I wrote about using the term “dark” in Dark Paganism in my previous post. However, any understanding is incomplete unless I address the second half of the name, “paganism.” To begin, we need to look at its possible etymology.
We know that “pagan” has been used primarily by Christian missionaries as a derogatory term for indigenous religions. Even today, many use it in the same manner for any belief they consider superstitious or primitive. There are several possible etymologies for “pagan.” The one I prefer is given by Hellenist and historian Pierre Chuvin, who proposes that the root is pagani, meaning “people of the place” and those who preserve local traditions. This root word would seem consistent with its historical usage by Christian missionaries’ intent on destroying indigenous religions.
Isaac Bonewits coined the term “Neopaganism” to differentiate contemporary Paganism from the perceived barbarism of ancient Paganism. Some contemporary Pagans still use this term. However, I see this modifier as unnecessary. For example, none of the major world religions are exactly as they were in ancient times, but we don’t attach “Neo-” to their names. Therefore, I use “pagan” for both ancient and contemporary Paganism.
Now we can look at defining “paganism” in Dark Paganism. I define contemporary Paganism as an umbrella term for various contemporary spiritual paths of Western esotericism inspired by pre-Abrahamic concepts, tropes, and mythology. The terms “Western esotericism” and “pre-Abrahamic” deserve some attention.
Antoine Faivre is the most widely referenced scholar in Western esotericism. According to Faivre, esotericism includes 1) an interconnected universe, 2) a belief that all of the world is alive, 3) imagination can influence the world using ritual and symbols, and 4) individual transformation is possible. The inclusion of Western esotericism in the definition acknowledges these elements found in contemporary Paganism and distinguishes it from the various indigenous religions around the globe.
Finally, the reference to “pre-Abrahamic” is quite simple. “Pre-Abrahamic” simply means that Paganism isn’t part of the same thread, literary and philosophical, that unites the big three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its tropes and mythology pre-date the origin of Abrahamic religions and their current dominance.
Taking both parts of this series together, Dark Paganism’s name is the result of being a spiritual philosophy that focuses on the Self and is part of the larger Pagan community.
Blessed Be,
Frater Tenebris
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