The New Pagan Religion Family Tree

[MorningDove030202]

Here is my tree....

Comments? Ideas? Spelling errors?

Dove

PS: I was thinking about making two branches on the Wicca branch, one saying "Initatory Wicca" and the other saying "Non Initatory Wicca" but I duno if that's too many details. Somehow I think Wicca does deserve some branches....... I'm just not sure how to branch it......

Edit: I made some text chainges and fixed spelling errors. Please vote based on the immage that says "final draft". Thanks

Dove

[Raivynne]

A couple of spelling errors, Asatru, Sense, Revere,Aren't,Separate. It looks pretty good otherwise. I think Wicca should have it's own Branch though, and not be headed under the Witch branch. Some people might disagree with that. And witchcraft isn't a religion, but a practice/way of life. ^^

edited to add: Irish is Celtic.

[MorningDove030202]

All religions when practiced correctly are a way of life. I feel that Wicca is a Witchcraft tradition, as that's how Gardner described it.

Sorry about my bad spelling, when I create my poster for Pagan Pride Day I'll be sure to get it right....

Dove

[mothwench]

that seems just about as good as it could get, and i admire the fact that you're seeing this through to the end. i caught some spelling mistakes, but i won't go into that, cause my spelling's not that hot either. i do have one tiny suggestion though: i'd switch around the two paths growing off the witch branch, so that non-wiccan witch is closer to the recon branch. same goes for the other pagan one; i'd put (from left to right) druid, then cultural neo-pagan, then eclectic neo-pagan. or (in this order) cultural neo-pagan, druid, eclectic neo-pagan.
but i think it would also be fine if you left it as it is. nice one. :uhhuhuh:

[MorningDove030202]

that seems just about as good as it could get, and i admire the fact that you're seeing this through to the end. i caught some spelling mistakes, but i won't go into that, cause my spelling's not that hot either. i do have one tiny suggestion though: i'd switch around the two paths growing off the witch branch, so that non-wiccan witch is closer to the recon branch. same goes for the other pagan one; i'd put (from left to right) druid, then cultural neo-pagan, then eclectic neo-pagan. or (in this order) cultural neo-pagan, druid, eclectic neo-pagan.
but i think it would also be fine if you left it as it is. nice one. :uhhuhuh:

What did you think of my short descriptions of the main branches?

Dove

[mothwench]

those i thought were really good. :D except maybe the witchcraft=religions one, but then there's the tricky bit, right? your tree is about pagan religions and then to not include witchcraft would cause even more of an uproar. so yeah, it's great.

[MorningDove030202]

those i thought were really good. :D except maybe the witchcraft=religions one, but then there's the tricky bit, right? your tree is about pagan religions and then to not include witchcraft would cause even more of an uproar. so yeah, it's great.

Well, I did use capital W Witchcraft, not little w witchcraft. Actualy I didn't even say Witchcraft, I said Witch...... I duno I still feel that if someone practices magick without a religion then they are just practicing magick, not being a Witch.

Dove

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Outside of the spelling errors mentioned, and that Irish is Celtic the only complaint I would have is that you took out your disclaimer regarding Recons. Otherwise looks pretty good.

[MorningDove030202]

Outside of the spelling errors mentioned, and that Irish is Celtic the only complaint I would have is that you took out your disclaimer regarding Recons. Otherwise looks pretty good.

Well, since I chainged the name of the tree, I didn't thing the issue of "Is Recon NeoPagan?" was realy relative.

Celtic is Irish? I thought Celtic included Irish, and some other stuff too, like Druid, and other groups...

Dove

[MorningDove030202]

I made some chainges to the text part........

Witch: A group of religions, which are magic-positive, are typically polytheistic and often revere nature. Witches can be hard or soft polytheists, but soft polytheism is the most common. Wiccan traditions have an emphasis on the teachings of Gerald Gardner.

Reconstructionist: A group of very different religions, which are united by the fact that they are a historical revival of the faiths of ancient polytheistic cultures. Most Reconstructionists are hard polytheists and place less emphasis on magical traditions.

Other Pagan: A catchall group for other NeoPagans that may mix pantheons, or worship in a more modern way with less emphasis on historical accuracy. Can include both soft and hard polytheism and the practice of magic.

Soft Polytheist: A belief that Deity has many names and faces, but ultimately there is one Higher Power.

Hard Polytheist: A belief in many separate individual Gods and Goddesses.

Note: This tree does not denote any sense of chronological history.

Created 9/04 by Liz La Posta with the help of many members of www.misticwicks.com. Thanks!

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I made some chainges to the text part........

Witch: A group of religions, which are magic-positive, are typically polytheistic and often revere nature. Witches can be hard or soft polytheists, but soft polytheism is the most common. Wiccan traditions have an emphasis on the teachings of Gerald Gardner.

Reconstructionist: A group of very different religions, which are united by the fact that they are a historical revival of the faiths of ancient polytheistic cultures. Most Reconstructionists are hard polytheists and place less emphasis on magical traditions.

Other Pagan: A catchall group for other NeoPagans that may mix pantheons, or worship in a more modern way with less emphasis on historical accuracy. Can include both soft and hard polytheism and the practice of magic.

Soft Polytheist: A belief that Deity has many names and faces, but ultimately there is one Higher Power.

Hard Polytheist: A belief in many separate individual Gods and Goddesses.

Note: This tree does not denote any sense of chronological history.

Created 9/04 by Liz La Posta with the help of many members of www.misticwicks.com. Thanks!

Your link to mysticwicks is wrong. You spelled mystic with an i instead of a y.

[MorningDove030202]

Your link to mysticwicks is wrong. You spelled mystic with an i instead of a y.

Crap, so much for spell checking in word LOL... I'll get it right on the poster.

Dove

[Kern]

I thought Druidism was a Recon Path?Hmm maybe I am wrong though. :foh:

[Raivynne]

You can be a witch with no religion, was my point. ^^ And also, Celtic does include Irish. But you had at the top Irish listed separate of Celtic, which is what I was correcting.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I thought Druidism was a Recon Path?Hmm maybe I am wrong though. :foh:

Some Druids are recons, but by far not all of them.

[Kern]

Some Druids are recons, but by far not all of them.
Hmm didnt know that,Thanks Morag! :elf:

[The High Queen of Faerie]

not all witches are pagan.

some are christian. some are atheist.

[MorningDove030202]

I thought Druidism was a Recon Path?Hmm maybe I am wrong though. :foh:

Some are and some arn't..... it depends on the organization, and opinion.

In my opinion so little is known of the Druids, that I don't see how any historicaly accurate recreation could realy be attempted....

Dove

[MorningDove030202]

not all witches are pagan.

some are christian. some are atheist.


As this is a New Pagan Religions Tree, Christian witches are not incorporated in this treet. Infact only Witches are on this tree, that is the Witch traditions that are a religion, not the practice of magick. So, what I'm saying is that Christians who practice magick arn't in the scope of this project. That would go on a Christian Tree.

Dove

[Dark Phoenix]

It works, like anything in the Neo-pagan Community people will find faults with it but for your everyday person this will help explain our religion.

[MorningDove030202]

It works, like anything in the Neo-pagan Community people will find faults with it but for your everyday person this will help explain our religion.

That's exactly my plan....to give a basic structure to everyday people and then others can explain the "exceptions" as they run into them....

BTW, I didn't get a chance to make this into a poster for PPD, but I am going to make it into a poster for a posible talk on New Pagan Religions at my UU.

Dove

[Lupercus]

I only have one suggestion- if you can modify it, please include Strega on a branch in the Witch side? Thanks. :fpraiseyo

[MorningDove030202]

Would that be Wiccan Traditions or Non Wiccan Witch Traditions?
Dove

[ap Dafydd]

Would it be appropriate to differentiate hedgewitches and cunning folk from non-Wiccan traditionals? I'd see the first group as being based more on individual practice, folklore, charms, and the like than the latter.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[MorningDove030202]

Would it be appropriate to differentiate hedgewitches and cunning folk from non-Wiccan traditionals? I'd see the first group as being based more on individual practice, folklore, charms, and the like than the latter.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

Are there people today who claim Cunning Folk and Witch at the same time? I was kinda focusing on established groups that have an organization of some level.

Dove

[Lupercus]

Would that be Wiccan Traditions or Non Wiccan Witch Traditions?
Dove
That would be under the heading of Non-Wiccan Witch Trads
Thanks,

[ap Dafydd]

Are there people today who claim Cunning Folk and Witch at the same time? I was kinda focusing on established groups that have an organization of some level.


Not to my knowledge, tend to be solitary by definition!

Does that mean that us solitaries get our own branch?

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[MorningDove030202]

No, that means that they get their own tree, but I'm not the one who's going to research it. I limited myself to established groups to make the playing field smaller and easier to work with. Generaly established groups have defined themselves a bit better than solitaries have, becuase they need things like mission statements, goals, and statements of belief (dogma), which makes it easier to clasify them.

....no offence I just didn't think I could do the solitaries justice if I included them.....

Dove

[CleftOfLight]

Good Idea

[nag champa]

Other Pagan: A catchall group for other NeoPagans that may mix pantheons, or worship in a more modern way with less emphasis on historical accuracy. Can include both soft and hard polytheism and the practice of magic.

The phrase "historical accuracy" implies that all neo-pagan traditions are built upon a historic foundation, whereas this is not always the case; many people practice a living faith rooted only within the here and now. Accuracy requires a target; this suggests that all pagans aim toward the past, and some are simply careless shooters; however, many pagans have their sights trained solely upon the future.

Also, why the strict emphasis on polytheism? There are quite a few pagan pantheists and monotheists out there; yet there is no allowance for anything but hard/soft polytheism.

[Mouse]

Witchcraft is my religion and I love that you've given us credit as a religion on your tree!! thankyou so much.

The rest of the tree looks damn good too. Can't help you with the spelling though, i'm a shocker at that myself.

Well done!! *love love love*

[MorningDove030202]

The phrase "historical accuracy" implies that all neo-pagan traditions are built upon a historic foundation, whereas this is not always the case; many people practice a living faith rooted only within the here and now. Accuracy requires a target; this suggests that all pagans aim toward the past, and some are simply careless shooters; however, many pagans have their sights trained solely upon the future.

Also, why the strict emphasis on polytheism? There are quite a few pagan pantheists and monotheists out there; yet there is no allowance for anything but hard/soft polytheism.


This tree isn't about indivual paths, it's about organzed non profit "churches" and so far I haven't seen any monotheistic pagan churches. Or pagan oriented pantheist churches. I haven't met any hard monotheists as individuals either. I think the closest one might find is a Henotheistic groups, but not hard monotheism. Also, Patheeists can be hard or soft monotheists at the same time, so I'm not excluding them.


Dove