A Few Common Misconceptions Pagans Hold

Pagans often try to point out misconceptions about their faith. Unfortunately, many Pagans themselves spread other misconceptions in an effort to promote their faith. To be wholly fair, pagans are not the only ones to do this. Every religion has its equivalent of faith promoting rumors, equally as accurate. Radical Muslims will tell you there were no Jews in the World Trade Center because they secretly orchestrated the attacks, Mormons will tell you about the holy powers of their underwear, and New Agers will tell you about past lives in Atlantis.

Perhaps with the Christmas season approaching, the most easily debunked Pagan myth has to do with the origin of Santa Clause. Some more radical Asatruars and Neo-Pagans will claim that he is Thor or Odin. While there might a few extremely vague similarities between the Santa Claus figure and the Norse deities, Saint Nicholas was in fact a real person and lived in the 4^th Century of the current era. According ot the Saint Nicholas center he was known for his generosity, kindness to children, and concern for ships and sailors at sea, yet the artwork bears little resemblance to the American Image of Santa Claus.

The second and perhaps the most common Pagan misconception touted by Wiccans and Neo-Pagans is that they practice the world's oldest religion. While it is true that Gerald Gardner used some ancient practices of the Celts and Germanic tribes to lay the framework for the version of Wicca that he practiced, no ancient references for Wicca or the Neo-Pagan traditions actually exist. A Pagan religion is in fact the oldest continious religious tradition, but it is Hinduism, rather than than the modern Earth-based religions. Some traditions such as those belonging to native tribes may be older, but the Hindu traditions are what archaeologists can document.

The next thing is not a Pagan misconception but one about the flakier elements of people who believe in Reincarnation. The idea that someone may have been Atlantean Royalty in a past life is comforting, but has little basis in reality. If the Atlantis of Plato even existed, it was most likely the Island of Crete. This is not to say that reincarnation is a misconception pagans hold, but the flakey people who claim to be Elvis, royalty or some other long dead celebrity are either lying or deluded.

The final Pagan misconception I'll cover to do is that witchcraft is a religion. Wiccans and some Neo-Pagans may practice witchcraft as part of their religious practices, but Witchcraft is not in and of itself a religion. Wicca is. Other religious and philosophical groups such as the Church of Satan and ceremonial magicians may practice what is commonly considered to be witchcraft. The idea that one religion owns it is a sadly common and arrogant Pagan misconception.

Sources:

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

http://www.agnosticwitch.catcara.com/oldest-religion.htm