religion and worship: aversion to words

[LaFiamma]

What's wrong with "religion" and "worship"?

Why do so many of us refuse to use these words in reference to out own spirutual workings? Ask a pagan what religion they practice and you have a decent chance of getting a reply that starts with "I do not practice a religion, I walk the (insert name) path."

One of the definitions for the word religion, given at www.dictionary.com is "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

That applies to the practice of pretty much every pagan I know.


What about "worship""

"I don't worship my gods, I honor and revere them. I will not bow down or kneel to any god in the manner that the Christian god requires."

Well, I got news for ya...if you "honor" or "revere" any gods, you're worshipping. To worship does not automatically mean to humiliate and prostrate oneself to one's god(s) as many people seem to believe. Two definitions given for the word worship, also at www.dictionary.com are:

1.reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.

Well, that sounds like the practice of most pagans that I know. Do you attend ritual for any of the high days? Do you honor any gods?

Call it whatever you want, but know that if you're a pagan, you are <i>probably</i> practicing a religion and worshipping gods.

[Sobek]

dont you worship nature in a certain perspective?

[LaFiamma]

dont you worship nature in a certain perspective?

I didn't say that I didn't do that...those were example statements similar to what one frequently hears.

Sorry for any confusion.

Myself, I actively use the words "worship" and "religion"

And actually...no, I don't worship nature. I worship divinity, and the gods of nature, but I don't quite see it as the same thing.

[Sobek]

i can understand the "similar but different" approach taken there.

[Kristofski]

I think the problem with the term "religion" is it is generally preceded by a silent "organised". Religion is often viewed as something that comes with hierachy and dogma, and some kind of acient writings that are seen as the only way to spiritual fufilment. From this point of view paganism wouldn't be seen as a religion, as it encorages people to find their own way.

I have a personal quote, which goes; once religion becomes organised it stops being about spiritual growth and development and becomes about control.

So that's a reason pagans might not like the word "religion". Don't know about worship though.

Kristofski xx

[emberbella]

I think some pagans refuse to use "religion" as a way to describe their beliefs because they view their practice as more a way of life rather than a religion. In several of the religious classes I've been in, debates have arose over whether or not Buddhism is a religion or a way of life/philosophy. The same thing happens with the pagan religions.

Then again, aversion to the use of religion and worship can also stem from the negative connotations associated with the organized religions that many pagans have come from.

[Enki]

Some, like me, are adverse to the very idea of gods and instead see things in terms of us being part of a matrix of existence that can be manipulated for desired effects by applying Will in a certain manner. In this sense, there is no seperate beings such as gods, only labels that may help one by enabling them to focus their wills on a certain concept that the god/label covers. I kind of feel that naming forces and dividing them up into categories has a limiting effect and sort of muddies up true understanding of the nature of things.

[sagart]

The misuse of the word "cult" bothers me as well. It actually makes me foam at the mouth at times. People forget that there is the cult of the Virgin Mary, cults of the Saints, etc. and none of them are what we'd compare to, say, the Manson family.

I think the problem springs from the fact a lot of folks want to distance themselves from something and get a bit emotional in doing so. They try too hard to swing to the other side of the pendulum and end up snapping the string completely. They say ridiculous things.

Lots of Protestant Christians, for instance, will tell you that Christianity isn't a religion. What they're saying is that it's not a legalistic religion like they perceive Judaism or Catholicism to be. But because they don't avail themselves of their full vocabularies, because they've got a point to get across now, they don't get anything across.

Same thing with neopagans. I can't count the number I've met who flee Christianity as though it were a burning building. Problem is, they're running so fast and looking over their shoulders, so they don't see the lamp post before they run into it. Many folks end up trying to define themselves by what they're not, rather than by what they are.

People become less careful, too, because they think you'll automatically agree with their (somewhat unfair) choice of words, since you're "on the same side."

One of my pet peeves, definitely.

[Enki]

Sagart, I'm totally with you. There is too much of a negative streak in paganism focusing on not being Christianity. I suppose its understandable though, especially for people who come from oppressive family environments where Christianity was forced on them. But its not healthy. It takes something away from paganism as a true spiritual path I think.

Cults is a overused term, especially when its used to trash a smaller belief system. One thing I think is bad are cults of personality. There are plenty of these even in mainstream religions. It becomes less about finding truth and more about climbing a social order and pleasing the central personality of the group. The idea of people handing over their wills to another being is just wrong to me.

[WolfWitch]

Personally, I DO practice religeon. I am of the Wiccan faith. It is a religeon and I will call it as such. I do worship my God and my Goddesses. I bow before Lord Pan and the Norn. I was never one to mince words.

I agree that there is a negative view in Wicca today towards establishing ourselves as openly "non-Christian." and frowning on all they do. It's a knee jerk reaction caused by fear and disdane for treatments of the past .

I myself hold no ill towards the Christians. I never have. I was one once and I am one no longer. Nothing wrong with the religeon (though some practitioners need to wake up. But the same can be said with a lot of others as well.) It just wasn't for me and I moved on untill I found what was. For me it's Wicca. For others, it's Christianity. I do not wish to be judged so I will not judge others.
Yes, Cristianity did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I do not have the fondest of memories of a portion of my former Christian life. But, this does not mean that i am going to distance myself from every little thing that they do. They worship Christ, I worship Pan. They believe their religeon and I believe mine. There's no reason to be zenophobic of each other or the words that each uses. A Catholic mass is just a ritual every bit the same as our Yule Celibration is a church service. It's all the same, just under a different Diety.

But these are just my personal opinions.

WW.