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The Place For
Information
about MOORE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
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About Paganism
in General: For the most part, these religions are reconstructed from pre-Christian faiths, although there are some who draw from personal beliefs and more modern archetypes. Most Pagans believe in the 'Old Gods,' whether they be part of an ancient pantheon or simply the belief that all of nature is sacred. 2. Do Pagans have a holy book? Pagans generally do not have a single book of
holy scripture. Because 3. If they don't go to church, when do they practice their faith? Because nature is so central to Paganism, most holidays and ceremonies are held in accordance with the cycles of nature and/or the lunar cycles. Full moons and new moons are times for worship and reflection, and the solar equinoxes, solstices, and changes of season are considered high holidays. 4. Why do they call themselves Witches? Some Pagans do call themselves Witches -- but there are also those who shy away from the term because of the negative images that are associated with it today. It really depends on the person. There is a lot of scholarly debate on the exact meaning of the root of the word "witch;" one very common theory states that this root, wic, means "wise" Because of this root, many Pagans embrace the word and use it, believing that its true meaning is far older than the misconceptions surrounding it today. Others use it to identify with those who were killed in the days of the Inquisition; many were Pagans who were killed for continuing to practice the old ways (which were seen as "witchcraft") after Christianity became prevalent. Today, many see the word as a badge of honor and use it in memory of those who died for their faith. 5. Do Witches do magic? Do they have supernatural powers? The magic that Pagans and Witches do is
very different from what you might see on TV or in movies like "The Craft."
Spells and the like are much more like prayer -- just as a Christian might ask
their God for help (i.e. for healing, passing a test, etc), so would a Pagan ask
their Deities for assistance. Pagans do believe in their ability to change the
world around them, but that is not necessarily through the use of "supernatural"
abilities. Many Pagans/Witches do believe in certain phenomena, such as
clairvoyance and healing touch. However, the development of such abilities takes
much study, practice, and patience, and often the results are only small.
"Point-n-click" powers just don't happen, even if you are born into a Pagan
family. Not necessarily. In fact, very few NeoPagans today were born into Pagan families. While growing up in a Pagan family may give you a head start on your studies and your religious journey, it does not grant you supernatural powers or abilities. The idea of a "natural witch" is somewhat redundant, since most Witches/Pagans believe we all have the potential for greatness. 7. Are all Witches women? Certainly not -- as many of our male members can testify! Paganism is open to all, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. Some men who are Pagan call themselves witches, others do not... again, it depends on personal preference. Misconceptions: 1. Aren't Pagans the guys who don't believe in God? Quite the opposite; Pagans are anything but atheistic. Most Pagans believe in the existence of Divinity, which may be male, female, or a genderless force. A common belief is that all Gods and Goddesses are but faces of Divinity, like different facets of the same diamond. This question commonly refers to the Christian Trinity of Yahweh, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. For the most part, Pagans do not worship these archetypes/forces. This doesn't mean that they don't believe in them; it just means that they happen to experience the divine in a different way. A common tenant of Paganism is that all paths and viewpoints are valid, particularly to the individual holding them. 2. Do Pagans/Witches perform human/animal sacrifice and eat babies? Pagans do not eat babies, nor do they sacrifice humans/animals. Human and animal sacrifice was once part of most ancient religions (including Judaism) but Neo-Paganism does not include these practices today. Many religions, including the early Christians, have been accused of cannibalism by other religions, in part as a form of demonization. Pagans and Neopagans are no more or less humane than their Brothers and Sisters in other Religions. 3. Aren't Witches devil worshipers? Pagans/witches are NOT Satanists. Satan is a Christian figure, and does not figure into Paganism at all. Most Pagans do not believe in an ultimate evil, let alone worship such a thing. (To be precise, the Church of Satan is more about an attitude of "enlightened selfishness" than the worship of 'the devil'... but that still has nothing to do with mainstream Paganism.) Satanic cults are another matter entirely; their practices are entirely up to the cult leader, but they usually involve some of the more negative things mentioned above. PLEASE understand what an important distinction this is. These misguided groups give Pagans and true Satanists alike a bad reputation, particularly because the media does not usually draw a distinction between them. This is our most prevalent misconception, and we cannot stress enough how false it is. 4. Do Pagans/Witches cast spells and put curses on people? There is very little dogma in Pagan religions, but one piece that is generally held by all people is that whatever you send out comes back to you. This belief is similar to Karma, and it boils down to the idea that all of the things you do, say, or think have an effect and that effect returns to you. If you do things that have a negative effect on the people, creatures, or the world around you, then negative things will happen to you; however, if you do things that have positive effects, then positive things will happen to you. (This is how we teach children to do good things and develop a sense of right and wrong; when we grow up, we realize that this has more to do with being a good person & helping others than trying to get a return on our actions.) By this logic, putting a curse on someone (usually considered a bad thing) would be foolish, as it would result in negativity for the Witch who cast it. As for spells, Pagans/Witches do believe in their ability to change the world around them (to a small degree). However, as stated above, spells are not like what one sees in the movies and on TV. Spells are much more like prayers; they usually involve a lot of meditation and reflection. Spells are not for evil, and they are generally not cast "on" anyone. Free will and consent are very important to Pagans, and they strive to maintain the strictest of ethical standards. 5. Aren't witches people who fly on brooms and wear pointed black hats and have green skin with warty noses?? These are all stereotypes and mixed images. Pagans/Witches do not fly on brooms. The broom can be an important religious symbol (representing the hearth and home and good influences). Pagans/Witches also do not have green skin (unless they are seasick or suffering from a medical condition), and just about anyone can have a warty nose -- but it is not a requirement of this religion. As for the thing about pointed hats, we have yet to pinpoint where this particular stereotype came from. Due to the popularity of the "wicked witch" image in our society, some Witches have pointy black hats, which they usually wear in jest -- but they are by no means required for this religion. 6. Do all Pagans/Witches wear black and dress "gothic?" Quite the contrary, most
Pagans/Witches dress just like everyone else. It is very common to see
Pagans/Witches wearing jewelry with symbols denoting faith, just as a Christian
would wear a cross or a WWJD emblem. With the exception of the pentacle (a star
within a circle) most Christians aren't even aware of what symbols
Witches/Pagans wear let alone what they represent. | ||||||||||
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