Any signifier of engagement in a spiritual pattern which goes against the Christian philosophy has been mostly defined as pagan religion. This term is besides used by the two chief spiritual mainstreams, viz. Christianity and Islam to mention to those who do non belong in either of the two faiths. There are those who define pagan religion as a belief system which is non enshrined within the chief faiths of the universe. The simplest definition of pagan religion has besides been taken to intend a state of affairs whereby an person does non profess his or her religion to any faith or Supreme Being ( Cameron & A ; Garnsey 577 ) . A more comprehensive beginning and apprehension of the term pagan religion can be traced back during the ancient Roman and Greece times when some of the oldest faiths existed. This was besides the epoch in history which was referred to as Stone Age, when the early adult male used rock as a really of import stuff for doing tools among other utilizations.
The growing of Christianity and promotion of Christian religion into the modern times has transformed the perceptual experience of heathens and pagan religion at big ( Hutton 123 ) . A heathen is presently being perceived as any individual who does non profess Christian religion harmonizing to Christians. Additionally, all those practicing belief patterns which are non aligned to Islam, Judaism or Christianity are jointly referred to as heathens. Hence, as can be noted, the pattern of pagan religion has frequently been associated with deficiency of religion in cardinal universe faiths.
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The Background History of pagan religion
Historically, people attached more importance to the worship of multiple Gods and goddess. Deities were every bit regarded as important and therefore deserved to be worshipped. The chief ground behind belief and worship of many princedoms was that each one of them was perceived to hold a spirit alive in them. This spirit was besides considered to be powerful in a sense and could non be angered. Hence the best manner to pacify these populating liquors was by idolizing them as Gods and goddesses. As a consequence, polytheism took came into being. Different natural facets were adored and worshipped. For case, there were Gods and goddesses of the sea, land, Sun and Moon among others.
The coming of civilisation witnessed people ‘s altering demands at the local degree. Therefore, there was demand to transform into the creative activity and worship of other Gods and goddesses who would suit their demands of the minute. These new Gods grew and transformed with people ‘s life although the old Gods and goddesses were non forgotten at all. They still occupied a principle topographic point in the belief system of people.
The worship of many Gods and goddesses was non done in vain. They were believed to be really powerful and influenced every facet of people ‘s life on a daily footing. The mode in which Torahs and traditions were established was really instrumental since the Gods and goddesses were perceived to take Centre phase in the full procedure. In malice of the importance attached to Gods and goddesses, the construct of Eden and heal was non-existent. One of the most common belief systems of life transmutation after decease was that of reincarnation ( Berger, Leach & A ; Shaffer 47 ) . This meant that a individual would be born once more in another signifier of a unrecorded organic structure depending on how he or she merited while alive.
Modern twenty-four hours pagan religion besides known as neo-paganism has taken many signifiers and besides widespread all over the universe. Many signifiers of spear Gods are worshipped which include all signifiers of nature. Although most modern-day heathens have pegged their belief and worship in more than one God, there are those who do non believe in the being of any God and are referred to as atheists.
Institutions and patterns of heathens
There are rather a figure of faiths and patterns which exist among the heathens in different parts of the universe today. For case, there are different classs of traditions which are practiced by heathens in America. The Norse and Celtic patterns are common ( Berger, Leach & A ; Shaffer 97 ) . Besides, there are those who value the Greco-Roman civilizations every bit good as pagan religion patterns which were associated with the old age Egyptians.
The Middle Stone Age period was characterized by the Kabbalah patterns. It was associated with the Jews whereby a batch of thaumaturgy was performed ( Bachrach 37 ) . On the other manus, Native Americans pursued the pattern of shamanism. The chief activity during this pattern is beating and in the instance of traditional communities, the priest-doctor has to do an stellar journey to the spirit universe in order to consider with liquors on the demands of the society. One of the common demands is the facet of healing, both religious and physical. The Egyptian pattern is really common in the modern pagan religion ( Magliocco 218 ) . There are a batch of complicated patterns which are carried out in this signifier of pagan religion. Matters of decease and being born once more are profoundly meditated upon in the religious universe. The chief constituent of the Egyptian pattern is the ability of priests to utilize their accomplishments in executing thaumaturgy.
It is non easy to make a comparing between Christianity and pagan religion because the latter identifies multiple belief systems every bit good as religious orders. However, there are several contrasts which appear between pagan religion and Christianity. First, the Bible as the footing for Christian philosophy Teachs on the presence of one God who is supposed to be worshipped and adored. On the other manus, pagan religion professes on the belief of more than one God or sometimes no God at all. Although Christianity and other good known faiths have their philosophies good written in holy books and which have to be followed as the pillars of instructions, the pattern of pagan religion does non hold any written texts on beliefs and what should be practiced. Additionally, the Bible is taken as the word of God to humanity and the authorization of this holy book can non be questioned whatsoever.
Christian instructions observe that Jesus Christ is the boy of God who came to decease for the wickedness of world ( Hutton 122 ) . There are heathens who profess their religion in Jesus merely like the other Gods although they do non give Him so much importance like Christians. From these myriad of differences, it is impossible for an person to prosecute Christian religion piece at the same clip practising pagan religion.
Paganism in the Military
The presence of Paganism has been embraced in most societies as one of the mainstream faiths ( Bachrach 7 ) . It no longer appears unusual or unethical to belong or pattern pagan religion. Right from the academic society to the military wing, pagan religion is being widely accepted and besides practiced. The perceptual experience that pagan religion is associated with demonic or cockamamie patterns is easy fading off. The academe regard pagan religion harmonizing to recent research statistics. Those who openly pattern pagan religion argue that its spirit exists and that it is non a dead pattern. Additionally, a batch of literature has been written on the topic. This has continued to chase away the so called misconceptions about heathen patterns.
The existent figure of those who pattern pagan religion in the United States of America today is non clearly known. However, there are some indicants that the figure has been turning steadily ( Magliocco 274 ) . For case, in continuance of 11 old ages, approximately eight 1000s Wiccans were recorded on a national degree. As it is good known, this is merely one class of heathens. This heathen figure grew to about 135,000 during the same period of clip. This comprised those heathens in the armed forces.
Those who belong to the Marine corps, the ground forces or other subdivisions of the military and have professed pagan religion have equal spiritual rights merely like other religion groups. In fact, the pattern of pagan religion in the armed forces in the United States is no longer a secret matter ( Bachrach 92 ) . The Wiccan subdivision of heathens can even label their pets with word “ Wiccan ” with minimum fright. The armed forces besides have the autonomy to pray to their Gods and goddesses at will. Besides, the military officers can every bit go to the heathen rites within their base particularly if the cantonment has other heathen disciples in it.
The US authorities agents besides recognize pagan religion. This was apparent in 2001 when all the subdivisions of pagan religion were included by the Air force forces as among the spiritual religious orders authenticated by jurisprudence. For illustration, the Seax Wicca and Druidism which are all subdivisions of pagan religion were enlisted as legal belief patterns and systems. This was a clear indicant on how pagan religion had profoundly penetrated the military sector.
Another grounds of turning pagan religion in the military sector is contained in the Military Chaplain ‘s Handbook. This piece of literature gives a nod to the pattern of Wicca among the military soldiers. It specifies some of the processs on how soldiers who pattern pagan religion and the Wicca can interact in their daily activities. The book acts as a religious manual for heathen soldiers and the Wicca.
The Association of the Veterans who have been practising pagan religion permitted the arrangement of the pentagram on the heathen soldiers every bit good as those other heathens who had passed on. This act was carried out in 2007 after it had been postponed for ten old ages. It was after a successful jurisprudence suit by the married woman of sergeant Stewart who was murdered in the war lacerate Afghanistan during the battle against terrorist act by United States in that state. After a heathen symbol for the asleep soldier was brought into public spotlight, several other heathen symbols and emblems have followed. This acknowledges how the pattern of pagan religion is entrenched in the military ( York 74 ) . Furthermore, a motion was set up to spearhead the usage and public show of heathen symbols. The American heathens and the other subdivisions of this patterns greatly lauded this move and considered it to be entire triumph on their portion.
Before the stopping point of the last decennary, Bob Barr made a remark that the pattern of pagan religion and Wicca was non welcome in military cantonments and was non supposed to be elevated. The Reverend faced stiff resistance because he was seen as trying to look for ways through which the province could criminalize Wicca and pagan religion in the military base. Those who opposed him argued that no other faith would be safe if pagan religion was outlawed.
George W. Bush subsequently asserted that the pattern of pagan religion and Wicca was non justified every bit far as faith was concerned and that it would be better if the military officers would believe once more about this line of action ( York 154 ) . He was non specifically impressed by the determination which some military work forces had taken in respect to their base on religion.
Pagan soldiers together with their blood dealingss received yet another encouragement in 2005 when a group meant to back up their demands was set up. The group was known as the Warrior Circle. It chiefly targeted those heathen soldiers who were actively take parting in the Wicca patterns. Since so, the figure of soldiers who have continued to prosecute religions based on earthly affairs has continually grown by springs and bounds. This has added an excess duty on the heathen or Wiccan chaplains and priests who are supposed to do their work igniter by set uping subsidiary groups. Such support groups are meant to ease down the load on chaplains every bit far as go toing to pagan and Wiccan demands is concerned. For case, the support group is supposed to supply a infinite within the military constitutions where members can transport out their ceremonials and patterns.
The senior chaplains of the US Air force met with top leading of the Military Pagan Network manner back in 2006 in order to consider on the demand of suiting military heathens. This was as a consequence of some sort of resistance which was high particularly in the military bases. There were cases when heathens who practiced pagan religion faced favoritism from the chief spiritual organic structures and single members. Additionally, the meeting emphasized the demand of heightening the manner of pass oning to the mainstream religion groups in order to increase their credence into the society. Even as this was taking topographic point, pagan religion in the armed forces had grown to important degrees and was by and large being accepted by the bulk merely like the other belief systems. Chaplains who were recommending for the sustainability of the heathens at the military bases besides demanded for cheques in the public assistance of the military officers who had declared their base on the pattern.
Unifying subject criterions has besides been noted down by the military heathens as one of the guiding rules in keeping the integrity of the group within military installings. These units can confront desperate effects should a member be pointed out by other religions as a societal misfit. This has been identified as one manner through which the unit can interrupt down. The armed forces has independently contented that it has been back uping the demands and concern of all religion groups and patterns. However, this contention seems non to be the instance. Heathens have a perceptual experience that their involvements are non being taken earnestly in the armed forces. Lack of support to the Wiccans and heathens in the armed forces was apparent in 2006 when an ground forces officer by the name Larsen Don placed an application to be accepted as a chaplain of the Wiccans. Unfortunately, his petition was non accepted. To do affairs worse, Larsen was ejected from the full plan which was covering with chaplainship. This action sent a clear message to the remainder of the heathens and Wiccans in the ground forces that their line of religion was non supported ( Walker, Dunn & A ; Dunn 73 ) .
After this incidence and several others bespeaking deficiency of support to the military heathens, some suggestions by the heathen web were put frontward to the single members who felt that their religion was being interfered with. For illustration, there was a suggestion to utilize communicating as one basic tool of rectifying members from other religions from know aparting the heathens and Wiccans. Furthermore, each person heathen in the armed forces is supposed to document every signifier of torment or prejudiced Acts of the Apostless originating from other trusters. This would help in the correctional plan every bit far as the protection of pagan religion is concerned.
The documented facts refering torment of military heathens are so supposed to be used for describing to the military governments as ailments. The heathens are farther advised to do usage of the concatenation of bid which is a really of import public-service corporation in the armed forces. They should show their ailments of torment right from the immediate supervisor in the group and so travel up the concatenation of bid whenever deemed necessary.
In the event the normal channels of bid within the military fail to work or work out the job, heathens in the armed forces are advised non to give up but reach the Inspector General through a good filed list of documented ailments ( Carpenter 157 ) . This is owing to the fact the Inspector general in the armed forces has more authorization non merely to look into ailments but besides put ordinances in topographic point. If the Inspector General fails to put to death any positive action, heathens who are being harassed in the armed forces can still follow the due procedure of the jurisprudence under Article 138 which trades with ailments originating from the military. Different variety meats within the military are affected otherwise by this piece of statute law hence those filing ailments are advised to duly read and understand the article and how they are traveling to take the right procedure of screening out discriminatory or torment jobs from non heathens in the military ( Carpenter 88 ) . From these supportive steps delegated to the military heathens, it is definite that pagan religion in the armed forces will sooner or subsequently derive full support because in the first topographic point, it is non illegal to be a heathen or even pattern the same.
Decision
In summing up this paper, it is imperative to underline the fact that pagan religion in general has been an old age pattern and can be traced back several centuries back. In most common definition, pagan religion has been referred to as the pattern of non professing any religion to any faith or better still, idolizing many Gods and goddesses ( polytheism ) reverse to the belief and pattern of Christianity. Additionally, there are those groups of heathens who do non believe in the being of Supreme Being and are pure atheists. It is besides of import to observe that there are several subdivisions of pagan religion in the universe today ( neo-paganism ) although they appear in different names in malice of similar or same patterns.
Paganism has spread far and broad in the society. From the academe to the armed forces, the pattern of pagan religion is being accepted and accommodated merely like other faiths. For case, heathens in the military particularly in US have made several efforts to non merely be recognized but besides be dignified and respected in the same manner as other mainstream religion groups.
