Below is an essay called "Of Gods and Men: The Pagan Path to Christ" which is for a conservative group. It is possible the author means well by their essay but I want formulate a sort of rebuttal / reply in what I see is the common mistake Christians, even those of conservative and or pro European / Eurasian spirit make often when regarding so called "Paganism", even with good intentions.
As one who knows "Paganism" better than the author, who only understands paganism as a incompleteness and requiring of "Christ", I can state that I agree with them regarding the misuse of the word "pagan" but I disagree with his understanding of what is pagan. Most of the time these people writing such things come from a Christian bias and hyper focus on Greco-Roman understand. While ignoring greater Indo-European wealth of philosophy and belief that dwarfs the Christian understanding. The general theme might be in good intentions but the need to come to Christ or salvation from some Hebrew isnt. Instead if Christianity wanted to have a proper "marriage" to pagans in the European soul they would embrace the folk understand of the "saviors", enlightened beings, and supreme Sky father that is prominent within Paganism as a whole. I agree that New Age types tend to ignore God or any hierarchical structure, as do some Occult practitioners (not all). A true understanding of the "pagan" path be it Indo-European, near Eastern, or tribal is a union with God (Father and Mother) / spirit/s / nature and the beyond. A need for a salvation due to original sin isn't present. Instead mistakes or "sins" are seen as stumbling blocks that much be repented be practice and overcoming. One should want to improve themselves in all things and their piety and worship is an act of acknowledging the divine, praising it, and working to being worthy of acknowledgement. This doesn't mean one is worthless inherently but in their inherent worth can achieve greatness for their people in the name of their Gods.
If one truly wanted to have a middle ground between Paganism and Christianity, they would have to focus on the European aspects of Christianity as well as the Metaphysical philosophical understandings of the universe and nature via God. This can be achieved by myth, lore, history, and Indo-European aspects of Christianity. Not by a hyper focus on Jesus's Hebraic culture, or rabbinical concepts. Those only work in a greater Caucasian focused world setting and start to detract tribally among peoples the more one is to focus on them.
What are your thoughts?
Also nothing in this post is meant to be a political or racial statement or fuel any "hatred" of any groups. It is what it is and should be understood for the comparisons that have been made.
Written by Zachary Gill 17 June 2021 https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/04/gods-men-paganism-path-christ.html?fbclid=IwAR38TSPw-AHYFnAidk_ZID2--EAuHwYOT6pUYiB4as2UNVtaaYdqiVF0J8I
As one who knows "Paganism" better than the author, who only understands paganism as a incompleteness and requiring of "Christ", I can state that I agree with them regarding the misuse of the word "pagan" but I disagree with his understanding of what is pagan. Most of the time these people writing such things come from a Christian bias and hyper focus on Greco-Roman understand. While ignoring greater Indo-European wealth of philosophy and belief that dwarfs the Christian understanding. The general theme might be in good intentions but the need to come to Christ or salvation from some Hebrew isnt. Instead if Christianity wanted to have a proper "marriage" to pagans in the European soul they would embrace the folk understand of the "saviors", enlightened beings, and supreme Sky father that is prominent within Paganism as a whole. I agree that New Age types tend to ignore God or any hierarchical structure, as do some Occult practitioners (not all). A true understanding of the "pagan" path be it Indo-European, near Eastern, or tribal is a union with God (Father and Mother) / spirit/s / nature and the beyond. A need for a salvation due to original sin isn't present. Instead mistakes or "sins" are seen as stumbling blocks that much be repented be practice and overcoming. One should want to improve themselves in all things and their piety and worship is an act of acknowledging the divine, praising it, and working to being worthy of acknowledgement. This doesn't mean one is worthless inherently but in their inherent worth can achieve greatness for their people in the name of their Gods.
If one truly wanted to have a middle ground between Paganism and Christianity, they would have to focus on the European aspects of Christianity as well as the Metaphysical philosophical understandings of the universe and nature via God. This can be achieved by myth, lore, history, and Indo-European aspects of Christianity. Not by a hyper focus on Jesus's Hebraic culture, or rabbinical concepts. Those only work in a greater Caucasian focused world setting and start to detract tribally among peoples the more one is to focus on them.
What are your thoughts?
Also nothing in this post is meant to be a political or racial statement or fuel any "hatred" of any groups. It is what it is and should be understood for the comparisons that have been made.
Written by Zachary Gill 17 June 2021 https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/04/gods-men-paganism-path-christ.html?fbclid=IwAR38TSPw-AHYFnAidk_ZID2--EAuHwYOT6pUYiB4as2UNVtaaYdqiVF0J8I