Pagan self-definition and Pagan community

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[RandallS]

Moderators, could I change the poll so that it is possible to submit 2 votes?

I could, but I think that would just make things more confusing. Peter is in a fairly unique position among our members and since everyone here knows he has returned to Judaism, I think it would be easier for just vote the number of years he was Pagan rather than have the confusing two vote thing for everyone (as many people would vote twice when they didn't need to).

[sailor_tech]

I could, but I think that would just make things more confusing. Peter is in a fairly unique position among our members and since everyone here knows he has returned to Judaism, I think it would be easier for just vote the number of years he was Pagan rather than have the confusing two vote thing for everyone (as many people would vote twice when they didn't need to).

Thanks. Voted as number of years pagan.

[RandallS]

How and why did that change? Weren't Pagans in that time accused with devil worship as they are today?

The fundies did not dominate Christianity back in the 1960s and 1970s so it was pretty much a non-issue. The Fundies really didn't make much noise until the tail end of the 1970s.

[sailor_tech]

The fundies did not dominate Christianity back in the 1960s and 1970s so it was pretty much a non-issue. The Fundies really didn't make much noise until the tail end of the 1970s.

I'd also add in that outside of the hippie dippy areas of California and such, it was very low visiablity.  Hard to complain if you don't see it in many areas. 

[Neriandal Freit]

Some points for discussion if you like
What made you decide to define yourself as Pagan as opposed to someone who is just interested in myths, history, nature, meditation, esoteric stuff etc.?

• Have you pondered that label for a while or did you suddenly discover it and had some sort of key experience that just made you think 'Yes, that is it what I was searching all along.'?
• Did it give you a sense of belonging to a community or was it just a label for your own identity and you didn't care if you'd fit into the community?

Well, I clicked "over a year" option only because a listing of "Five years or over" was not available as I am right at the five year mark (not over )

My mother had been into all of this for as long as I can remember. She was in the 'start' (if you will) of the 'wave'. So, she (although I will not say considers her self pagan) knows of this stuff for a good solid thirty years or more at this point (she's 47 this year)

As for me (with the above said) I had the pleasure of a family which neither religious thoughts where dominated. They kept both to them selves unless asked (for the most part) about things. Dad is your "god fearing country boy" and mom is the "believe in everything. i like candles" type LOL.

I personally didn't start getting into this until I hear one word "Celtic". I don't know why the Celts started this off for me, but that turned to Astrology which turned to Tarot which turned to Gods which all had a great deal of little events in between. Namely one being Hanuman at the foot of my bed ...course that also lead to knowing a bunch of other stuff and encountering Hecate and (after a drunken/sobering night out, and a wonderful shower of relaxing) Horus.

So, I didn't start and completely accept my self as a pagan until I was 15. Thats of course five years ago

Unlike many of the elders and more experienced here at Cauldron, my way not yet entirely formed (and not that it ever is for us) for me! I live here in Columbus, IN right outside that little spot-away-from the Christian-belt known as Bloomington, IN . Which unfortunately leads me not to have access to finding more friends and/or teachers to help me.
And no, I'm not complaining by any means at a lack of friends. For working at Menard's (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) in this Christian-belt area, there are at least seven of us there at the store

That's it in a nut shell

[rose]

I'd also add in that outside of the hippie dippy areas of California and such, it was very low visiablity.  Hard to complain if you don't see it in many areas. 

Plus you know...California and all...we get special dispensation b/c everyone knows we are all completely crazy. The rest of the country just ignores us, for the most part

[Waldfrau]

I could, but I think that would just make things more confusing. Peter is in a fairly unique position among our members and since everyone here knows he has returned to Judaism, I think it would be easier for just vote the number of years he was Pagan rather than have the confusing two vote thing for everyone (as many people would vote twice when they didn't need to).

Yes, that's true.

I could

Um, Randall, did you realize I could edit the poll too? (Not sure if you want to have that button available for regular members? I know it's not my business, I just wondered if you've thought about that when you changed the edit function, I've been on a SMF board before.)

[RandallS]

Um, Randall, did you realize I could edit the poll too?

That's hopefully limited to the first 30 minutes just like editing messages.

[Waldfrau]

That's hopefully limited to the first 30 minutes just like editing messages.

The button is still there and I get to the original editing layout when I click it. 

I'll post a poll at the test forum and try to edit it after 30 minutes.

[ladywhitewolf]

Clarification for voting
The poll voting is about when have you defined yourself as Pagan - not when you've started to be interested in Pagan stuff (without labeling yourself as one) nor when you came out of the closet with that label (but have seen yourself as one secretly before).


Some points for discussion if you like
What made you decide to define yourself as Pagan as opposed to someone who is just interested in myths, history, nature, meditation, esoteric stuff etc.?

• Have you pondered that label for a while or did you suddenly discover it and had some sort of key experience that just made you think 'Yes, that is it what I was searching all along.'?
• Did it give you a sense of belonging to a community or was it just a label for your own identity and you didn't care if you'd fit into the community?

For those who are longer Pagan and have a lot of experience with the Pagan community:

• Have you experienced a change in what the label 'Pagan' means inside and outside the Pagan community?
• How has Paganism changed itsself since you started practicing?
• Has your own view of Paganism changed over the time?
• How did those changes affect your life and religious/spiritual practice?

I have been labeling myself as Pagan for about 2 years. I started out getting into Wicca, then I realized it wasn't for me.  I identify myself as a polytheist pagan with leanings towards Shamanism/animism.

[Waldfrau]

I'd be interested in hearing how long you did see yourself as Pagan. I'd like to start a thread about what did make you change your mind as there are some others who have been Pagan in the past, but aren't anymore.

I was distracted by something else, but here it is finally:

http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=5870.msg101991;topicseen#new

[MarieBay]

Clarification for voting
The poll voting is about when have you defined yourself as Pagan - not when you've started to be interested in Pagan stuff (without labeling yourself as one) nor when you came out of the closet with that label (but have seen yourself as one secretly before).

It certainly hasn't been easy, but I've always (whether or not I admitted) been a pagan, since the first day my mother let my feet touch the earth.

Some points for discussion if you like
What made you decide to define yourself as Pagan as opposed to someone who is just interested in myths, history, nature, meditation, esoteric stuff etc.?

• Have you pondered that label for a while or did you suddenly discover it and had some sort of key experience that just made you think 'Yes, that is it what I was searching all along.'?
• Did it give you a sense of belonging to a community or was it just a label for your own identity and you didn't care if you'd fit into the community?

For lack of a better term- because I wanted some solidarity. Growing up in a rural and predominantly Christian area, I was a spiritual outsider. I couldn't fit under that umbrella, and didn't want to, but not knowing how to define myself felt empty as well. I felt a lack of community/history/growth without a name. Mine was a situation where I knew what I was but couldn't articulate it, but once the word Pagan entered into my vocabulary, a light bulb lit up over my head.

The term Pagan is now my little rallying flag, a protective talisman. I enjoy practicing as a solitary, but there's a wealth of information I now have the tools to access, and generous folks willing to step in and guide me through tough places.

[Syncearae]

Clarification for voting
The poll voting is about when have you defined yourself as Pagan - not when you've started to be interested in Pagan stuff (without labeling yourself as one) nor when you came out of the closet with that label (but have seen yourself as one secretly before).


Some points for discussion if you like
What made you decide to define yourself as Pagan as opposed to someone who is just interested in myths, history, nature, meditation, esoteric stuff etc.?

• Have you pondered that label for a while or did you suddenly discover it and had some sort of key experience that just made you think 'Yes, that is it what I was searching all along.'?
• Did it give you a sense of belonging to a community or was it just a label for your own identity and you didn't care if you'd fit into the community?

For those who are longer Pagan and have a lot of experience with the Pagan community:

• Have you experienced a change in what the label 'Pagan' means inside and outside the Pagan community?
• How has Paganism changed itsself since you started practicing?
• Has your own view of Paganism changed over the time?
• How did those changes affect your life and religious/spiritual practice?

What made me define myself as Pagan is I am in my definition and at the definition I held at the time living it. I am a spiritual person who is not of an Abramic faith. I reallized what I was and am has a label, and that is when I started defining myself as it.

I like the fact that there are others that I can talk to who have had a simular experience and lifestyle. It was mostly to give me a word to explain my beliefs to others instead of a paragraph.

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