Church of Eclectic Pagan Fellowship

    Here we will present some frequently asked questions about Paganism. We will make the attempt to provide, to the best of our ability, satisfactory answers. The answers presented here are by no means the only answers, as Paganism is a diverse religion of varying beliefs.

1.  Why would anyone want to call themselves a Pagan (Witch, Wiccan, etc.)?

   After all, aren’t witches old warty women that brew noxious potions to poison people? The simple answer to that is no. This is one of many stereotypes perpetrated in movies and fictional stories. Modern Pagans are mostly intelligent, educated, and ethical people that can be anyone from your next door neighbor, your mail carrier, a lawyer, to the cashier at your local supermarket.

   
   

2. You mean Witchcraft isn’t about ugly old hags eating babies and making pacts with the Devil?

       Again…no. Honestly, the consensus on what Pagans/Witches are mostly comes from Hollywood…from movies, TV, etc. None of   these images, from young, sexy Sally and Gilly of Practical Magic to the fantastical adventures of Harry Potter and his friends are entirely accurate. Real witches do not run around vanquishing demons like the “Charmed Ones.” Most hold respectable jobs. Some have PhDs. Most are average people who have chosen to follow a modern version of an old tradition.

3. But witchcraft is supposed to be evil? Right?

   Pagans are not devil worshippers. (FYI…neither are Satanists, but that’s a whole other ball of string.) Pagans are actually tired of the assumption that they worship the Christian Devil. It’s believed that, once Christianity became the dominant religion, it became intolerant of other religions and began demonizing them. It is probably this demonization that led to the period more commonly known to Pagans as “The Burning Times,” in which tens of thousands to perhaps over a million people were killed on the supposition that they practiced witchcraft. There are still fundamentalists out there today that swear witches are under the dominance of the Devil, but that is simply not true.

4. Ok…so what is Witchcraft, and what’s so good about it?

   Witchcraft, Paganism, Wicca, etc. …they are all spiritual paths. Many view nature as a living, breathing entity, most often representing the bodies of the God and Goddess (though certainly not all Pagans are polytheistic). Some do not see Witchcraft as a religion, but that really boils down to personal preference. Many choose to see Witchcraft as a tool.
       Differing Pagan paths, such as Wicca, operate under a moral code with a set of spiritual practices. The moral code of Wicca (aka…the Wiccan Rede) states “An’ it harm none, do as ye will.” This statement basically places great emphasis on personal freedom and choice, but also asks for a commitment to honor and respect the rights and freedoms of others.
       As mentioned before, many Pagans, but not all, believe in a dual God and Goddess. While they believe in this concept, many still see both as manifestations of the Divine Creator Spirit. Many also believe in reincarnation, that the soul returns to Earth and lives out many lifetimes.
       Witchcraft teaches respect for the environment. It’s based on love and acceptance and respect. The Wiccan motto states “In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.” Paganism strives to help people be happier and live better, more ethical and fulfilling lives.

5. Do Pagans worship God?

   In a word…yes. To complicate this answer, I could say “Which God? Or Goddess?” Or we could ask “Which pantheon?” Many Pagans view the Universal Creative Spirit in the forms of a God and Goddess. Some paths, such as Dianic Wiccans, place a bit more emphasis on the Goddess. Some traditions pick a particular pantheon to work with, such as the Roman, Greek, or Celtic Gods. This, however, is not the hard and fast rule of Paganism. There are indeed many Pagans that have a monotheistic view of Deity.

6. Is Paganism safe?

   Is riding in your car down the highway at 65mph safe? Well, it’s certainly safer than walking down the middle of that same highway while traffic speeds by you. All things have a bit of a risk attached. Even those studying Christianity run the risk of becoming a zealot or the next Jim Jones or David Koresh. You will probably come across some books that say magick is a potentially dangerous power. So is a handgun. In the hands of the ill-informed or inexperienced, anything can be dangerous.

1. All these different paths call themselves Pagan. What’s the difference?

   Just as there are multiple branches of Christianity (Catholicism, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.), there are many denominations of Paganism. Wicca is probably the largest and best known. About 50% of Pagans today are Wiccan. Even though they all, more or less, fall into the category of Paganism, do not make the mistake of assuming they are all just alike. While Wicca, Asatru, and Shamanism may all have similarities, each have beliefs and philosophies that are wholly their own. Even Wicca itself can be further divided up into different paths or traditions; each having practices unique to them. Some examples include the Gardnerian Tradition, the Alexandrian Tradition, Seax Wicca, and even Faery Wicca. To truly learn and understand one particular path, one should do as much research on that path as possible.

2. The star in the circle thingie…what is that?

   A five-pointed star inside of a circle is a pentacle. Without the circle, it is a pentagram. It is one of the, if not the most, common symbols of Paganism/Witchcraft. Like a cross to a Christian, a pentacle is probably the most religious and spiritual symbol to a Pagan. There is nothing evil about it. The pentacle symbolizes the elements and/or the universe. Everything is somehow related to the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. The top-most point of the star represents the spirit, and, continuing clockwise, the next is water, followed by fire, earth, and air. The circle surrounding the star represents eternity. Together, both symbols represent the entirety of the universe…all of space and time. Being as most Pagans see the universe as sacred, wearing a pentacle representing it is a spiritual and reverent thing to do.

3. If Paganism/Witchcraft is so good, why is there so much secrecy surrounding it?

   You may hear a thousand different answers to this question. They won’t all be right, but they probably won’t all be wrong either. According to old stories told within the Pagan community, Pagan followers didn’t always hide their beliefs, but when the persecutions (Burning Times) began, Paganism was forced underground. Followers feared being discovered and put to death. (Historically, the Burning Times had more to do with financial gain than with the outing of supposed witches, but that’s neither here nor there. Many died, and Witchcraft was laid to blame.) Many today still believe Witchcraft and Paganism should stay secretive out of respect for the longstanding tradition of being hidden.
       More often than not, today, it’s for a far more practical reason. There is still a great deal of discrimination against people that practice a Pagan path. Despite the laws, people have still lost jobs over their religion. Some have lost leases on their homes. Some have even had problems with Child Protective Services. There are many people out there that automatically assume that witches are evil.
       Despite these fears, more and more Pagans are coming out into the open. Many are demanding their right to religious freedom. These days you can find many cities playing host to Pagan Pride Days or find Pagans arranging get-togethers with other Pagans in their areas through the help of websites such as Meetup.com. It’s seeming more and more that the days of secrecy are behind us.
   

1. If Pagans aren’t bad, why do they wear so much black?

        From the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz to the evil Queen stepmother in Disney’s Snow White, witches are usually depicted wearing black. They are covered head to toe in long folds of dark cloth. This is a common stereotype about Pagans and an unfair one. If a Pagan likes wearing black, then that’s his/her personal choice. There are many Pagan women who are much happier wearing loose, gauzy clothes dyed a multitude of colors. Some Pagans like to wear black just because they think it looks cool and adds to that air or mystery surrounding Pagan religions. Others find the color magickally significant. Bottom line…it’s all a matter of personal preference.

2. I’ve heard that Pagans sacrifice small animals in their rituals. Is this true?

         Absolutely not! Pagans revere nature and all it contains as sacred. Just think back to the Rede of Wicca. “Harm none…” Many Pagans, though not all, love animals. They would never dream of intentionally hurting one. The exception to this may be a Pagan that raises their own livestock for food, such as a farmer. But this is simply survival, not ritual sacrifice.

3. Do Pagans abuse drugs?

        Do Christians? Do Muslims? There are people of every faith that have substance abuse problems. Recreational use of drugs is not a part of Pagan spirituality. It may sound strange to hear a Pagan talking about faeries and dragons and other spiritual entities, but, trust me, they aren’t on an acid trip. Many Pagan organizations have rules about the use of drugs or alcohol. At the least, many enforce the law. It is possible to run across those claiming to be Pagan advocating the recreational use of controlled substances, but, more often than not, these people are trying to use Paganism as an excuse to be anti-government and fight the status quo and do not usually follow the spiritual beliefs and practices of Paganism.

4. Aren’t Pagans very sexual people?

        One misconception about Pagans is that they are rather kinky folks, into things like orgies and B&D. This probably comes from the fact that some Pagan groups practice their rituals nude, or skyclad. This has nothing to do with sexuality. It’s more the idea that everyone comes together as equals and that you can’t tell by looking at a person what their social or economic status is.
       Another reason this stereotype may exist is because of the open and understanding attitude more Pagans have towards sexuality. Pagans are commonly very accepting of those that chose to live an alternative lifestyle. Homosexuality, swinging, polyamory…these types of relationships are usually not frowned upon so long as they are occurring between legal aged, consenting adults. Pagans do not condone sex with minors, rape, or any non-consensual act.