Pagan English Majors

[Dodger Thirteen]

Hello, my name is Cat and I'm a Pagan. *shrugs*

I've run into a few of my fellow Pagans here and am wondering how many others are lurking about. I think it can be a bit...odd/awkward being a Pagan English major because so much of the stuff we read has a Christian basis. I don't know about y'all, but I've no background in Christianity at all. My mum likes to joke that we were raised "Heathen".

So how do you deal with it? Do you think it's an issue? Are you open about it with your fellow English majors? What's your path? If it's not an issue for you, why not?


NOTE: I'm asking Pagans and non-Pagans alike to be respectful here. Seriously, no religion bashing of any kind, unless it is a story you want to tell. No names. Make some up if you want a distinctive "character" for your story to share. But seriously, no bashing. Thank you for your cooperation.

[onlyaworkingtitle]

Can we have a definition of "Pagan"? It's not a word I'd choose for myself, but that's mainly because I've never had a full understanding of what it's meant to include. I might very well fall under that umbrella-term.

[devilishlybookish]

I wouldn't classify myself as being part of any religion, but I definitely had some trouble with the copious amounts of Christianity in the background of a lot of texts: I simply don't know enough about the source material. I don't think I was ever the only one in the dark, and conversations rarely stayed religious for very long, so I just took it all in and waited until I could contribute something relevant again.

[Dodger Thirteen]

Pagan: 1. a non-Abrahamic religion (aka not Islam, Judaism, or Christianity); 2. earth-based spirituality

These are the two definitions I usually use for people who aren't sure what it is. It's loose, yes, but different people give different definitions.

[onlyaworkingtitle]

Well, then, my name is Nora and I'm a newly-minted Pagan.

My philosophies are highly informed by Quakerism, but less the Christian part of that than the peace-loving mutual-respect human-rights silent-contemplation part.

I celebrate Christmas, but not for Christ. I celebrate because I love the overall good spirit that comes with the season -- and yes, that includes the supercheesy decorations that go up in October. I love the selflessness that is forced to the forefront of everyone's mind, I love the carols playing 24/7 everywhere, and I love the opportunity to pick out the perfect presents for the people I care about.

I believe, tentatively, in reincarnation and, to a lesser extent, karma.

I don't believe that there is a god(ess) or pantheon that gives a flying shit about what any of us does on a day-to-day basis. If he/she/they exist, I think he/she/they would have bigger things to worry about than whether or not people love other people of the opposite sex or of the same sex, or whether or not a woman has an abortion.

I enjoy the mythologies of all cultures, including the Abrahamic ones, but do not believe the truth of any one more than any other.

So... yeah. Paganism. Not sure how I feel about the label, but we'll see if it sticks.

[KatjevanLoon]

I'm Katje (Morag in the Pagan Community Wizarding World).

NeoCeltic Reclaiming/Feri-esque Polytheistic Druidic Hearthwitch. Looking into rootwork lately. Claimed by Morrigan and Brighid. I also worship Manannan.

I actually don't have any issues with the Bible and Christianity being a driving force in English lit. For a kid raised by a Buddhist and atheist I had a really good grounding in Christian mythology, growing up. So, yeah. (I'd say more but I'm on a school computer with a broken spacebar and typing is a chore.)

[inarikins]

Welp. Call me Inari because I prefer not to give out my real name and won't answer to almost any other nickname. -waves-

I live in the midwest, so hardly anybody knows. Close friends IRL, and friends I made online that live other places.

I'm also more of a Witch than a pagan (as the terms are not interchangeable, despite what some people might think) but I don't really, uh, practice, I guess. Mostly because my parents don't know, and I live at home, so there's really no way for me to.

I love Christmas, but I would rather celebrate Yule, and I can't stand Christmas music. Aaaaaaagh, I hate it so much. My mom loves it and plays it 24/7 as soon as Thanksgiving is over, so I'm just tired of it.

I guess I'm kind of that line of thought that all of the gods/goddesses are the same in every mythology with the same rules (every god/goddess of love in every religion is the same person/creature/thing/idea). If that makes sense.

[Umbvix]

I'm a pagan, too! Although I usually just call myself an Earth-lover to most people. My family is Christian and I was raised with a SLIGHTLY Christian background, being that my family believes in God but never really pushed it on us and are just kind of apathetic (aside from my brother and grandparents). My family doesn't know about my spirituality.

However, I have yet to look deeply into all the kinds of paganism, and I'm not sure I even WANT to have a definite identity with it.

I don't do anything ritualistic, though.

[Dodger Thirteen]

Jun 16, 2011 18:03:19 GMT -5 inarikins said:

I'm also more of a Witch than a pagan (as the terms are not interchangeable, despite what some people might think) but I don't really, uh, practice, I guess.

I'm on my phone, but eventually I'll post more. Once I'm at a computer.

Could you elaborate more on witch vs. Pagan? I've heard many things, a lot from my mentor, but I use them interchangeably myself. I predominantly refer to myself as Pagan, but will use witch if I feel it is appropriate.

[Eternal Lobster]

Jun 16, 2011 17:02:02 GMT -5 devilishlybookish said:

I wouldn't classify myself as being part of any religion, but I definitely had some trouble with the copious amounts of Christianity in the background of a lot of texts: I simply don't know enough about the source material. I don't think I was ever the only one in the dark, and conversations rarely stayed religious for very long, so I just took it all in and waited until I could contribute something relevant again.

I am in the same boat. I had a tiny Christian upbringing but not enough to recognize all the religious symbolism in the literature we read for class. I end up sitting back and leaving it to everyone else, too. Our university is offering a "The Bible as Literature" next semester and I was seriously thinking of taking it before they switched the professors. I feel like I miss out on a lot but I just can't stand the religion.

As for pagans, I am not of any particular religion but the pagans I have hung out with are awesome. I've attended and participated in a ceremony for the spring equinox; I really learned a lot and gained a lot of respect for them, a lot more than I have for Christians at the moment.

[inarikins]

Jun 16, 2011 18:47:42 GMT -5 Dodger Thirteen said:

Jun 16, 2011 18:03:19 GMT -5 inarikins said:

I'm also more of a Witch than a pagan (as the terms are not interchangeable, despite what some people might think) but I don't really, uh, practice, I guess.

I'm on my phone, but eventually I'll post more. Once I'm at a computer.

Could you elaborate more on witch vs. Pagan? I've heard many things, a lot from my mentor, but I use them interchangeably myself. I predominantly refer to myself as Pagan, but will use witch if I feel it is appropriate.

Sure. To me, at least, a Witch follows most closely Wiccan teachings (which can be kind of loose depending on what kind of witch you are but generally incorporate belief in the Goddess and the God (note the 'the')) while a pagan just has non-Abrahamic beliefs. A witch is a pagan, but a pagan isn't necessarily a witch. If that helps/makes sense.

[Dodger Thirteen]

Okay, that makes more sense. I read it more like you were calling witches something else all together.

Eternal Lobster: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[inarikins]

Jun 16, 2011 19:13:47 GMT -5 Dodger Thirteen said:

Okay, that makes more sense. I read it more like you were calling witches something else all together.

Eternal Lobster: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Going back and re-reading, it does seem like that. But that's not what I meant. My brain just isn't cooperating today.

[Dodger Thirteen]

Sadly, it happens. I've been guilty of that myself.

[Dodger Thirteen]

YAY! Now that I have a computer again (versus the teeny screen of my iPhone), I shall elaborate.

I call myself a non-denominational Pagan, mostly because there is yet to be a Path that adheres to what I believe and practice. I basically just grab-bag everything that makes sense to me, shove it into a blender, press "Puree", and then paint with it until something looks good.

I believe in the fae, ghosts, black dogs, gods and goddesses, magic with a K and without, the power of the earth, the Universe.

I believe that the Fates have it out for me, and they have no desire to do anything with me.

I believe that the gods and goddesses get bored from time to time (as we all do) and like screwing with their charges.

I believe that all gods exist, but not in the way we think.

I believe in the cosmic Balance and that there's a place where bad people go when they die but that it's not Hell.

I believe that plants and stones and animals talk to me - if they feel like it.

I believe that I can feel the Universe is alive but it ignores me sometimes.

I believe that the gods and goddesses of old never left, we just forgot about them for awhile.

I believe that there is power and there is Power, but they're both just as dangerous.

I believe that the elements will work with me if I ask them nicely but it's up to how they're feeling that day.

I believe that when the leaves of the trees shake and rattle, it's the gods sending a message, but sometimes, it's just the fucking wind.

I believe that the ravens lining up across the street at night have something to say to me but I'm not ready to hear it yet.

I believe that not everything is love and light because how can we dare to know those if we do not accept the darkness?

I believe that Wiccans are Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccans and that Witches are whatever they want to be.

I believe in many things.