Do you ever get the sense of today’s paganism? It’s really an unfair question. Many of us are so acclimatized and acculturated to our society that our frame of reference is so skewed that we are actually blinded. Is that true for you? I’ll speak for myself — yes, this situation is certainly true for me. I fear that I am so inured to our society and its values, carpet-bombed with them incessantly every day, that my discernment may be severely handicapped. But, thankfully, there is a benchmark to which we can “acclimatize” ourselves.
According to the definitions provided in the Bible, North America is a pagan society. That statement will seem a shock to many. Isn’t American a nation founded on Christian principles, and isn’t it true that on this continent are found the highest number of professing “Christians” and believers in “a higher power”? Yes, all of that is true, presuming, of course, that we allow for the widest and most pliable definition of the word concepts of “god” and “Christian.’
No doubt, the term “Christian” is the most unpoliced and pirated brand name the world has ever known. If one puts the name Piaget, Rolex or Louis Vuitton on a knock-off consumer product, one is liable to get in trouble for counterfeiting. But it is perfectly OK to call any “ersatz” idea or religion as Christian, no matter how far removed from Christ or a Biblical worldview.
North America is a pagan nation, and many “professing” Christians are inseparable from this culture. Please see the article The Evolved Modern Pagan Man, carried in the PZ Insider Report issue of Feb. 12, 2006. It describes 5 key attributes of “pagans” that the Bible identifies. By that measure, North American culture is definitely pagan. It isn’t alone. Many countries firmly identify with these characteristics as these are woven inextricably into current society.
Here are a few anecdotes that document certain “pagan” practices that are broadly accepted these days.
Now that the housing bubble has bust, and its tougher to sell homes, there’s been a run on trinkets — specifically, small statues of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpentry. He is widely known as the saint of real estate. According to various reports, many suppliers have run out of supplies. Especially so amongst Roman Catholics, the belief is that if one buries a figurine of St. Joseph upside down in the front yard, one’s house is likely to sell quicker… and hopefully, at a more favorable price. Of course, this belief is questionable. (Actually, can we say ridiculous without offending anybody?) All the same, sales of the figurines are booming.
Today, I caught an interesting article on another pagan trend — the rising popularity of Halloween. In a recent Business Week article, The Booming Business of Halloween (Oct. 25, 2006) the National Retail Federation is quoted as estimating that this year’s Halloween spending is expected to jump 50% from the previous year, to $4.96 billion. It is not unusual to see more elaborate Halloween décor and displays in some neighborhoods than at Christmas. OK, so let’s get this straight: Housing prices are plunging, many consumer households are as stressed as perhaps never before, and what is the stress outlet? Booming spending on Halloween and finding scary solace from the nether spiritual world. Ah, but it’s just harmless fun, isn’t it?
I’d be interested to hear more anecdotes about the “pagan” perspectives and practices that are commonplace in our society … so commonplace, that we may not even notice them as they lurk beneath our awareness. Do you see any? Would you agree that our society is indeed pagan?