Paganism in Modern Ireland - Research Paper Example

Paganism in Modern Ireland Introduction The idea that Druids and Witches are real persons who are inclined to a certain traditional practices with serious intent is hard to belief for many individuals in the contemporary world. Neo-paganism is simply a group of religious movements that claim to be resulting from various ancient pagan dogmas of the current Europe. Despite the fact that these movements share some common practices, the contemporary pagan movements are believed to be diverse and having no single set of practices, beliefs, or texts. The modern pagan movement is unfamiliar and strange to the general view of the public. The neo-pagan movement is very distinct from the pre-Christian movements in the world. The neo-pagan religion as the members refer to it use unique labels such as earth based spiritualists to identify themselves. The modern paganism movement includes both Druid and witchcraft beliefs. Witchcraft stems from an array of paths that include Wicca which is a mystical religion. It may also include hereditary witchcraft that is usually passed from one generation to the next in the family lineage. The last form of witchcraft may include hedge witchery of traditional witchcraft that is the modern way of witchcraft that is usually based on traditional practices that are associated with pre-modern Ireland Wise women. These wise women are believed to have been healers and used herbalism and other traditional ways to treat human beings when they fell ill (Kimberly). The word pagan originates from the Latin word “paganus” that means country dweller. Another form of Neo-paganism is heathenism that originates from the old English word that mean “inhabiting open country”. It is believed to be the root for the word heath that means areas of moorland. As this word suggest the old traditional ways, the word pagan as also come to be defined as the “nature religion”. Therefore, Neo-paganism is believed to be a religion with well-set moral and ethical principles (Kimberly). Misconceptions about Neo-paganism Many people in the world do not specifically understand what exactly neo-paganism is since the association has been greatly misapprehended, largely because it is not widely spread in the world. The mention of the word pagan in the modern Ireland country brings the perception that it is a person without a formal belief in a certain religion simply put, an atheist or even a person who beliefs in anti-Christian practices. The use of the word anti-Christian originates from the way the Christians use the word heathen and pagan to refer to satanic or evil (Smith). The neo-pagans do view Satan as one of the Christian mythology and thus they do not belief that this figure refers to a pagan deity. The modern pagan followers few themselves as the followers of the ancient religion that is distinct from the modern Christian one. With the believers of Druid, it is believed to be a stereotype that nature lovers and environmentalists are usually associated with. Druid is associated with the popular Merlin image of Arthurian legend and the wizards of literature. There are also other misconceptions about paganism especially when associated with negative Occult activity or devil worship. This is strengthened by the modern films people watch that portray lurid details of the black mass, rituals, brain washing cults and other practices that intend to shock individuals. Neo-paganism has no inclination to such rituals. The only thing that gives people assurance that neo-p aganism is a ritual with attached evil spirits is the way they see the neo-pagans carry out their practices using paraphernalia and wearing robes that portrays strange practices that people are not accustomed to (Wright). Paganism in Ireland as portrayed in the film “The secret of Roan Inish” The film, is centered mostly on the Orcadian and Irish folklores of selkies. This are the seals that have the capability to shed their skins and turn to human beings. The story is set in the west coast of Irish country. Its main character is Fiona who had been sent to live with her cousin Eamon and grandparents near the Roan Inish Island. This is the place where the selkies are believed to live in. Her grandfather narrates to her about the way they were evacuated from the Island and how the great grandparents used to fake death at the hands of the sea. The villagers in the island tell her more about how their ancestor married a beautiful young lady who was half human and half a seal. They narrate how the sea stole her baby brother who was known as Jamie as they were fleeing the island. Fiona in her strong belief that she had seen Jamie in a vision has to convince the villagers about this vision (Sayles, Lally, Colgan, Lynch, Courtney, Fry, and Fry). From the plot of the film it can be observed that the villagers in Roan Inish village believed that there were supernatural beings that existed before and that they had more power to turn into human beings. The belief about the seals in Ireland is not a new one because the power of the seals to turn into human beings and fake to be alike humans is still relevant today. The power of the witchcraft on how they have powers to do magical things has a strong belief on the Irish people. They belief that the spiritual power of the wizards can do any magic that the person directs the witch o perform. It has the power to make someone impotent or cause incurable disease unto a person. The existence of Neo-paganism and its association to witchcraft and Druid among the Irish people makes the ancient beliefs as portrayed in the film relevant in the modern world and more so in Ireland. Neo-paganism is associated with anti-Christian practices and therefore, associated with anything evil. They are nowadays associated with devil worshiping, the acts of Illuminant and causing supernatural magic to the people. Although the believers of Neo-paganism in Ireland refute this claim, the ordinary people cannot belief them because the way they carry out their practices is more relevant that the claims they make. The people belief that the pagan power has the power to turn into anything it wishes to, be it an animal or half human as in the movie or a spirit that is capable of causing more fear into the human beings. Therefore, this is a belief that the Irish people will always live believing that the existence of Neo-paganism will always be associated with anything evil that exists in the world. Neo-paganism in Ireland as revealed in the movie “Into the West” The story is about two boys; Ciaran Fitzgerald and Ruaidhri Conroy who are given a present of a horse by their grandfather. The horse is known as “Tir Na nOg” which means land of eternal youth. The horse is supposed to be kept in the house but the neighbors complain about it which forces the police to intervene and then one thing leads to another. The horse is stolen by one of the richest fellows in the town and obtains paper to claim the ownership of the horse. After the boys see the horse racing on the television, they go for it and ride off with it. The rich man rewards them with 10,000 U.S. dollars, but they refuse. The people in Ireland follow the story as the horse together with the boys outwit both the powerful and the rich (McCoy). It is believed that the horse had the power to read the boys’ minds, which enables them to think too fast than any other ordinary human being. This power of wits enables them to ride safely on the roads as they escape capture. This sort of power possessed by a horse is what people cannot have an explanation to except to associate it with Neo-paganism. This is because, if not magic, what else can make a horse read a human being’s mind? It is an explanation that goes beyond human imagination. This another movie that strengthens the belief that the existence of Neo-paganism with extra ordinary powers exists in Ireland. If these powers were not real no one could have imagined that a horse could read a humans mind and make them behave extra ordinarily. It is an imagination backed by stories and believes about paganism. There have been stories of existence of extra ordinary animals like mammoth snake that are displayed during festivals as portrays and people belief that they do appear in the high seas. They are believed to have powers to protect human beings and make them rich in ways that are extra ordinary. Neo-paganism in Ireland as revealed in the Movie “The secret of Keels” The movie is about Young Brendan who lives in medieval outpost where he is under siege from the raids of the barbarians. Then a celebrated illuminator master arrives carrying an old age but unfinished book. The book is believed to contain secret powers and wisdom. Brenda has to finish writing the book only if he will be able to overcome the fears that will be involved in the quest in the forest which has mythical creatures. He has to be determined to get the mysterious ink that will help him finish writing the unfinished ancient book. In the forest that Brenda meets the mysterious wolf-girl. The wolf-girl helps Brenda along the way (Massey). The barbarians that are following Brenda close nearer and the wolf –girl has to do something. She illuminates the forest with artistic vision that illuminates the darkness in the forests and drives the evil creatures away This story again strengthens the belief of the existed of supernatural beings. The wolf-girl helping Brenda from the evils of the barbarians is unimaginable thing in the modern world. Wolves are known to be dangerous animals to humans. The notion of a wolf and the fact that it is a young wolf-girl in the movie helping Brenda was something that the ordinary humans cannot belief. This are only powers associated with Neo-pagans who are believed to possess extra ordinary powers to frustrate and inflict fear on people. Neo-Paganism in Ireland as revealed today Ireland is a country that has experienced recent Neo-pagan movements. These movements include the Neo-druid, Wicca and Celtic polytheism. Wicca came into existence in the 1940s and originated from Britain. Wicca has two main traditions; the Alexandrian and the Gardnerian. This traditions are mostly known as the British Traditional Wicca. Believers of Wicca worship gods and goddess that are traditionally referred to as horned god and mother goddess. The god and goddess are believed to possess extra ordinary powers that they reward their follows with. It is these kid of powers and the rituals the neo-pagans perform that make the ordinary people have suspicion unto them. It is the reason the Ireland government had refused to accept marriages by pagans until 2009 when they lastly lifted the ban (Besant). Studies have shown that Neo-paganism in Ireland is a movement that has diverse practices and beliefs. In the contemporary society one unique thread of paganism is the existence of the neo-pagan ritual. This ritual involves the expression of the meaning about the reality of the nature and the extra ordinary powers that exist in the world today. A good example of some of these neo-pagan rituals is the ritual of the social imbibing of alcohol. It is more of a sloppy party that makes young women and men on the spiritual margins to come together and associate with people who possess same traits as themselves. Another ritual is that of a hand fasting in which a couple literally weds through the tying of the knot. In the modern world paganism is associated with several traditions and interpretations. The pagans themselves describe themselves as united under certain principles. These principles include; kinship and love with nature, positive morality that is expressed through the doing of what one wills to do as long as it does not cause harm to anybody else and lastly is the principle of recognition of the divine principle of acknowledging the existence of both male and female aspects (Besant). The Neo-pagans in Ireland have even gone further to form a federation that is mandated with protection of the image of pagan followers and their beliefs. The federation fights the neagative attitudes and ignorance towards paganism. The main work of the federation is to organize social gatherings and events, establishment of a strong network that is capable to unite people towards their principle of the love for the environment and nature and combating negative image and negative information that the media portrays the paganism about. The federation is also mandated with the task to oversee the publishing of information packs that provide insight on pagan paths and providing information on what is going on in the areas where their members are (The Book of Martyrs: Or, the History of Paganism and Popery: ... Abstracted from the Best Authors, Both Antient and Modern). Conclusion Neo-pagan movements have been in the world since the 1940s and they have been gaining recognition throughout the world. It is a matter of time before they find their way into all the corners of the world. Despite the negative beliefs that have been associated with Neo-pagan believers, there is no concrete evidence that they perform evil practices and are associated with the devil. The Neo-pagan followers refute strongly the negative belief that the Christians have associated them with devil worship and illuminant. The neo-pagans claim that they came into existence after the Christians performed some rituals and practices that never gave them the freedom they needed in the religion. It is out of the readings of the pagan traditions that they found a way through to gain democracy in the religion through the formation of neo-pagan movements. They claimed that many people had stopped going to the roman churches and they needed a form of identity that was available in neo-paganism. The clarity of this claim is the reason why there has been a tremendous growth of neo-pagan movements in the world and its existence in Modern Ireland. Works Cited Besant, Annie. My Path to Atheism. Auckland: The Floating Press, 2014. Print. The Book of Martyrs: Or, the History of Paganism and Popery: ... Abstracted from the Best Authors, Both Antient and Modern. Coventry N.p., rinted by T. Print. Kimberly, Alice. The Ghost and Mrs. Mcclure. New York: Berkley, 2004. Print. Massey, Eithne. Brendan and the Secret of Kells. Dublin: OBrien, 2009. Print. McCoy, Max. Into the West. New York: New American Library, 2005. Print. Sayles, John, Mick Lally, Eileen Colgan, John Lynch, Jeni Courtney, Rosalie K. Fry, and Rosalie K. Fry. The Secret of Roan Inish: El Secreto Roan Inish. Culver City N.p., n.d. Print. Smith, James K. A. Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping a Post-Secular Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004. Print. Wright, Brian. Brigid: Goddess, Druidess and Saint. New York: The History Press, 2011. Print. Read More