens during spell casting happens on a spiritual level and not the physical level, so you won't observe anything supernatural and out of the ordinary if you watch me casting a spell. It simply doesn't work that way.

10. Q: Why should I believe in magick? I think it is all just hog-wash!

A: You can think what you want. However, if you don't believe in magick, then you don't believe in prayer either. Both are religious rituals done for the purpose of asking for divine assistance with a mortal desire. Prayer is a Pagan ritual also and we use it for magick the same way Christians and many other religions do. With that in mind, Christians practice some forms of magick too. If you don't believe in it, you've ironically severed yourself from your own God.

11. Q: The Bible states "You shall have no other gods before Me." ~Exodus 20:3

A: I'm aware of what the Bible says, for many Christians have quoted it to me in vain because they simply miss the point. The Commandments of the Christian Bible apply only to those who choose that path and become Christians. Though Pagans acknowledge Christianity as a worthy and acceptable religious path, it is not our own and neither are its manuals and sacred writings. We have our own traditions and our own way of life. That doesn't mean that either way of life is better or worse than the other. We are simply different. Do not waste your breath or my time by quoting the sacred writings of a religious path that isn't mine. Let's stick to what is applicable, shall we? Otherwise, I can quote the grimoires to you all day and it'd get us nowhere.

12. Q: I think you should see a preacher. Don't you think you'd be happier as a Christian?

A: Now you're just being conceited and egotistical. You are implying that your religion is better and makes people happier. I can assure you that my religion has fulfilled my spiritual desires and I am quite happy with it. Christianity simply isn't my chosen path and an honest spiritual leader of any religion will respect me for that even if I'm not among his/her flock. By the way, do you really want me as part of your religion when my heart longs for the Pagan path? Does your God want me to be a fish out of water? The Bible states that it is ultimately the Holy Spirit that converts people to Christianity. Therefore, trying to convert people has the risk of undermining your own religious path.

If any of you have had such experiences, e-mail me at the link below and I'll add it. If you have a nice response to it, send that too. If you don't, I'll add one myself. Believe me, I've heard a lot of them!