{"id":29,"date":"2016-04-24T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-24T02:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/2016\/04\/sects-within-sects-or-the-fragmentation-of-paganism.html"},"modified":"2018-01-24T13:33:28","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T03:33:28","slug":"sects-within-sects-or-the-fragmentation-of-paganism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/2016\/04\/sects-within-sects-or-the-fragmentation-of-paganism.html","title":{"rendered":"Sects Within Sects or The Fragmentation of Paganism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File%3A14_Religions.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When we come into Paganism, we usually come into it via our own biases. \u00a0Some people will be nature worshippers or similar, and they will find Paganism via that naturism. \u00a0Some people will be witchy or occult and they will find Paganism via that. \u00a0Some will be attracted to the Greek or Norse Gods, and they will come via that. \u00a0And so we enter through these biases, thinking, in some cases, that this IS Paganism, this is all that Paganism is.<\/p>\n

We are then hit with the reality, this is not Paganism. \u00a0Paganism is a massive multiplicty of varying religions and belief systems and practices that hold, in some instances, absolutely nothing in common. \u00a0We discover it is not all nature and earth, or witches or Wiccans or Heathens or Hellenes or Druids or whatever. We discover it is all of them, and none of them.<\/p>\n

We discover, sometimes slowly, that there is no Paganism. That is why we cannot define it, because it doesn\u2019t exist. \u00a0It\u2019s just the catch all label for the religions that aren\u2019t the *big five.<\/p>\n

*The big five being \u2013 Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism<\/a> and Hinduism. \u00a0I do know that there are many religions outside of these that are also not big-P Paganism, I can\u2019t list them all in every paragraph.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

We call it the Pagan Umbrella, or the Big Tent of Paganism, but the truth is, it is more the Pagan Net. \u00a0It catches everything that\u2019s left out of the other religions, there are no rules for what may be classed as Paganism, there are no rules for who may call themselves Pagan. \u00a0Even the old, \u201cnon-Abrahamic\u201d is no longer true \u2013 because we do have Christo-Pagans and the like. \u00a0Paganism is the safety net label, the one people use so they can be recognised as religious but not of the big five religions.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t like that break down of your religion? Get over it, it\u2019s my label too and I recognise the truth of this. \u00a0Paganism is the default label for people who want to be recognised as religious but not THOSE religions. \u00a0That is, truly, all it is. \u00a0It may not be what YOUR Paganism is, but it is what modern Paganism is as a whole.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sects Within Sects<\/h3>\n

Under the Pagan Umbrella, or within the Pagan Net are a large number of religions in their own right. \u00a0Some of them refuse to be caught in the net, covered by the umbrella.<\/p>\n

Heathenism is the example for this. \u00a0There are Heathens who are okay with and still use the Pagan label, as is their prerogative. \u00a0But there are many more Heathens who deny the Pagan label for themselves and their religions \u2013 indeed, call them Pagan and you may be insulting them.<\/p>\n

Heathenism is also an umbrella term, but unlike the Pagan Umbrella, the Heathen Umbrella actually has underlying things and themes that all Heathens have in common. \u00a0Specifically, the Aesir and Vanir and the Germanic-Norse myths. \u00a0But it is still an umbrella because despite these underlying (or overlying perhaps) commonalities between all Heathens, each Heathen may have other differing beliefs and practices that do make them different from each other. \u00a0Much like Christianity really \u2013 Christianity is the umbrella label for everyone who \u201cworships\u201d Jesus Christ, but beneath that label you have many many differences of practice and beliefs, and so you have Catholics and Protestants and Mormons<\/a> and Adventists and Orthodox and\u2026. \u00a0Heathenism is the same, many different sects that are different, but they all tie together with their specific commonalities.<\/p>\n

Paganism doesn\u2019t have any underlying or overlying commonality, not even one. \u00a0Oh sure there is a group of things that can tie us all together \u2013 but it is more like links in a chain. \u00a0A is connected to B, B is connected to C, C is connected to D but A is not connected to C or D, except through it\u2019s connection to B. The Pagan Umbrella is more like the idea of 6 degrees of separation. Proper umbrella religions are more like a tree, with a single trunk and branches that come off that trunk, keeping them all connected via the trunk, but different otherwise.<\/p>\n

So, by seeing Heathenism for what it is, we can see that Paganism is an umbrella with other umbrellas beneath it, or its sects within sects. \u00a0Some of the existing or possible sects\/umbrellas.<\/p>\n

Heathenism\/Asatru. Wicca. \u00a0Druidry\/Celtic. \u00a0Hellenismos\/Greek. \u00a0Kemetism\/Egyptian. \u00a0Roman. \u00a0Aztec or MesoAmerican. \u00a0Mesopotamian (or specifics, like Babylonian, Assyrian etc).<\/p>\n

And so much more, I just don\u2019t know all the labels. \u00a0What of those that don\u2019t fit these, or fit more than one? \u00a0Well, mixes do exist, which is why there is also Graeco-Roman Paganism. \u00a0Now should that be Hellenism or Roman or an entirely different umbrella? Not up to me, but I suspect an entirely different one that has connections to the other two.<\/p>\n

What of things like animism, pantheism etc? \u00a0Well, these are more concepts than actual religions. You can actually be of any religion and be an animist or pantheist. \u00a0As such, these concepts would be the branches within the other religions. \u00a0Atheism and humanism and those others are the same. \u00a0For example, one branch within Hellenismos could indeed be Archetypal Hellenism or AtheoHellenism or something like that. \u00a0They would still be Hellenismos, just not my Hellenismos. \u00a0And, in reality, such did exist in ancient times \u2013 many of the philosophers did not believe in the Gods as literal beings, but they did still pay honour to them in various ways for various reasons.<\/p>\n

The Fragmentation of Paganism<\/h3>\n

But what\u2019s my point in all of this, other than to point out the obvious (to some, it\u2019s not obvious to all)? \u00a0So I was over at Son of Hel, and read\u00a0this post by Lucius<\/a>\u00a0which discusses the future of Paganism and orthodoxy over orthopraxy and, well, read it for yourself. \u00a0It touched on things that I have been thinking of myself lately. \u00a0Namely a single question I have been asking, quietly, mostly within myself.<\/p>\n

Why do these religions, these existing sects with their own umbrellas, still shelter themselves under the Pagan Umbrella? Is Heathenism the only sect that has, mostly, escaped the Pagan Net and made a name for its own self?<\/p>\n

To the second question, yes and no. \u00a0Hellenismos for example does exist outside of Paganism. \u00a0A large number of Hellenes refuse the Pagan label and simply exist as Hellenes or Hellenics or Hellenists. \u00a0But it also still exists, kind of, within Paganism. \u00a0Some Wiccans are trying to get out from the Pagan Umbrella, as are some Druids\/Celts.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s obviously a difficult process to remove your religion from the Pagan Net, it is a bit of a trap. \u00a0But I think it can be done. \u00a0Asatru\/Heanthenism has done a good job of being loud about their non-Pagan sentiments. \u00a0As much as Pagans try to shove them back into the Net, they are much louder about being out of the Net. \u00a0So much so, that when I say \u201cPaganism\u201d I will often add \u201cand related religions such as Heathenism\u201d.<\/p>\n

So that also partially answers the first question. \u00a0Many of these religions are still \u201cPagan\u201d because it is hard to get out of Paganism, it latches on with its claws and refuses to let go.<\/p>\n

But that can\u2019t be the whole of the answer. \u00a0I think it is because of what Lucius discusses on his post. \u00a0A lot of Paganism is focussed on inclusiveness and expansion and the idea of orthopraxy over orthodoxy. \u00a0And there is nothing wrong with that, truly. \u00a0I like the inclusiveness and diversity of Paganism.<\/p>\n

But the fact remains, Paganism mostly exists for the reason I presented at the start of this post \u2013 because there is nothing else most of us can call ourselves. \u00a0So it stands to reason that when sects within sects have formed (an individual umbrella) that the overall sect\/umbrella should remove itself from Paganism \u2013 because it no longer needs the Pagan label for identification purposes, it should have it\u2019s own name and its sects should have their own names.<\/p>\n

But this isn\u2019t happening as it probably should be happening, because neo-Paganism is so very clingy.<\/p>\n

Now, I am not saying Paganism should be kicking out these sects \u2013 I am saying these groups should be removing themselves from the Pagan label and establishing their own labels. \u00a0With their own overarching common orthodoxy \u2013 generally the belief in a specific pantheon of deities \u2013 and then each minor sect has its own narrower orthodoxy, or even focus on orthopraxy. \u00a0While the general label of the religions would include anyone and everyone who follows the overarching orthodoxy at the least.<\/p>\n

It sounds like I am advocating for exclusiveness, and perhaps I am. \u00a0But it is something that already exists, but while we are under the Pagan Umbrella, we are thought of as being horrible people for trying to be exclusive. \u00a0And it\u2019s not like the exclusiveness is so narrow you can\u2019t get in on it. \u00a0I mean, for Hellenismos, the orthodoxy would simply be \u2013 follow the Greek Gods. \u00a0That is it, that is all you need to be Hellenic. \u00a0You can believe they are archetypes, or metaphors or whatever. \u00a0You can still use the overarching label of Hellenismos. \u00a0It\u2019s when you want to join one of the more specific Hellenic sects that the orthodoxy and orthopraxy will become more narrow. \u00a0But the individual sects cannot deny you the right to label yourself as general Hellenic. \u00a0Just like Catholics cannot deny Born Again Christians the label of Christian.<\/p>\n

Does it Even Matter?<\/h3>\n

Maybe it doesn\u2019t matter if any of this happens or doesn\u2019t happen. \u00a0But it would bring some changes to all of us, all of our religions and Paganism itself, that could be beneficial. \u00a0We wouldn\u2019t care so much about what Paganism is. \u00a0We wouldn\u2019t be in all these ridiculous arguments over labels \u2013 like why does a Heathen polytheist fight a Celtic Atheopagan over what can be called polytheism? That shouldn\u2019t happen with the fragmentation of Paganism, because the Heathen wouldn\u2019t care about the Celtic Atheopagan.<\/p>\n

Would the fights still exist within the new sects and religions? \u00a0Sure, it exists in Christianity (and Christianity is always an example of what\u2019s possible with religion), it would likely exist for every religion. \u00a0But with the sects within sects, we can stop caring so much. \u00a0Because suddenly the AtheoHellene and the Devotional Hellene (or whatever labels are applied) are separate from each other despite the common trunk of Hellenism. \u00a0More separate than they currently are under Paganism, and yet at the same time, closer to each other than they are under Paganism.<\/p>\n

And sure, there will still be people who can\u2019t fit any of the new religions, but its not like Paganism itself will cease to exist. \u00a0It will just stop being the trap net that it is now. \u00a0It will give individuals the option to be Pagan or be something else.<\/p>\n

The fact that the only option that exists for a large majority of religious people who are not of the big five is Paganism, is not a good thing. \u00a0It\u2019s limiting and often leads to disillusionment. \u00a0It is good that Paganism is there as an option, but it\u2019s not good that it\u2019s the default option.<\/p>\n

As for me, I will continue to use my Pagan label, for the moment. \u00a0But I think that is mostly for community and online purposes. \u00a0I can speak to more Pagans and related religions if I am using the Pagan label. \u00a0But in the end, Paganism is meaningless to me as a label for my religion. \u00a0I am Hellenic, a Devotional Hellenic if that\u2019s the label that should exist.<\/p>\n

What about you? Do you think your religion should be fragmented away from Paganism? Or are you happy with the Pagan label?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we come into Paganism, we usually come into it via our own biases. \u00a0Some people will be nature worshippers or similar, and they will find Paganism via that naturism. \u00a0Some people will be witchy or occult and they will find Paganism via that. \u00a0Some will be attracted to the Greek or Norse Gods, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2764,"featured_media":134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1],"tags":[20,25],"class_list":["post-29","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pagan-community","category-uncategorized","tag-opinion","tag-religion"],"yoast_head":"\nSects Within Sects or The Fragmentation of Paganism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When we come into Paganism, we usually come into it via our own biases. \u00a0Some people will be nature worshippers or similar, and they will find 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