There is a disturbing trend amongst Wiccans and other Pagans which exhibits itself in the form of a yearning for religion. I guess this is natural, in a sense, since Paganism is a religion, right? Well, I guess that all depends on how you define the term religion.
Bear in mind that the majority of pagans, at least American ones, come from a religious background, in one form or another. Even if they themselves were not regular churchgoers, or otherwise religously inclined, there is a better chance than not that there is some degree of religious influence in their background. Face it, it is just the way our society has been structured, if it’s not a family tradition, it is at the very least an environmental and a societal influence.
As such, there are various pagan organizations that feed off this influence, in a variety of ways and forms. I don’t know how often I have been either an observer of or a participant in conversations that revolve around the aspect of transforming Paganism into a religion, with at least the implication of all the hierarchical structuring this entails. Well, it’s a rocky road, with lots of hills and deceptive curves. And many of the would-be leaders of such movements can at times exhibit undue frustration at their lack of progress.
“Leading pagans is like trying to herd cats,” I have heard more than one of these people complain. Then follows the usual litany of woes- the backbiting, jealousy, suspicion, stubbornness, uncooperativeness, etc., etc.
Yet, most pagans seem to be looking to be led. Many of them in fact betray at least a hint of fundamentalism, of literalist interpretation of the ancient pagan mythologies, that are at least naïve, if not borderline psychotic. And I fear there are more than ample opportunities for them to be taken advantage of. I am talking here about the kind of people that will throw their money into useless endeavors such as illustrated by, for example, charlatans such as Miss Cleo. They are obviously looking for something in their lives that has been lacking. But what is it?
They are to an extent conflicted about spirituality, about religion, and yet are superstitously inclined. And so, there is a lack of wholeness. They are looking to be accepted into a group that will give them meaning, and guidance, but Wicca and Paganism can only afford this to a limited extent. And that is why it will never be a major religion. And why is that? Well,the answer to that will be surprising, but it is a really simple concept.
Paganism was never a religion. Think about that. I know it sounds crazy, coming from a pagan, but it is the truth. Again-Paganism was never a religion.
That is because, in any given culture you consider from the long ago past, paganism was never one religion, but a mixture of them-a mishmash, if you will. Take ancient Greece, for example, and the ancient Hellenic deities. This is the Pagan philosophy to which I have gravitated. But look at it closely. There was never an overreaching, monolithic Hellenic Pagan hierarchical structure, as such.
The closest you came to this was during certain festivals, in which the communities would gather to feast and celebrate, and worship as a community, in celebration of one or in some cases more of the deities. Certain calendar dates were sacred to certain deities. That, folks, is as good as it gets. Even at this, there was no overarching common standard that bound all the various Hellenic communities. Here, the closest you might come would be in the celebration of the Olympics.
As for the various mythologies of the different deities that many will point to as evidence of a common religous structure, this has for far too long been taken at face value. These mythologies were meant mainly for public consumption. They offerred evidence of the values of moral living, for example. After all, if a God or a Goddess could bring harm or disaster or shame upon him or her self by engaging in immoral activities, then how more so should this be taken as a warning to mortals as to what their fate would surely be by doing likewise? It also offerred explanations as to various natural phenomenon, theorized how the universe came into being, and any number of other such things.
Still, it’s important to realize that, as valuable as these old mythological stories are to a point-they are not religion. And here’s where we get right dow to the nitty gritty.
All the various deties, the Goddesses and the Gods, had their own cults. Their own individual priesthoods. Their own-well, their own religions. Now, people could, and did, go to their various temples and partake of prayer services and made offerrings to these deities at their temples in the hopes of gaining this or that good fortune. And, as mentioned earlier, there were various community festivals in honor of these deities that were officiated by their individual priesthoods.
But to be an actual practising member of a religious cult entailed far more than merely showing up to temple, offerring a few prayers and a song or two and listening to a sermon here or there. This was true regardless of the sincerity of the worshipper. Being a member of the religious cult involved usually the payment of a fee, along with a requirement of a minimum of social standing within the community. It also required the regular payment of dues. Finally-and this is perhaps the most improtant point of all-it required a degree of secrecy. You wee, after all, a member of an exclusive sect.
Some cults were more rigid about this than were others. There is still little known for example about the cult of Demeter. Yet, she was a very imprtant Goddess, one of the major twelve Olympian Gods considered of the utmost importance. She was originally perhaps a barley goddess, but eventually came to be viewed as the Goddess of agriculture in all it’s forms.
The cult of Ares, God of War, is even more of a mystery. Almost nothnig of the beliefs of his cult has survived. Almost everything that has survived concerning him on a mythological level is negative, in some cases to an almost absurd degree. And this brings up another interesting point concerning the Hellenic Pagan religious cults. They were very competitive. The cults of Ares and Athene are sterling examples of two cults which were evidently as competitive in their own way as, to give a more modern example, Islam might be seen by many as being a competitor to Christianity, or as Protestantism was until the not too distant past seen as competitive with Catholicism, and to a degree still is.
So there you have it. Even those cults which were most widespread in their respective lands and cultures-Zeus to the Greeks, Amon Ra to the Egyptians, and Vishnu to the modern day Hindus, are themselves manifestation of one religious cult. A cult which recognizes and affirms the existence of other lesser deities, and allows even for honors to them, yes. Still yet, they were and in the case of Vishnu is, religions that are sacred to that one diety to whom the priesthood, and devotees, owe their allegiance.
The wealthier classes of course could afford to belong to more than one cult, and oftentimes did. In this case, of course, they were members of multiple religions. So what is this all leading up to? Simply put, if there ever is one umbrella “Pagan Religion”, as many would assert, they are creating an animal that has never before existed, or at least was extremely rare, to say the least.
This is not to say that it can’t be done, of course, nothing is impossible. But is it practical. Is it even desirable?
I have always been attracted myself to the concept of coven worship. Also, to the idea of Secret Societies. In such a society, you do not come “just as I am” and are accepted with love and open arms. In fact, you do not come at all without an invitation. Even at that, you are by no means assurred of a place in the order. And if you are accepted into it, you are definitely expected-make that required-to contribute, either in money, talent, or time.
Does that mean we consider ourselves better? No,we just consider ouselves members of an exclusive club, who share the same common interests and heartfelt beliefs. Otherwise, we would like to be responsible members of our society and contribute to the welfare of it. Hell,you might even see us in your churches from time to time. After all, a tue pagan does believe in giving honor to all deities of all peoples. Even to those who might be presented in an overly ostentatous fashion by those who take him, and themselves, a bit too seriously.
But of course, all religions take themselves seriously, as do their adherents, and were paganism ever to be transformed into a hierarchical umbrella structure-assumming for the moment that were even possible-I contend it would quickly dissove into factions, rival ones, in many cases, just like in days of old. And, even if this did not occur, the overall result would be just another hierarchical power sturcture opting for socal and politcal power and influence. Soon,it would fall to the same degree of corruption and decadence as all the others. The signs are there, in fact, that the seeds have allready been planted for this.
That is just a fact of human nature, unfortunately, inherent as well, I fear, in mankinds innate spiritual cravings.
