I'll agree that Dark Paganism sounds a bit 'repetitive', however, as
Germain said, different cultures and such likely intrepret things
differently. For instant, there are some Eastern cultures that intrepret
"Yin-Yang" as a "Good" and "Evil" concept over the concept of Yin being the
feminine, dark, passiveness, coldness, of water and earth and Yang being
the masculine, positive, aggression, passionate, of fire and wind.
Contrary to me always thinking that it's the second thing mentioned, I grew
to learn that there's theology and philosophy that disagree with mine.
Other than that, I cannot give much on Dark Paganism or Paganism in general
for it is one of the many topics I am not specialized in. A Wiccan friend
of mine, however, believes that Black Magicks (Necromancy is considered
under this category for him) is often something not to tamper with and
there has been a few cases of documented daemonic possessions from the
misuse of it. (1988: There was a newspaper article of some teenagers
tampering with a form of magick and all of a sudden, their hearts stopped
beating...etc. No one knew why and the priests were so fearful in that
town that they made sure most of the new age, occult, and other related
materials were minimized in that town...I'll have to get more on that from
that friend sometime).
Meh, I should stop rambling right now I guess. What I mentioned are merely
things that I know of...I can only give opinions on magicks from what I
know so I cannot say much on this topic aside from what's been said.
Anya
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 656 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 16/4/2003 at 07:18 PM
Oh yes...before I forget, am I allowed to post poems in the forums? (I know
I can't use them as "Articles.")
VampCourt
Fanatic
Posts: 293 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 16/4/2003 at 10:35 PM
Im not compleatly sure you can post poems at all in here. but im no poem
expert..
____________________ "Thou shalt not be afraid of the dark, nor of graveyards nor ghosts nor the
devil, for thou art scarey and mean." -The Goth commandments
Psychopixi
Fanatic
Posts: 376 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 17/4/2003 at 01:45 AM
There is a Poetry Gallery in the "Distractions" box, on the bottom left
hand side of the screen.
____________________ Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.
Starlight
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 618 Registered: 27/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 17/4/2003 at 03:08 AM
When for some stupid ass reason people ask me what "religion" I am...and
it happens sometimes...I try to at first be evasive. I'll tell them things
like "I'm not a member of an organized religion," or "I'm into nature-based
type things". Unfortunately that makes them say silly shit like "Oh so
you're one of those Neo-Pagans or Wiccans". I've gotten to where I just
smile and don't answer after that....cuz I'm tempted to say something back
like "Oh you're one of those Catholics or Baptists right," and I'm quite
sure that would piss them off a lot ...so I don't. If I tell them that I'm
Pagan, they sort of stare at me blankly and ask if I'm a devil worshipper.
Then if I tell them that I'm Non-Denominational Pagan (which is what comes
closests to what fits ...not that anything exactly fits)...they start
asking what's that. I end up telling them that it's too involved to explain
it to them. Which means it isn't worth wasting my breath on telling them
anything...cuz unfortunately the one's who think it's cool...well they
wanna know if I can teach them any spells. Instant gratification for
them...how nice....forget it.
Okay...now I just realized that I'm not quite sure what I was responding to
other than the incessant ravings of my brain after my husband has either
hung up on me and turned his phone off....or well.....WAHHHH Wahhhh....I'm
going to sleep now...nite nite.
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never
tried before." ~Mae West
Abbadon
Fanatic
Posts: 499 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 19/4/2003 at 04:02 AM
There is no dark side to Paganism. It is not a bipolar faith.
DarkMistress
Member
Posts: 170 Registered: 6/6/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 20/4/2003 at 10:50 AM
There is Pagan and there is Wiccan and you can be either a Dark Pagan or a
Dark Wiccan. It makes sense, however, because most pagans focus on the
constructive side of nature when Dark Pagans focus on the destructive side
of nature, so yes, there is a dark side to Paganism. That doesn't mean it's
always focused on chaos and death either. It's about balance and believe
it or not, and you probably don't, a lot of pagans exclude the destructive
side of nature and it also hinders their spiritual growth. Pagan and
Wiccan have become interchangable terms because most paths that
are practiced these days are New Age. If Thantos asked about Dark Wicca
would you still give the same response? Especially since there are a lot
of eclectic paths in Wicca. Also, I feel have to mention that this path is
not the only path that spells magick with a "k."
I thought the responses this thread recieved were awfully closed minded
considering most of you (save for the few who approached this intelligently
and with an open mind) laughed and made fun. It would have been different
if you actually knew something about it. It's not about black magick,
either, just letting you all know. So here.
http://www.waningmoon.com/darkpagan/lib/lib0046.shtml
Why don't you read something before you attack? Did you ever notice that
people get a little angry when someone else makes fun of their religion
when it doesn't seem to be in good fun? I wouldn't do that to any of you
if one of you were of a religion that was new to me.
That's all I've got to say about this.
____________________ "Pity no one was there
No angels in the air
And the morning paper ran
One more suicide"
Sardonic-Pain
Fanatic
Posts: 248 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 21/4/2003 at 12:45 PM
Dark paganism that is a new one on me.....I am Wiccan and have been for a
number of years now and well I honestly don't believe in any such thing as
a Dark Pagan or a Dark Wiccan......See The way I see things is that there
is no light with out dark there for there must be balance.......In nature
there is both good and evil so what is the point in just focusing on
one....If I understand the beliefs of this so called "Dark Paganism" and
"Dark Wicca" it kinda go against the true beliefs of not harming those
around you as well as yourself.....maybe I am ignorant on the whole subject
I just know what I have read and what not and this is just me and what I
believe not that I am one for bashing one's beliefs BUT "Dark Paganism" and
"Dark Wicca" Just doesnt seem right to me based on what I have studied
____________________ My Life is like a porno-Without the sex-Just the weird music
callei
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 759 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 21/4/2003 at 04:08 PM
" Did you ever notice that people get a little angry when someone else
makes fun of their religion when it doesn't seem to be in good fun?"
It seems that the concept of dark pagan and dark wiccan are threatening and
bizzare to those that follow on of those two faith groups let me put that
more plainly; "dark" makes it sound like a bad joke at the expense of
Pagans and Wiccans.
Also I have never heard of an Eastern culture that thinks of Tao as "good
bad", i have only ever heard that as part of western cultural
interpretations based on thiier religion-social structures.
From a total outsider's point of view, it seems like "dark" (insert faith
here) is a Christianization of the base faith. that is how it seems since
to my knowledge there is not "dark side" of any naturalistic faith
structure and because christians are about the only religion that fear the
night.
____________________ Real goths wear silver and crosses to keep the werewolves and vampires
away.
KatB
Fanatic
Posts: 241 Registered: 16/7/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 21/4/2003 at 04:32 PM
Why don't you read something before you attack?
Don't go aggro - a theme was brought up that most knew nothing about, and
I for one awaited some clues from the one person who claimed to know
anything about it.
____________________ All stressed out and no one to choke...
VampCourt
Fanatic
Posts: 293 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 22/4/2003 at 08:34 AM
Well put, Callei
____________________ "Thou shalt not be afraid of the dark, nor of graveyards nor ghosts nor
the
devil, for thou art scarey and mean." -The Goth commandments
Psychopixi
Fanatic
Posts: 376 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 22/4/2003 at 11:59 AM
I think that quite a few Pagans and Wiccans today do only focus on
the positive aspects of their respective paths - the light and the dark are
supposed to be in balance and I see Dark Paganism as embracing the dark
as well as the light. Knowing that dark is not necessarily bad and
evil, just the opposite of light. There has been so much media portrayal of
Pagans as being devil-worshippers that many people now try to exclude
anything that could possibly be taken in a negative way. Like DM said this
can become harmful for them - like bottling up rage as opposed to finding a
safe and creative channel for it.
To the people that laughed, or put down this religion I would say that it's
fine to have your own opinion - if you don't believe in something then
that's fair enough, but would you have reacted in the same way if a
question was posed relating to Asatru, or Imbas, or another religion that
you personally don't follow? Or did you respond the way you did because you
thought that it sounded cliche and so dismissed it as 'fake' or 'made up'.
Just something for you to think about.
____________________ Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.
Starlight
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 618 Registered: 27/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 22/4/2003 at 05:40 PM
As I've said before I don't label myself as a particular type of
Pagan...that's why I like to use the term "non-denominational pagan" when
forced to say if I'm a "Good one or a Bad one". I was referring to when I
am asked by Christians as to what church do I attend...what religion do I
practice, etc. etc. etc. I get asked partly because people around where I
live ask that of other people around here, partly because I can often be
seen wearing crystals or other stones and pentagrams and ankhs and other
things that make people curious, and partly because of the way I speak and
answer certain types of questions. I've just decided that when pressed for
an answer that is my answer. I've just been approached by too many people
to ask for instant gratification type things regarding magick and not
wanting to put any time into practicing it, so that's why I don't offer
info freely. I know alot of things that I do are similar to what Wiccans
do...but I've also seen Buddists do similar things as well...and other
nature-based religion/spirituality practicers do similar things...have
similar beliefs as well. I think that the term "Dark Pagan" simply refers
to those Pagans who choose not to concentrate as much on a balance or worry
about karma to the same degree as some other Pagans. (Incidentally I use
the term Pagan to refer to any Non-Chrisitan or Jewish religion/spiritual
belief...as people generally practiced nature-based spirituality before any
organized religions came about.) I don't think that Satanists are evil (in
the sense that Christians do)...so I would say that in a loose way they
could be "dark pagan" as well. I don't seriously recall hearing anyone
refer to "Light Pagans" or "Balanced Pagans" anywhere...so I think Dark
Pagan probably came about to describe pagans, wiccans, satanists, druids,
etc...who feel comfortable working with the darker forces of nature...and
dealing with the consequences if they are not good....I think at times I've
considered myself leaning towards the darker side as well...I don't think
there's anything wrong with that. You need both light and dark forces for
there to be any sort of balance at all. Also, there will always be pagans
who work on trying to be as "undark" as they can...so that balances against
the "dark" so there it is. Nature itself usually takes care of the balance.
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've
never
tried before." ~Mae West
Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 22/4/2003 at 10:43 PM
mmm...all well and good. But if there are Dark Pagans...then of course,
there are Probably Dark Christians...Dark Buddhists and Dark Extremist
Raeliens.
Unfortunately, last time I checked...there aren't...they just call
themselves something else. If they were balanced, they would
be...well...BALANCED, especially in name...because the name is the
existance of a thing.
Eh...in any case, mebbe' I just wanted to make fun of something for no
real reason...which is always fun.
____________________ In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King
Starlight
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 618 Registered: 27/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 22/4/2003 at 11:38 PM
Hey Dolo...I'd much rather make fun of something (or even myself) than to
walk around with a stick stuck up my ass all the time. I've thought of
putting up a sign at work saying "stick extractors $1.00 each", but I doubt
that those most in need of one would even get the joke.
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've
never
tried before." ~Mae West
Catiana
Occasional Poster
Posts: 21 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 23/4/2003 at 12:15 AM
im always the last one to find the topics im interested in
i am a pagan, and although i have never heard of dark paganism, thats my
ignorance. i dont nessicarily agree or disagree, but i think you can call
your faith whatever you want, and shouldnt be harrassed for being "fake and
made up" as long as you truly beleive it.
so what if the name "dark paganism" doesnt fit YOUR definition of paganism?
thats fine, dont be a dark pagan.
Something i feel strongly about is everyone's right to worship their own
way, or to be spiritual any way they want. If someone's path to happiness
seems silly to you, thats you. We have no right to call down other people
for having different beleifs.
An it harm none, do as thou wilt.
Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 23/4/2003 at 01:34 AM
What if I said my religion was to make fun of other religions?
What if I said that even though I made up this religion, specifically for
myself...I still demanded it be respected and whatnot.
I wonder what people would do with something like that.
Incidentally, I hope that was a light hearted jab and not a suggestion that
I might have a stick up my ass...
____________________ In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King
callei
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 759 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 23/4/2003 at 07:47 AM
Some body in this thread said that we were *supposed* to be "open-minded"
and chastided the people who had taken the time out of thier day to respond
to the thread. I'd like to know where ON THIS SITE it is written that we
have to be "openminded"? ANd when does "openminded" mean that no other
views are allowed?
No one has to like you here or think your religion is real. Ask one of our
Christians someday what it is like to believe in something that everyone
else thinks is silly...
The point here is that someone chose to expose thier faith to ridicule and
then someone said that those who took the bait were bad people.
____________________ Real goths wear silver and crosses to keep the werewolves and vampires
away.
Anya
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 656 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 23/4/2003 at 03:03 PM
One of my uncles (he's Vietnamese) was the one who said there was an actual
Eastern cultures that considered yin and yang as good and evil. I'd not be
surprised, but I don't recall hearing of any taken as that aspect
either...aside from what he claims (for all I know, it could be one of
those infrequent cross-religion branches that adopted and twisted certain
things from more than one religion and/or faith).
Dark Paganism seems more like a label to me than anything - I don't recall
hearing of such a faith either...then again, as I agreed to before, maybe
some geographical locations have such a label.
Starlight
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 618 Registered: 27/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 23/4/2003 at 06:48 PM
*re-reads her comments*
Okay so I can see why you might be wondering Dolo...What I was trying to
say is that it's okay to find humor in things that not everyone finds
humorous. I didn't mean you had a stick up your ass...I meant that you
didn't have a stick up your ass, and that some of the customers who come in
where I work do have a stick up their ass.
*scratches her head*...unless you want a stick up your ass...I mean if
that's like "your thing"...*grinz*
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've