Paganism is an earth-based religion which pre-dates monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Paganism is a natural religion and celebrates the connection between nature and humans. It is a polytheistic religion and has many Gods and Goddesses whaich are all parts of the main God and Goddess which is seen as the divine force, creators of life.
The History of Paganism
Paganism goes back along way in history, there is evidence of the religion being practiced in the Stone age and Iron Age period due to the preservation of relics such as the famous Gunderstrup cauldron and jewellery being found in peat bogs.
There is also evidence in cave paintings across the world of half human and half animal figures suggesting different Gods and Goddesses.
When Christianity took over the pagan faith, paganism was nearly wiped out by the church of Rome spreading myths and torturing those that still practiced the faith. Often these people that still believed in paganism were wise men and women of there time who knew about medicinal properties of herbs and how to cure the sick because of their knowledge the Church seen them as threatning figures in society and branded them as witches and wizards.
In 1484 the Church began the long persecution of those that still believed in Paganism and there became a mass hysteria of witch hunting where thousands of people though mainly women were tortured and burned at the stake in Europe. Despite these methods the old religion remained, suppressed underground and kept hidden.
Since the the popularity of Paganism has grown and continues to do so. There has also been a rise in other branches of Paganism such as Druidry and Wicca which still survive in modern britain and across the world.
