Home - What is a Pagan? - Suggested Reading - Events - Local Resources - Links
Meeting Topics - Meeting Notes - Pictures - Pagan Articles and Handouts


Sept 11, 2005- Religion vs. Spirituality

Because the lines between religion and spirtituality are often blurred, we went around the table and each discussed what these terms mean to us.

Religion Spirituality
Time with others Personal
Dogma Beliefs gathered from experience
Set time and place Daily Life
Concrete Personal Interpretation
Man-made rules What you truely are
Group interaction How you see the world
Actions Ideas and Beliefs; Morals
What you practice with other people Personal beliefs and interpretations
Routine; Physical Philosophy and Understanding
Trying to connect to Spirit/God(s) Connection with Spirit/God(s)
Traditions Following your heart
Reason to believe or blindfold to the world Search for the truth
Rules and Accusations Personal thing; Searching
Beliefs set by others True lifestyle
Habits of Spirtuality Understanding of "God"

Where does Magick fit into religion and spirituality?
Is "Religious Magick" more structured?
Is Magick only spiritual?
Many religions practice forms of magic (even Christian ones).
Magick is all around us and we tend to ignore it. Is Magick just what we call it when we listen to what the world is saying?

Off-topic Discussions

What is Paganism: ISUPC describes paganism as an umbrella term for earth-based spiritualities/religions, including but not limited to the following practices: Druid, Celtic, Wicca, Witchcraft, Strega, Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Native American Spirituality, Germanic, etc.

What is Wicca: ...well, no good, all-purpose definition was revieled. Since its inception, Wicca has grown and spread to mean so many different things that it has be come a very broad based religion. Some described it as a religion that includes parts of several other religions. Others described it as a general starting point where one finds their interests or callings, developing into focal points.

There was discussion of how certain religious symbols turn up in different chronologically and geographically separated cultures. Some symbols have mathematic meanings.

Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)

What is Astral Projection: Where all of your energetic or spirit self travels separate from your physical body

What is Remote Viewing: Where a portion of your energy is used to visualize a location separate from you physical location

It is imporatant to remember to be cautious and use protection when venturing away from your physical self

There was discussion on the importance of keeping your Ritual Tools clean, including yourself.