Neopaganism is one of fastest growing religions
Neopaganism--a modern form of the ancient, pre-Christian religion that honors the intelligent forces of nature and its associated gods and goddesses--is now among the fastest growing religions, roughly doubling every 18 months in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
It is especially popular among teens who reject what they see as the "autocracy, paternalism, sexism, homophobia and insensitivity to the environment" of some more traditional religions, according to the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, a group that follows religious trends.
The state of Colorado has twice the percentage of people claiming to be of Pagan and New Age faith compared to the overall national figure.
Druidry and Wicca are two branches of Paganism, with the latter being the largest single group of Neopagans, numbering between 750,000 and 1 million in the U.S.
According to The Druid Network, the Druids' practices, dating back to at least 3rd century BC, are based on "...the sacred relationship between the individual and the spirits of nature, the landscape and the ancestors. Its ethics are based on honour - profound respect - for life itself, its practice based on the quest for wisdom through inspired relationship with spirit and the expression of truth through living fully and in a sacred manner, in beauty and with conscious creativity."
Wicca is another nature-based religion, but is more modern, originating in the 20th century. The Merriam Webster Dictionary states it is "a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existence of supernatural power (as magic) and of both male and female deities who inhere in nature and that emphasizes ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles."
What both groups do have in common, as Neopagans, is the practicing of rituals for healing, divination, marriage, lunar and solar cycles, and the passage of time. And, above all else, they have an adherence to the belief of a connection to something greater than ourselves.
Original article: Neopaganism Growing Quickly
