Paganism Orgins
By: Unknown

      Paganism is the world's oldest known religion. Its origins, though obscure, are believed to date back to Palaeolithic times and arose from man's desire to explore the unknown and to seek unity with the Divine Force. This is evident in ancient cave paintings and statues like the Venus of Willendorf. These early beginnings were based on a form of ancestor worship and were shamanic in nature.
     The word "Pagan" itself is derived from the Latin Paganus, meaning "a civilian", people who were country-dwellers as opposed to the Roman military. When Christianity was certified as the official religion in Rome, Pagans were a title given to people who clung to their pre-Christian beliefs, those of their ancestors. The term today describes various spiritual paths that have a common affinity with nature. Concepts that were once vital to sustaining life are still revered today, and their principles retained, albeit adapted to suit life in the modern world.
     To Pagans, the Earth (the Great Mother or Gaea) contains the vital creative energy that gives life to and makes sacred all creation. Within Paganism divinity is often perceived as both male and female, masculine and feminine, which is similar to the view held by psychologist Carl Jung who believed we all have a masculine and a feminine self within us. This divinity is seen in many ways and expressed in the worship of the male principle as the God, and the female principle as the Goddess. This dualistic viewpoint of absolute opposites extends to the general belief that all things exist in their own place - we cannot therefore have light without darkness, or good without bad.
     In essence, Pagans strive for balance and harmony both within ourselves and the environment in which we live. Paganism is not about "Devil/Satan worship" (as perceived by the Christian faith) as there is no such being, and therefore it would be ludicrous to expect people to worship something that has nothing to do with their own belief system. There are however what can best be described as, the "darker" Gods which are revered, but as everything happens for a reason, sometimes upheavals are necessary to break stagnation and create growth. Paganism is not about sacrificing children, brain washing its members and the like either. Many Pagans believe in the Universal Law of Karma - what you give out comes back, everything has a cause and effect - as well as endeavouring to raise the consciousness of humanity.
     Not all Pagan traditions however follow the New Age "white light" belief - but again, with every action having a reaction, Pagans need to be sure that they are prepared to handle the responsibility of their actions, whether perceived as "good" or "evil". People today, who have become aware of the spiritual void in their lives, have discovered that Paganism is a religion of joy and love, which allows self-expression as well as encouraging social and environmental responsibility - something that unfortunately seems lacking in today's society.
     The majority of us who follow the Pagan beliefs do so because we want to, and like all others following other spiritual paths, try to act without judgment. After all, we are working together for the greater good, that being for the evolution of humanity and preservation of the planet which we all share.