Misconceptions Of Paganism

What is a pagan. It is not a devil worshipping, Godless, heathen. It is not a crazy witch who casts spells on enemies and flies the skies by broom during a full moon. There are so many misconceptions about pagans, because of the history if paganism. The problem with the history of pagan religions, is there is not an abundance of recoded first hand accounts from the direct participants of these religions. The lack of information is what makes the pagan religion so fascinating, but also one of the many reason people fear paganism. Many fear it because they do not understand it. However, as our society has evolved in modern times, there has been an increase in acceptance of different belief systems. Much of what ancient pagan cultures believed
The Druids are an ancient celtic people, and are believed to have migrated to the British Isles from Spain and the steppes of Russia after the Ice Age. Many scholars believe it was Druids that built structures such as the New Grange, Stonehenge and many other amazing ancient structures in the British Isles and Gaul (what is now roughly modern day France). They are also believed to have used mathematics, supposedly discovered by the mathematician Pythagoras, two thousand years before Pythagoras was born (cit). It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of Druidry, because so much of the practice was passed on by oral tradition. The Druid oral traditions only began to be recoded in the written word when Christian scribes entered their lands in the sixteenth century, an estimated four and a half thousand years after the Druid religion was formed. Druids were first documented by outsiders when the Romans began to conquer the lands of Gaul and the British Isles. Julius Caesar and Pliny the Elder were the most prominent reporters on the Druids. The Roman writings were where the idea of a more violent Druids took form. They spoke of Druids as ritualistic priests willing to spill the blood of either prisoner or civilian in order to make a sacrifice to please the Earth. However, other writings show the the Druids were a pacifistic people. They performed non-violent sacrifices and rituals to please Mother Nature, they taught star lore and philosophy, and they memorized and be able to recite tremendous amounts of in formation not just about their own traditions, but also the history of the land they lived on and tilled. Druids were exempt form taxation, and also form the military that was supported by taxation because of their pacific lifestyle. They were the most educated people of their region, and were relied upon for council not only by nobel men, but also to take upon a judicial role