What is the origin of paganism?

Answer

Not really known as it's a naturally evolved religion/belief. Scientists suspect that part of the human brain is programmed to believe in religion. This suspicion has stemmed from studying epileptics and the visions some of them have during a seizure. It may also be of interest for you to know that elephants perform burial rites. (This is a religious act) We seem to be programmed to have religion and paganism is any naturally occouring religion that's based around nature and respect for the earth. It's not specific to any culture or race. For origins on the word pagan look on wikkopedia.

EXTRA ANSWER::::

I think Paganism originated in Northern Europe, such as Britain and Scandinavia. It's all up to the person, but I have found that Stonehenge in Salisbury, England was a place of Pagan worship.

And Now for another thought.

Paganism, Witchcraft & magic are as old as mankind. Anything, beyond your understanding or comprehension can be considered magic. A cell phone to a primitive is magic.

When mankind first started being self aware, we looked beyond ourselves and needed answers to things like, where does the sun go at night? How do we insure it will come back? How do we heal wounds and illnesses? How do we find food?

Eventually members of the group who discovered things, like which plants helped an upset stomach, where to find water, what the migration patterns of the local animals were and other things, became the ones others turned to for answers. These were the Wise Ones...

The cycles of the seasons where in our blood and instincts, as they governed our survival. The wise ones were the ones who kept track of the right time to plant, and harvest, ensuring the continuance of the people.

As we became more evolved the amount of knowledge expanded, and those with the answers learned a few tricks of their own.

If someone tells you a certain herb will cure your cut, you may or may not believe them, if they are well respected and do a little spell/prayer over the cut at the same time as using the herb, you tend to believe... Particularly if it works... you then tell others of the "power" of the Wise One... Eventually a name gets made, and expectation are raised...

It is a commonly accepted fact that your mind has a strong influence on your body... If you believe in something it has a better chance of working. the Wise Ones figured this out early on, so a little "showmanship" helped their reputation...

As spell/prayers/magic/ became standardized and passed on from generation to generation, the words became of equal importance to the practical application...

Magic became accepted as something that worked...

Science is today what magic once was, a practical, evolving set of standard results from repeated experimentation...

Even modern medicine can't tell us everything the mind is capable of, so some of us still believe in and practice Magic...

Modern Pagans practice an earth based belief system that can but does not always include the practice of magic. We try connect to the cycles of the moon and the seasons. We revere the powers of nature and the universe.

First answer by Tiggies. Last edit by ThatwouldBme. Contributor trust: 149 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 28 [recommend question]