Pagans United-Is There a Pagan Creed?

[Dustypuppy]

I love the diversity of the Pagan community and think its wonderful how each member brings an individual and dynamic aspect to it!However is there in your knowledge any form of creed that may be or has been developed that unifies the many paths in some form or other. I have been wondering about this as I think that such a statement of BASIC OUTLINES is necessary such as those held in the Christian Church concerning the divinity of Christ and such like are necessary to unite members on common ground when difficulties and challenges arise along the way. Im not saying that Pagans arent unified,however statements such as 'Herding Pagans is like Herding cats' is meant to be a positive statemnt implying self reliance and forthrighteousness, strongly and passionately held beliefs etc, however the potential is there for those who seek to down our chosen path/s to use this to their advantage as a weak point as they may play on this fact and use it against us in their critcisms of us-I know in Wicca there are the 13 principles of belief, yet these do not hold true for all Pagan traditions...views x

[cheddarsox]

Yeah, I know of one drafted by Odin de Avalon a couple of years ago. It pissed a lot of people off.

you can still find in on-line. There is/was a pagan unity movement as well.

I don't see the point of trying to find some common ground amongst all pagans. What will it accomplish? Other than watering down what already is too often vague belief.

I spent lots of time (6+years) and energy trying to get satisfaction in an organization that attempted to unify folks of diverse faith, and found it increasingly unsatisfying. Too much trying to please everybody and offend no one. It looked good on paper, but it was frustrating and boring in practice.

Lately I've been in discussion with another pagan who is also speaking of focusing on what we all have in common...so I'm wondering just what that is...we can't even agree that we are all human, lots of folks identify as otherkin...so...I can't imagine that we'll find enough to make a creed out of.

I like it loose and flowing,

cheddar

[noxtwice]

this brings to mind pagans being akin to herding cats :D

[Rick]

Pagans United-Is There a Pagan Creed?

Nope

[KarmaMorgaine]

Diversity is one of the truly beauitful aspects of the Pagan community! I think it's good for there to be outlines amoungst traditions and especially in covens/groups, but I don't think we should ever have one creed for ALL Pagans. That would be taking a step towards the mainstream faiths and we see what how that has turned out over the decades.

[Jolixte]

Pagan Creed: I am Pagan!

That's really all it could say...

[ap Dafydd]

As things stand now, then there's very little common ground. Pretty much any attempt to define commonalities ends up with someone saying "Well, I'm a Pagan, and _I_ don't do ...."

I'm not sure that this situation will last for ever. There are of course at the moment a lot of fluffy types who come along saying "I'll do what I like and if I think it's Paganism, then it is" but I don't think that that will persist. Once the community settles, then there's scope for sensible debate in which we can all think about the deeper questions and perhaps move towards some sort of synthesis.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Fiamma]

I love the diversity of the Pagan community and think its wonderful how each member brings an individual and dynamic aspect to it!However is there in your knowledge any form of creed that may be or has been developed that unifies the many paths in some form or other. I have been wondering about this as I think that such a statement of BASIC OUTLINES is necessary such as those held in the Christian Church concerning the divinity of Christ and such like are necessary to unite members on common ground when difficulties and challenges arise along the way. Im not saying that Pagans arent unified,however statements such as 'Herding Pagans is like Herding cats' is meant to be a positive statemnt implying self reliance and forthrighteousness, strongly and passionately held beliefs etc, however the potential is there for those who seek to down our chosen path/s to use this to their advantage as a weak point as they may play on this fact and use it against us in their critcisms of us-I know in Wicca there are the 13 principles of belief, yet these do not hold true for all Pagan traditions...views x


the thing is, Christianity is one religion with many different divisions, but they can all point back to their belief in Christ as Savior, the bible and a few other basic things

There is no one religion called Paganism. There are many pagan religions, some with much in common, some with little in common. To come up with a single "pagan creed", I think would be demeaning to all. Hellenists wouldn't want to be lumped in with the New Age Celtic Shmans, who wouldn't want to be lumped in with Radical Fairies, who wouldn't want to be lumped with Gardnerians who wouldn't...ad nauseum.

[ap Dafydd]

There is no one religion called Paganism. There are many pagan religions, some with much in common, some with little in common. To come up with a single "pagan creed", I think would be demeaning to all. Hellenists wouldn't want to be lumped in with the New Age Celtic Shmans, who wouldn't want to be lumped in with Radical Fairies, who wouldn't want to be lumped with Gardnerians who wouldn't...ad nauseum.

I'm not sure why it would be demeaning though because it would have to be something that came about by a process of synthesis rather than by the Pagan Pope laying down the law so it would have to be something acceptable to the various tendencies (yes, even the Heathens, who often have problems with the word Pagan).

The real challenge would be I think that having agreed commonalities would in turn mean that there were people who would have to be classed as outside those boundaries. For probably the first time, we'd be saying to certain individuals "you are not a Pagan". Think of that and shudder!

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Fiamma]

I'm not sure why it would be demeaning though because it would have to be something that came about by a process of synthesis rather than by the Pagan Pope laying down the law so it would have to be something acceptable to the various tendencies (yes, even the Heathens, who often have problems with the word Pagan).

The real challenge would be I think that having agreed commonalities would in turn mean that there were people who would have to be classed as outside those boundaries. For probably the first time, we'd be saying to certain individuals "you are not a Pagan". Think of that and shudder!

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

ok, maybe demeaning wasn't the right word...diminishing maybe? or dismissive? to take this huge group of religions, many of which have little in common and try to lump them together into one "pagan creed"

for me, personally, the word "pagan" has very little relevance. It's extremely non-specific, and it's original meaning has nothing to do with anyhting that I do or am. (I'm also not a heathen)

[Calen]

No, not really.
You could only connect all Pagan belief systems with the most basic of elements, and I don't think that would really be worth stating.
Don't see the need for one, anyway.

[Windsmith]

Yeah, I know of one drafted by Odin de Avalon a couple of years ago. It pissed a lot of people off.

you can still find in on-line. There is/was a pagan unity movement as well.Cheddar, do you have a link or more information I could use to find this? I'm interested in reading it, but my searches are coming up empty.

Thanks!

[omar]

How about a Federation of Pagan Groups with a Round Table Council?

[Ravenna Angellin]

Yeah, I know of one drafted by Odin de Avalon a couple of years ago. It pissed a lot of people off.

you can still find in on-line. There is/was a pagan unity movement as well.


Cheddar, do you have a link or more information I could use to find this? I'm interested in reading it, but my searches are coming up empty.

Thanks!

I can give you copies of all that stuff. I actually met Odin d'Avalon, and participated in some of his stuff. Dude was a total narcissistic ass actually, but that's beside the point. Let me know what you want and I can send it all to you if you like.

~ Ravenna

[RainInanna]

You know I wish there was. It'd be nice to find something unifying and inspiring. Too many people are afraid of being defined and having assumptions made about them though, I think. I know of at least a few who can barely contain the insistence that they are individuals and don't want to be nailed down whenever the idea of general principles we share are mentioned. That said, I think there are Pagan principles from various paths that can be said to be at least acceptable to most if not all Pagans.

[cheddarsox]

Wow, someone who actually met Odin d'Avalon. I had many unfruitful discussions with him online...and...yeah..what she said...

Anyway..If you are interested in common threads among pagan faiths, I encourage you to read the book "Paganism, An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions" by Joyce and River Higginbotham

It focuses on concepts that they see a majority of pagan paths having in common. Not specific beliefs, but larger concepts.

It gives some food for thought, and opens up one mind to how many modern pagans approach spirituality and faith.

It is NOT a guide that will give you a quick run down on 20 pagan faiths, but rather will give you an introduction to a new-pagan mindset.

cheddar (I met the people who wrote this book, they were nice)