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Paganism: Neo-Paganism
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Neo-Paganism (... spelled Neopaganism and also known as Paganism) is an increasingly popular religious movement emphasizing ancient pagan religious traditions and reverence for nature. It takes a variety of forms known as "paths," which range from Wicca, which focuses on spells and goddess worship, to Hellenic Polytheism, which seeks to revive Greek paganism in an academically accurate form. The articles in this section explain both the common characteristics and diverse forms of Neopaganism.
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Paganism is a broad, eclectic modern religious movement that encompasses shamanistic, ecstatic, polytheistic, and magical religions. Most of the religions termed Pagan are characterized by nature-centered spirituality, honoring of pre-Christian deities, dynamic, personal belief systems, lack of institutionalization, a quest to develop the self, and acceptance and encouragement of diversity. Paganism is sometimes referred to as Neo-Paganism to emphasize its connections to as well as difference from pre-Christian religions.
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Some of the more prominent forms of Paganism include; Ancient Roman Religion and Ancient Greek Religion. In recent years there has been an upsurgence in the practice of paganism. The name given to this new movement is Neo Paganism. There are several forms of neo-pagan traditions which have taken their roots from ancient pagan practices, these include Neo- Drudism and Wicca.
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The development of modern Paganism in the West, particularly the rise of interest in witchcraft, dates from the repeal of anti-witchcraft laws in various countries (e.g. in 1951 in Britain, which gave rise to significant developments in wicca). Since the 1960s this has sometimes been fused with a New Age excitement about a dawning period of heightened spiritual awareness and a concept of spirituality as involving a quest rather than adhering to traditional institutions and doctrines. Contemporary neo-Paganism can be highly eclectic in the sources which inform its practice.
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Paganism is an umbrella concept which encompasses many religions from some sects of Buddhism, to Neo-Druidism, to Wicca, and even to some forms of Christianity. Witchcraft is one of the many religions which fits under the umbrella of Paganism.
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It is obvious that the Greeks shared many common aspects with other forms of Paganism. Both held the Gods in high esteem, and attempted to placate them with rites, worships and sacrifices. Another common theme was the fact that both Greek religion and other forms of Paganism were earth based cultures, placing a high respect upon nature. Another link between Greek religion and other forms of Paganism can be seen by their polytheistic nature. The worship of many Gods is linked throughout all of the Pagan religions; Wicca, Druidism, Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism. The only contrast between Greek religion and other forms of Paganism can be seen through their differing beliefs about the after-life. Whilst most Pagan religions hold the belief that their spirit was passed on from one body to the other, Greek religion centered on the belief that the soul moved onto another life, such as Heaven or Hell.
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Neo-Paganism