If this is true, how did we get so far off course? The answer to this question is easy, though it is not often noticed. Remember that undercurrent that I mentioned before?
The reason that we are are so far off the mark when it comes to practicing Paganism is because of our teachers. We have been taught to act and believe a certain mindset. And we do - without question. Without much thought at all. It sounds good, we know no better, and it tickles our soft and warm place - so it must be right! Not necessarily.
Let me ask you - have you ever once stopped and asked yourself "JUST HOW MUCH OF WHAT I AM READING / INGESTING IS TRUTHFUL, FACTUAL INFORMATION?" how many of you have ever taken the time to do research - in real acedemic/history books (non-'pagan' books), or by interviewing scholars, professors, theologians, etc.. , to validate what you are choosing to believe and base your beliefs on?
Let me give you some facts..........
Pagani$m i$ a BILLION Dollar Indu$try- Each year the Pagan / New age Indu$try make$ a Billion dollar$ or more on it$ customer$. In Book$ alone, one famou$ book $tore chain, last year, $uggested that it$ Pagan reading audience wa$ e$timated at 20 million reader$.
What is This Industry Driven By?- Do you believe that this industry is driven by providing you with factual, informative material OR do you believe that this industry is motivated by making money?
FAD vs. TRADITION- Think about this, if you have been in the Pagan community for any time, and have kept your eyees and ears open, you should have noticed this next point. The Pagan Industry focuses on and Targets FADS not traditions. Fads make the most money, and the Pagan Industry is on top of it.
I can remember 10 years ago or so, the fad then was 'goddess religion'. That was all that you heard. goddess, goddess, goddess. Then came the harm none, then came the god goddess equal fad, then came the aggressive pagan (pagans on the offensive) - on and on and on. And people buy it - quite literally.
Again, ask yourself who writes these books that teach you - or teach your teachers? Are these authors pagan scholars or theologians? NO - they are common folk, like you and I, who had an itch to write a book on a fad.
There are VERY FEW books written from the perspective of acedemia. VERY FEW of these works can be verified and validated with any bit of truth or relevancy. VERY FEW are based on factual information, derived from scholarly sources. As a matter of fact - most of the books out there today are the same old material reworded and dressed up to look a little different. Shift the focus, follow the fad.
