Joseph_F wrote:What's interesting to me is how these tend to get lumped together (Pagans, Druids, Shamans, and Witches) even though in their original forms they are very different. In fact, "pagan" and "shaman" aren't really names of religions in the strictest sense, but instead are names of types of religious practice.
When I hear someone say they are "pagan", to me it is as specific as someone announcing they are a monotheist. 'Yes,' is my response, 'but what kind?' And shaman is just a description of a religious function, as general a term as "clergyman". There are shamans in the Amazon, shamans in the Arctic Circle, and shamans in Tibet, all who practice very different religions.
It's just interesting that these many diverse practices tend to get grouped together, which I guess makes sense as a group of minority religions in contrast to the major world religions. (Of course, in many ways Hinduism is pagan, and there are way, way more practitioners of traditional Chinese ancestor worship than Jews in the world).
(nod) It's more of a desire to lump the Gaul/Celt/Greco Roman and the next door neihbors together.
The use of the terminology of titles is simply a result of an extension of explaining the practices. A Druid could easily be worshiping the same god as a shaman (often is), just ceremonial differences. It a flag to any outsider, oh this circle does it this way.
Besides it would have been awkward to title it Pagans including pagans, druids, witches, shamans, solitaries, and others. Too wordy.
If you ever seen a Shinto ceremony the similarities are what stand out, and they use priest and priestess. Understanding that most religious practices share a basic similarity will take you a long way.
And yes if you really want to know when someone says they're pagan, you should ask them what kind. It might just spark a good conversation.
Understanding that most religious practices share a basic similarity will take you a long way.
Yes, and this includes the main monotheistic religions which ante-date many of the others. We particularly see this at Xmastime and Easter - the festivals of the Winter Solstice and of Fertility. Succoth, Hannukah and Ramadan also have a similarity to the harvest festivals which were celebrated in the autumn. The majority of ancient festivals are based around the seasons as the weather and the growing of food have always been so important to mankind.
I had always understood a Shaman to be a storyteller/healer/mediator and they too are part of most religions, if not all. A Christian priest is in the same tradition. I don't think Shamanism is a religion per se.
TiggerBear wrote:
Joseph_F wrote:What's interesting to me is how these tend to get lumped together (Pagans, Druids, Shamans, and Witches) even though in their original forms they are very different. In fact, "pagan" and "shaman" aren't really names of religions in the strictest sense, but instead are names of types of religious practice.
When I hear someone say they are "pagan", to me it is as specific as someone announcing they are a monotheist. 'Yes,' is my response, 'but what kind?' And shaman is just a description of a religious function, as general a term as "clergyman". There are shamans in the Amazon, shamans in the Arctic Circle, and shamans in Tibet, all who practice very different religions.
It's just interesting that these many diverse practices tend to get grouped together, which I guess makes sense as a group of minority religions in contrast to the major world religions. (Of course, in many ways Hinduism is pagan, and there are way, way more practitioners of traditional Chinese ancestor worship than Jews in the world).
(nod) It's more of a desire to lump the Gaul/Celt/Greco Roman and the next door neihbors together.The use of the terminology of titles is simply a result of an extension of explaining the practices. A Druid could easily be worshiping the same god as a shaman (often is), just ceremonial differences. It a flag to any outsider, oh this circle does it this way.Besides it would have been awkward to title it Pagans including pagans, druids, witches, shamans, solitaries, and others. Too wordy.If you ever seen a Shinto ceremony the similarities are what stand out, and they use priest and priestess. Understanding that most religious practices share a basic similarity will take you a long way.And yes if you really want to know when someone says they're pagan, you should ask them what kind. It might just spark a good conversation.
