(In ‘Paganism’s Roots of Obsession’, posted on February 21, I referred to the so-called Fourth Religious Family and some within contemporary Paganism’s attempt to link itself to it. Charles asked that I write an article about this. I apologise for the delay.)

Contemporary Paganism does not belong in any of the three “major” religious families: the Abrahamic family (Judaism, Christianity and Islam); the Dharmic family (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism); and the Taoic family (Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, etc). Because of this, many within contemporary Paganism have been trying to find common ground and a link to the so-called Fourth Religious Family - which includes ethnic paganism and a myriad of folk religions.

However, this attempt has proven to be difficult as there is no consensus about (religious and spiritual) “family ties” among and between the indigenous people themselves, never mind finding a tie to contemporary Paganism - in fact many followers of ethnic paganism and folk religions refuse to be identified with contemporary Paganism.

Ethnic religion (about 24% of the world's population adheres to an ethnic religion) may include organised civil religions with an organised clergy, but they are characterised in that adherents generally are defined by their ethnicity, and conversion essentially equates to cultural assimilation to the people in question. A partly overlapping concept is that of folk religion referring to ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an institutionalised religion (for example folk Christianity).

We should not forget that in antiquity, religion was one defining factor of ethnicity, along with language, regional customs, national costume, etc. With the rise of Christianity, Islam and even Buddhism, ethnic religions came to be marginalised as “leftover traditions” in the more rural areas, referred to as paganism or even idolatry.

The classification of ethnic religions (indigenous and tribal religions) is, however, a disputed field - for example Judaism is considered an ethnic religion by some authors (defining of the Jewish people); Hinduism as a whole is mostly classed as one of the world religions, but some currents of Hindu nationalism take it as definitive of an Indian or Hindu ethnicity or nation - and then within Hinduism, there are regional or tribal currents with ethnic traits, sometimes termed Folk Hinduism.

Folk religion consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an organised religion, but outside of official doctrine and practices. The term "folk religion" is generally held to encompass two related but separate subjects. The first is the religious dimension of folk culture. The second refers to the study of syncretism between two cultures with different stages of formal expression, such as the mix of African folk beliefs and Roman Catholicism that led to the development of Vodun and Santeria. Chinese folk religion, Folk Christianity, Folk Hinduism, and Folk Islam are other examples of folk religion associated with major religions.

The term is also used, especially by the clergy of the faiths involved, to describe the desire of people who otherwise infrequently attend religious worship, do not belong to a church or similar religious society, and who have not made a formal profession of faith in a particular creed, to have religious weddings or funerals or (among Christians) to have their children baptised. The ceremonies in ethnic religions also tend to be based on the cycle of the harvest, and a vast majority of ethnic religions are polytheistic or animistic, including Hinduism, Shintoism, indigenous Celtic religions, indigenous Native American religions and indigenous African religions.

Ethnic religions may also be called "natural" religions while universal religions may be called "voluntary". Generally, a natural religion means that a person is a member by virtue of being born into it. Membership need not be limited to believing something. In contrast, a voluntary religion demands a certain intellectual assent of the basic doctrine of the faith before one can really be considered a "member".

A natural religion is thus one that is closely tied to culture and ethnic heritage - it is what one is not merely what one believes. A natural religion is a part of one's personal identity.

Most of us are raised and taught a certain religion and may or may not accept it. It is easy to reject a voluntary religion - you simply reject the belief. But a natural religion is near to impossible to entirely reject. One may choose not to believe and not to practice but culture is a part of it and no one can truly reject his/her cultural heritage. A "natural" religion is like race or ethnicity - something you can't entirely get away from. And, like ethnicity, natural religions tend to remain limited to a particular people. They do not actively seek converts and it is difficult, if not impossible to convert into a natural religion. And this is why is difficult for the greater majority of contemporary Pagans to claim full “membership” to a natural religion (as defined for this article).

Natural religions also tend to be older than voluntary religions. The original (oldest) religions were natural/ethnically linked where everyone in a society was automatically a follower of the religion of that specific society and there was only that one religion in the society (think of the religions of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt - or the religions of the Native American Indians).

On the other hand, voluntary religions essentially have individuals choosing to follow some religion other than that of the social norm - contemporary Paganism is a good example of this. In addition, unlike the relatively newer voluntary religions, natural religions do not have a particular founder their origin cannot be pinpointed in history, and these religions simply developed gradually, over many generations dating back to pre-history - the notable exceptions to this are Confucianism and Daoism (or Taoism), which both have specific founders (Confucius and Lao Tzu, respectively) yet are still considered to be ethnic religions because they are practiced by a very small number of people and are based on the traditional values and philosophies of that region.

If one looks at these explanations, then it becomes clear that contemporary Paganism is more of a “voluntary" religion that a “natural" religion, as most Pagans picked their individual paths. And few Pagans have an ethnic link to their paths, and at best certain Pagan traditions can be said to be a “spiritual rediscovery” of ancestral beliefs and practices at times based on some ill-defined or widely-defined ancestry.

For many, though not all, modern Pagans one of the most sensitive issues is the matter of ethnic identity. Hellenismos (used here as an example, the same holds true for Asatru, Druidism, etc) is the traditional, polytheistic religion of ancient Greece, reconstructed in and adapted to the modern world. It is also called Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Reconstructionist Paganism or simply Hellenism. Those who practice this religion are known as Hellenic polytheists, Hellenic pagans, Hellenic reconstructionists, Hellenists, or Hellenes. But at the end of the day, most of these modern followers are not Greek.

The question, however, is, is Hellenismos a (Neo)Pagan religion? Or is it a natural or ethnic religion?

That depends entirely on how one defines those terms. If by Pagan, we mean "something other than Jewish, Christian or Moslem," then yes, Hellenismos is Pagan. If you mean "godless, lacking in religious belief," then obviously no. If you mean "an earth-based, magical religion honouring a goddess and her consort and following an annual calendar based on Northern European agricultural and pastoral cycles", then again, the answer is a resounding no.

To the extent that the “religion” of most contemporary Pagans is a reconstruction and adaptation of ancient religious practices in the modern world, one could argue that the label "NeoPagan" is both accurate and descriptive. However, the terms "NeoPagan", contemporary Pagan and Paganism have become so closely linked to eclectic Wicca and other Pagan paths that many people now treat them as synonyms, which they are not.

In response to the confusion created by this mis-usage, there is a movement within the reconstructionist religions, including Hellenismos, away from using the term "Pagan" at all. Some also object to the imposition of a Latinate label, created by Christians as a term of derision that would never have been used by the ancient Greeks to describe themselves in the first place. There is, however, no consensus on this issue at present, and each individual uses the terms most comfortable for him or her.

How does Hellenismos, for example, differ from Wicca and Wicca-influenced Paganism? The only real link is that they are both non-Abrahamic religions, commonly described as "Pagan". Otherwise, they differ as much as Shinto and Christianity differ, which is to say, on almost all counts. They have distinct historical origins, different theological perspectives and worldviews, and very different styles of ritual. In short, the two religions share nothing with each other that they do not also share with other religions.

Religions that do indeed share some closer theological links with Hellenismos include most of the reconstructionist religions - Asatru and related heathen religions, Religio Romana, Romuva, etc - and even perhaps certain indigenous/ethnic religions. So, is Hellenismos an ethnic religion? Must one be ethnically Greek to practice it?

Although a few separatist groups in Greece do claim that one must be ethnically Greek to practice Hellenismos, the majority of Hellenic polytheists view the religion as culturally specific, but not ethnically exclusive (the same can be said of Asatru). True ancient Hellenic religion was the product of a specific people, and to that extent it may reasonably be referred to as an ethnic religion. But in the ancient world, Hellenismos achieved a wide adherence throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, and was practiced by people who were not ethnically Hellenic.

However, I believe that ethnic roots, such as being a descendant of the Celts, Nordic and Germanic peoples, etc, is not enough to claim membership of any ethnic/natural/folk religion. Contemporary Pagans who follow the “paths of their ancestors” or who are drawn to a historical tradition based on their own ethnic background are “neo”-shamans/druids/Odinists/Pagans etc, as most of these contemporary religions are modern revivals and modern reinterpretations.

In an age dominated by consumerism and the image-obsession fostered by advertising and the mass media, consciously “becoming” anything often involves more concern with the image that this new identity projects to others than with what it means in terms of experience and genuine mutation. Paganism is particularly prone to this, because it supplies such a vast wealth of images and visual styles that can be picked up and recycled.

It is a mistake, though, to think that Paganism today has to be rooted in some ‘unbroken’ lineage of paganism from the past, especially as we are just guessing about and “creating” the past most of the time. Modern interpretations of prehistory inevitably say more about us than our ancestors.

Contemporary Pagan religions are modern religions that are derived from or inspired by the indigenous traditions of Europe, but they are not the (original) indigenous traditions of Europe - although indigenous, and thus ethnic, traditions still exist and are practised in certain part of Europe. The reality is that the peoples of Egypt, Persia, Greece, Germany, England, France and the Scandinavian countries have for the most lost most of their religious/spiritual/historical continuity, and cannot claim to follow original ethnic religions.

The ideas contained within Paganism reflect influences from a variety of sources, with a basis in Neo-Platonism: the alchemists, the Rosicrucians, the Spiritualists and Theosophists of the nineteenth century, the symbolism of Freemasonry and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, material from Aleister Crowley, and much of the discourse of the New Age. Contemporary Paganism is based on the concept that pre-Christian Pagan religions held a spiritual reality and worthwhile values that were suppressed and replaced by monotheism, especially through the spread and dominance of Christianity and its repression of other religions. Contemporary Paganism is largely an individual journey. But generally speaking, contemporary Paganism really only dates back as far as the early part of the 20th century, although many Pagans still attempt to claim a direct link with an ancient past.

The cultural process of self-rediscovery after centuries of Christianity is indeed in full swing, but this process is still in a formative stage, a stage of gradual rediscovery or self-reconstitution. But our Olde Way is not that old. While some Pagan paths may have elements of the Old Religion(s) and are perhaps even partially based on the Old Religion(s), contemporary Paganism is not the Old Religion(s). Contemporary Paganism is a new religion. It is Our Way(s).

“There was a time when the old Pagan Gods were pretty fulfilling and they inspired the best of men and women to acts of greatness, love, nobility, sacrifice and heroism. It is, therefore, a good thing to turn to them in thought and pay them our homage.” - Ram Swarup (1920-98)

REFERENCES:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_religion
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_religion
- http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/rel100/resources/ethnic_religions.htm
- http://ecer-org.eu/the-european-ethnic-religions-conference-in-2010-oaks...
- http://books.google.co.za/books?id=X8waCmzjiD4C&pg=PA508&lpg=PA508&dq=ne...
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/12757890/Modern-Paganism
- http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
- http://druidjournal.net/2008/03/27/the-future-of-neopaganism-in-the-west...
- http://www.ecauldron.net/dc-faq.php
- http://paganism-new-age.blogspot.com/2010/04/folkish-vs-universalist-odi...
- http://paganism-new-age.blogspot.com/2010/10/odinism-and-asatru.html
- http://paganism-new-age.blogspot.com/2010/10/neo-druidism-in-britain.htm...
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/45202493/Defending-Eclectic-Neopaganism
- http://www.witchgrotto.com/
- http://tribes.tribe.net/postpaganism/thread/0f744b0a-7db6-44f4-9214-5b17...
- http://thegoddesswithinapaganplaceforwomen.yuku.com/topic/6396/Aspects-o...
- http://www.darknessembraced.com/pagan/pagan-articles-and-essays/133-why-...
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:OCq4ztvMgocJ:www.co...