Human Development
Human development through neo-paganism
Description:
The aim of this movement is to revive the nature religions and mystery traditions that flourished prior to Christianity so as to return to the natural affinity between humans and the rest of nature and to disseminate the ethic of rejoicing in all natural gifts, including sexuality, while harming no-one. There is no single set of beliefs which neo-pagans espouse, although they are basically pantheist and animist and usually believe in reincarnation. There is a general rejection of the industrialized society and its emphasis on mechanization and materialism, indeed a rejection of centralized authority; and it is for the latter reason that the movement is so diverse with no overall structure. The personifications of the divine force which are worshipped are said to also be the archetypes of the human psyche; great emphasis is laid on the worship of the goddess as related to the fertility cycles of nature and, to a lesser extent, to the horned god; however, neo-pagans deny any link with satanic or devil worship. Some practice their religion in groups, others as individuals on their own. Different individuals and groups may have leanings towards the occult, towards the environment and the "green movement", towards mythology, towards the religions and philosophies of the east and the spiritual awareness which they emphasize, towards African or native American religion and towards shamanic practices. As a movement, neo-paganism is closely related to [wiccan], sharing the religious holy-days that witches celebrate as [sabbats], and also with druidic rites. Rituals are frequently celebrated naked so as to be close to nature and include chanting, drumming, dancing and sometimes alcohol or drugs in order to reach a state of ecstasy.Broader:
Human development through religion