Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Pagans are usually worshippers of the Mother Goddess, who with ‘god,’ created the earth.
Some pagan groups focus on particular
cultural religious traditions, such as Celtic,
Druidic, Egyptian, or Norse rituals and
practices... Through the use of magic
neo-pagans seek to draw on the cosmic
powers that underlie the universe in their
Own personal quest for blessing, success,
fertility, and harmony. Worshippers are
generally organized into small autonomous
groups, often called ‘covens’
(D.J. Hayward, in Moreau, 2000:674).
By many definitions, animism is the basic belief in spiritual beings, and is the most
rudimentary definition of a religion. Thus, Neo-Paganistic beliefs are animistic, but also
more. While Paganism is not as well defined as the so-called higher religions (e.g.,
Christianity), it has more structure than tribal animists, for example. Animistic practices
and beliefs are found in many religious expressions, but not all religions are animistic. In
addition, some Pagans consider themselves pantheists, but not all. Some Neo-pagans
practice Wicca, but not all.
Animists, along with many Pagans, believe, “that personal spiritual beings and
impersonal spiritual forces have power over human affairs and, consequently, that human
beings must discover what beings and forces are influencing them in order to determine
future action and, frequently, to manipulate their power” (Van Rheenen 1996a, 19-20).
Animism is one of the oldest forms of Pagan religion, common to pre-literate, nomadic
and hunting peoples, and is an important pillar of the Neo-Pagan Witches’ world. “The
animist sees himself as being surrounded by spirit beings at every moment of his
existence. His relationship to these spirit beings governs his conduct in life” (Nicholls,
1994:57).
Attempting to define and distinguish one group from the other is nearly impossible,
which is why the terms Pagan and animist are used inter-changeably. Important to our
discussion, many contemporary Pagans are known as “eclectic practitioners,” because
they draw from various sources for their beliefs, which fits well with the overall
postmodern penchant for eclecticism. Because postmoderns are anti-foundationalists,
and are opposed to metanarratives like the Bible, the manner in which Pagans and
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University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa