A History of Paganism | From the Ancient to the Modern
We're on to History. I know, fascinating subject.
Paganism is an old practice, dating back pretty much to the beginnings of civilization.However, it wasn't always called that. The term "pagan" actually comes from the Latin word pagus meaning "country dweller" (EtymOnline). However, when early Christians dubbed the term for non-believers, it was much more akin to "country bumpkin".
❤Christianity's Impact❤
With the birth of Christianity, or at least soon after, came the fall of many pagan religions and beliefs. Julian the Apostate is thought to be the last Roman emperor who made a version of paganism the official religion of Rome. Rome was a polytheistic state with a vast pantheon. That all changed when Julian died in Persia (Gill).
Taking Over
After Julian's death, a man named Saturninius Secundus Salutius (say that three times fast) was supposed to take over, but he didn't want the job. So it went to a Christian named Jovian. Many sects of Christianity have conversion as one of their top priorities. They want to spread the good news so that people can enter the kingdom of heaven. Jovian was no different. While he was tolerant of the pagans, possibly due to the lingering effect of paganism, he tried to convince people to become Christian and accept his god as theirs.
Eventually, however, these tolerant views would change. It changed first with Constantius I. Under his rule and order, several pagan temples were raided and vandalized. Pagans were still technically tolerated, but they were far from respected.
His son, Constantius II, took it one step further and outlawed pagan religions and persecuted anyone daring to identify or practice as a pagan. And if persecution wasn't enough, rulers like Theodosius I signed a declaration of war against the pagans (InfoGalatic).
Pagan Parents
They may have taken over, but Christians also took a lot of practices from their pagan parents. Take, for example, Christmas itself. Firstly, no one has any evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was even born in the winter, much less the exact day. Secondly, Christmas falls pretty close to Yule, the winter solstice. This is important to note because it also shares many traditions. Bringing in and decorating an evergreen was said to represent prosperity and rebirth. Gift giving and feasting were also Yule traditions.
Another very important day to Christianity is Easter, the day Christ rose from the dead. It also falls close to a pagan holiday, the spring equinox. Even the word Easter has pagan roots. It comes from the name of a Germanic spring goddess, Eostre (Otherworldly Oracle).
❤ Neo-Pagans in Europe ❤
It all started with the Enlightenment period and Romantic movement of Europe. It was a time of resentment of the Roman church, which many people considered to be corrupt and oppressive. During this time, there were many critics of Christianity who though things like religion were better how they were before monotheism was implemented and especially before it was enforced (Winnail).
It was an act of rebellion.
In the mid-1600s, druid artifacts such as stone circles and other monuments started interesting archaeologists. Even today, they still study these structures, though many of the so-called druid works have been found to predate even the druids themselves.
This unrest and newfound interest in past religions led Gerald Gardner to create Wicca in the 1940s. It became popular across Europe in the '40s and '50s and eventually made its way to the United States in the 1960s.
It has remained a popular form of Neo-Paganism ever since. It was during these founding years in the United States that neo-paganism rooted itself in American culture and counterculture.
❤ Neo-Paganism in the United States ❤
The Teachings of Old
As we learn more about our ancestors and how they worshiped, more and more people are choosing those teachings over Abrahamic teachings. Neo-paganism claims to be more tolerant of other beliefs and I think this is what draws people in. Again, there's no dogma, no one to tell you you're doing it wrong, unlike in the rigid teachings of other religions.
The Birth of Modern Witchcraft
Historians suggest that the witches of the 16th and 17th centuries were actually pagan, and that their spell work was largely that of pagan rituals. In 1899, a man by the name of Charles Leland (an American journalist) claimed ot have found modern witches in Italy (BBC). It is from these witches that a path called Stregheria was born. (I'll cover Stregheria at a later point.)
The Rise of Counterculture
The hippies, punks, and goths were the real stars in bringing neo-paganism to the United states. They stood against the grain of everyday life and insisted certain things be changed.
Next, let's address the punks and goths. These are probably what you associate with pagans or witches if you are unfamiliar with the groups.
They're rebels, adorned in dark clothing and possibly obsessed with the macabre. Or so people say. This is generally not true of neo-pagans.
Many pagans, neo-pagans, and witches sport bright colors, opting for the occasional love or anti-anxiety spell over a jinx or hex.
Some people do fit that description, but those same people usually fixate on death to appreciate life. The idea that you will one day die makes every day you're alive that much more important. These people aren't evil or wrong. They're just different.
❤ Citing Those Sources ❤
BBC. “Religions - Paganism: History of Modern Paganism.” Www.bbc.co.uk, 2 Oct. 2002, Link. Accessed 8 Mar. 2023.
EtymOnline. “Pagan | Origin and Meaning of Pagan.” Online Etymology Dictionary, 9 Dec. 2019, Link.
Gill, N. “Why Julian the Apostate Failed to Revive Paganism in the Roman Empire.” ThoughtCo, 7 Feb. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/julian-and-the-fall-of-paganism-119349. Accessed 8 Mar. 2023.
InfoGalatic. “Persecution of Pagans in the Late Roman Empire - Infogalactic: The Planetary Knowledge Core.” Infogalactic.com, Link.
Otherworldly Oracle. “Christianity’s Pagan Roots: Traditions, Practices and Holidays.” Otherworldly Oracle, 16 May 2019, Link.
Winnail, Douglas. “The Rise of Modern Paganism.” Tomorrow’s World, 30 Oct. 2019, Link.
Comments
Post a Comment
Be respectful.