Paganism and Faith

[Arduinna]

Does Paganism require faith in your opinion? And if it does how do define faith? What is faith to you? And what/who do you have faith in?

[Myst]

faith n.

1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
4. often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
5. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
6. A set of principles or beliefs.

See bolded definitions. Thus yes in my opinion Paganism involves faith. Def'n 1 and 2 suggest faith is part of Paganism, Def'n 5 and 6 suggest Paganism *is* faith.

[Wicce]

All religions require faith...you must believe in things that have not been proven. You *feel* that this is the road for you, and thus it's worth taking, but you still do not *know* anything.

I believe that there's no harm in faith, at all...it's powerful, it heals, nurtures and grows. If you feel something is right for you, in your heart, go for it, and don't worry.

As for me...I am very agnostic about spirituality. I feel connected to the earth, to the spiritual, to the universe around me, but I cannot claim to know anything about a Higher Power, an afterlife, or an ultimate cause. There's only what I feel, what strikes me down to the very soul...and that's enough for me. If there's nothing out there, and we just *die*, then I intend to live my life as passionately as possible, and not worry about being right or not. If there is a Higher Power, then they will care for me always.

[Skye]

Originally posted by Myst


See bolded definitions. Thus yes in my opinion Paganism involves faith. Def'n 1 and 2 suggest faith is part of Paganism, Def'n 5 and 6 suggest Paganism *is* faith.

I don't think so, maybe some paths within the definition of pagan have faith, but not all.

[PegUnicorn]

I have a spritual belief... I never actually had true faith. I gues thats because at one time I almost became an athiest. Paganism is the only faith that I truely believe in.