Paganism in 2063

[Daughter of Toothless]

I found this very interesting article about how Paganism will be in fifty years. How do you think Paganism will be? What are you hoping for? What are you afraid of?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2013/09/paganism-in-2063/

I'm kinda hoping to find more Pagan gathering in smaller towns. Where I live, there isn't any Pagan related store or gathering or any place. It's more of a Christian kind of place. You see churches every where you go and there's a Christian book store and a cross standing on top of a hill. I don't really have a problem with that, but it would be nice to see other faith related things.

[EndlessCravings]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I agree with you. I hope in 2063 Paganism will be more welcomed.

[Doc_Holliday]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I'm afraid it will become so common that the tables will flip, there will be Christians meeting on message boards, talking about pagans trying to convert them. Then they're going to share an article called "Christianity in 2113" and they are going to say it will be more welcomed.

All in all I'd be cool if we got a bit more populace, and shared the world with the other religions. I'd hate to become too big, I guess.

[Denarius]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I'm afraid it will become so common that the tables will flip, there will be Christians meeting on message boards, talking about pagans trying to convert them.

You say that as if that doesn't already happen, the Christian persecution complex is a noted and wide-spread phenomena. As paganism becomes more prominent, so too will the Christian backlash against them. Though I assume the real concern here is if that backlash is warranted.

[toxicyarnglare]

Re: Paganism in 2063

By that time, Christianity will probably be pretty sparsely followed, at least by young people. If there isn't a bigger amount of pagans, I would imagine just spirituality in general will become more prevalent, like new age stuff and whatnot, but I think atheism will be the dominant view for religion/

[Rowanwood]

Re: Paganism in 2063

To be honest, I think this article is delusional. I have spent too much time trying to organize pagans to think that pagans will ever be more than they currently are. It's like herding cats, getting pagans together to do anything.

There's also certainly no lack of young people joining mainstream faiths, like Christianity and there seems to be a huge influx in those converting to Islam which can be good and bad depending on how people are being influenced and led.

What I do think alas is that the divisions between "believers" and "unbelievers" is back on the upswing. I think we're more likely to have another Crusades than more inclusiveness. Weirdly, despite being a theist, I'm hoping for more atheism in the world. There's less blowing people up over semantics then.

[Lilium of the Valley]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I'm hoping of course for it to become more open, hence I do not believe in people having to hide their beliefs because they must fear social rejection etc. It would be really nice, if people would come to terms with this religion and let it be just as paganism lets everyone else's belief be as well.

[Claude]

Re: Paganism in 2063

To be honest, I think this article is delusional. I have spent too much time trying to organize pagans to think that pagans will ever be more than they currently are. It's like herding cats, getting pagans together to do anything.

There's also certainly no lack of young people joining mainstream faiths, like Christianity and there seems to be a huge influx in those converting to Islam which can be good and bad depending on how people are being influenced and led.

What I do think alas is that the divisions between "believers" and "unbelievers" is back on the upswing. I think we're more likely to have another Crusades than more inclusiveness. Weirdly, despite being a theist, I'm hoping for more atheism in the world. There's less blowing people up over semantics then.

I completely agree! Most pagans are far too happy being trendy individuals to unite behind a bigger cause. The popularity of eclecticism and other New Agey stuff isn't helping the situation. If paganism is to survive to 2063 there needs to be more concrete organizations with specific belief systems. Failure to do so will most likely result in paganism homogenizing into some kind of hippie gook, becoming stagnant or lapsing back into Judeo-Christianity since most sects are liberalizing.

Just look back at history. Christianity was nothing until the different councils started happening and they were cemented into a distinct religion separate from Judaism. The trad pagan religions need to look back at that and take note. Organization is the only way to move forward.

If anything we need to stop moving towards eclecticism. Fredrick the Great has a nice quote that fits nicely, "He who defends everything defends nothing." AND if that doesn't convince you here's a video of what the vast majority of New Agey pagans are really like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGbs-B208ag

It's 13 minutes but it's pretty good. You see the "Kemetic pagan" drop her faith as soon as the Christian starts pushing her. She tries to chime in with eclectic thought but it can't stand against organized Christian doctrine. It's really quite sad and the first time I saw it I thought I was going to be sick.

[Alienist]

Re: Paganism in 2063

To be honest, I think this article is delusional. I have spent too much time trying to organize pagans to think that pagans will ever be more than they currently are. It's like herding cats, getting pagans together to do anything.

There's also certainly no lack of young people joining mainstream faiths, like Christianity and there seems to be a huge influx in those converting to Islam which can be good and bad depending on how people are being influenced and led.

What I do think alas is that the divisions between "believers" and "unbelievers" is back on the upswing. I think we're more likely to have another Crusades than more inclusiveness. Weirdly, despite being a theist, I'm hoping for more atheism in the world. There's less blowing people up over semantics then.

People have attacked each other long before organized religions existed. People will use religion to justify wars but religion is almost never the cause of war. It's usually territory or goods that people fight over. Even nations who are the same religion will still fight each other You'll still see people blow each other up regardless if they are a believer or not. Being an atheist seems like a depressing existence, to not have a faith. I also don't agree that when you die, that's it and there are no spiritual entity. Also a lot of communist and socialist nations are not fond of religion. All so you'll put more faith in them instead of your beliefs. It's important to have faith in something, be it Heathenry, Christianity, or whatever.

[Orecha]

Re: Paganism in 2063

My biggest fear is something I've already seen trending: the idea of pan-paganism or "greater paganism" replacing the uniqueness of individual groups.

I have nothing against Wicca (I actually quite like it), but I don't want my particular brand of paganism to become Wicca. And yet that is what I and many other more "fringey" pagan groups are facing. We have to constantly frame our beliefs against a backdrop of Wicca. Additionally, as individuals move from one type of paganism to another, they often bring elements from other groups with them in a "cafeteria religion" sort of way. This results in many older, distinct religions getting whitewashed into this "greater paganism." Religions originally far separated from the British Isles are starting to incorporate "pop" Celticisms (like the incorporation of Samhain and other such holidays, a Wiccan style priesthood, and Wiccan rituals) because of this push toward a pan-paganism.

That's my greatest worry about the future of the varied paganisms of our world, and I fear it will happen sooner than 2063.
While I agree that solidarity over things like rights is very important, and forums like this allow us to communicate with like-minded individuals, we need to move away from Paganism with a capital "P" and honor the distinct paganisms for what they are.

Just my $0.02.

[Watchful Wanderer]

Re: Paganism in 2063

One thing I find disturbing is the idea of Pagans becoming an organization, sure there are some merits, but there is also the threat of Paganism becoming another Christianity and being corrupt. Not to mention it would be institutionalized, something I am always against.

[Amadi]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I wouldn't call Christianity corrupt^, even if I don't really agree with a lot of the things that have happened.
And all I want is a day where I say 'I'm Pagan' and I get a response where people actually know what it is >.<, that would be nice.

[Watchful Wanderer]

Re: Paganism in 2063

Well, Christianity as a whole isn't corrupt, but you know what I'm referring to.

[Malflick]

Re: Paganism in 2063

You're never going to have any organization, ideology, or spiritual movement of any large size without people using it for corrupt purposes in some way or another, not unless we're living in a Utopia.

[Rowanwood]

Re: Paganism in 2063

I responded to this thread a year ago and I stand by that.

Not going to happen and I'm not sad about it.

More atheists wanted.