As Pagan Pride Day is celebrated across North America, consider the media mantra: "Paganism has become a mainstream movement, which has mostly been a good thing."
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-- From "Paganism becoming more mainstream, experts say" by Pam Stout, AnnArbor.com Community Assistant 8/26/10
According to Patheos.com's overview, Paganism represents "a wide variety of traditions that emphasize reverence for nature and a revival of ancient polytheistic religious practices." The article notes, "some Pagan traditions include ritual magic, but this practice is not universal." This diverse grassroots movement includes Wicca, Goddess Spirituality, and the Pagan Reconstructionist religions (Norse, Druidic, Egyptian, and Greek).
According to Margot Adler, author, NPR journalist, and Wiccan priestess, the Contemporary Pagan Movement has "come of age" in the last 15 years, with estimates of 1 million practicing Pagans. Pagans are being recognized in military cemeteries, hospitals, seminaries, and the Parliament of the World's Religions.
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From "Pagan Pride Day to offer Utahns a peek at secretive but growing community" by Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune 9/3/10
More than a million Americans now practice some form of Wicca, or traditional witchcraft, Ceremonial Magick, Hermeticism, Shamanism, Asatru (German/Nordic religion), African religion such as Voodoo and Shamanism, according to patheos.com, a multifaith website.
Unfortunately, modern pagans often are secretive about their beliefs, fearing ridicule or, worse, outright discrimination.
And so Utah’s burgeoning pagan community is doing what other groups do to oppose bigotry and bring their faith into the open. It is sponsoring the ninth annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day on Sept. 11 at Murray Park.
The event will provide a “fascinating and edifying experience,” Erwin says, “especially for those who are specifically interested in these various faith traditions, or in the field of comparative religion.”
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From "Pagan Pride Day in Johnston [Rhode Island]" by Maria Armental, Providence Journal Staff Writer 8/23/10
Welcome to Pagan Pride Day –– a celebration of the many religions that worship a pantheon of gods, such as Druidism, Wicca or Hellenismos, the traditional polytheistic religion of ancient Greece.
“We are an old people. We are a new people. We are the same people, stronger than before,” the worshipers chanted as they presented their gifts to the ancient Greek gods . . .
One of the core principles of paganism is a reverence for nature and all of its beings.
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From "Hundreds turn out for Pagan Pride event" by Jake Edmiston, Kingston (Canada) Whig-Standard 8/18/10
Coordinator Betty Jane Ware said . . . "We're just like everyone else." Rituals at Kingston's first Pagan Pride Day celebrated the Autumn Equinox, a Pagan holiday that gives thanks for the season's harvest.
Ware said providing information was designed to counter prejudice toward the religion. She said she's faced discrimination during her 25 years as a practising Pagan.
Ware said Paganism is growing at Queen's University and St. Lawrence College. She said she expects an influx in attendance at her monthly Pagan meetings when students return in the fall.
There's been an increased interest in the religion recently thanks to a media obsession with vampires and werewolves, Ware said.
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