Stereotypes and Misconceptions of Paganism

Religion- individuals have different aspects and views on religion. People may think others are wrong about who/what they worship. This problem can lead to prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. People think of Christians as older people that have got nothing else better to do, when in fact the age varies. This is classed as stereotyping, assuming someone’s something when there not.

Stereotypes targeting a group of people as a whole that’s based on a truth that could be a positive or negative and is usually exaggerated. For example many may say that all people that wear glasses are smart, that may or may not be true. This statement talks about everyone that wears glass as a whole not just one person and we don’t know if everyone is smart just because they wear glasses. On the other hand a misconception is a assumption of an individual that’s not based on the truth.

Stereotypes are a form of prejudice everyone will once experience in their lifetime. Stereotypes are centered around an individual's race, gender, social class, religion, and age. They have been known to be elements people use to make judgments and subjectify people to one key feature. As Gordon Allport states, “ To state the matter technically, a noun abstracts from a concrete reality some one features and assembles different concrete realities only with respect to this one feature”(364). Mr.Allport’s words can be summed up to say stereotypes have been used as key fundamentals to associate one feature or aspect of a person with a group that represents it, typically in an unfavorable way.

Christian and Pagan values and symbols have strong roles in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Although there are more Christian values that are plausible, the Pagan influences are also shown, but they are not as apparent. Christianity can also be seen through the constant mentioning of God. The poem begins with a celebration of a Christmas feast that takes place at King Arthur’s court in Camelot. Worshiping one God is represented through attending mass.

Misconceptions are often associated with erroneous opinions and views of people who lived centuries ago. Some of our commonly regarded concepts originated in ancient times and were based on faulty thinking or skewed understandings. Consequently, these stereotypes are not a vestige of the past, they are still prevalent today because there are so many things we humans still do not know but are quick to accept. Day-by-day, consciously or subconsciously people continue to perpetuate stereotypes to some degree. Further, commenting on one's culture, age, gender, education, or life situation the interlocutor expresses an opinion based on a personal understanding of the issue. The personal position or belief is the conclusion of indirect experience,

Misconceptions are more deadly to other people because they are based off of no truth and can more easily offend others. As for stereotypes, which are not too bad compared to misconceptions, they are characteristics or abilities assumed and given to a certain group which may not be true to everybody, but have some truth to it. To a reasonable human being saying a stereotype to them they would understand and most likely just give a correction, but who knows some people just look for things to get offended. However when it comes to misconceptions people do not take those very lightly. People consider using misconceptions as a line of thinking as very rude and is considered ignorant to many. Then there are some people that do not know better and want a thorough understanding of their group or community. Throughout these explanations of stereotypes and misconceptions being explained there is now more understanding of what they are and where they come

Everyone has a unique mentality of likes and dislikes that makes people different from each other. Based on appearances, discussions or rumors stereotypes are built leading to misconceptions that brings negative views on certain cultures. People should not categorize each other without knowing the facts. Misconceptions and stereotypes become misinterpreted as the same. Stereotypes categorize a group of people while misconception is view based on untruths.

Misconceptions and stereotypes tend to become accidently misunderstood. Many believe that both words mean the same. Misconception and stereotypes are not the same, both words have a meaning behind it making them become different from each other, but have a connection. Misconceptions and stereotypes can have a negative or positive effect on particular cultures. Although, stereotypes and misconceptions are not the same as being prejudice and discriminating. Prejudice involves attitude and discrimination involves behaviors as for stereotypes it involves cognitions and beliefs. Stereotypes are widely held but fixed and

Moreover, is it really a coincidence that Liberalism has embraced everything in paganism that all earlier Abrahamic religions, and finally Islam had rejected--the crass materialism, the cynicism, the nihilism and fatalism, the hedonism? And is it also

Stereotypes and misconceptions are just false presumptions of groups. Misconceptions are just wrong ideals of groups that have been formed because of a lack of information on a group or been told false information about the group from the individuals who are biased of the group. While stereotypes are false presumptions of groups formed because of a small percentages in the groups who are extremely ideal and fit the stereotypical views said of the group. Many of the individuals of the groups are most likely enraged that the mass of the public believe these stereotypes just because of these handful of stereotypical extremists. However, many in today’s society unconsciously stereotype many groups on a daily basis because of the lack of

Nature is also very important to the basics of Paganism. I feel that it should be considered that the reason Arthur Machen chooses to describe nature and the woods in detail in "The Great God Pan" with Helen Vaughn's strange behavior and Lucian's behavior in "The Hill of Dreams" is also to create that weird connection with reality and the supernatural. Machen clearly shows his interest in paganism with multiple references, and in both instances the woods plays a significant role even if it is more predominant in "The Hill of Dreams".

Many groups of people are typically stereotyped based off their image or just plain assumptions for example vegans. A stereotype is a fixed but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Misconceptions are a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on misunderstandings. The world has both misconceptions and stereotypes because people are often quick to make assumptions about groups of people since they really don’t want to get to know someone first. It’s mostly normal to make an assumption about someone before meeting them.

Morvihschilu also says “ Many religions, such as Christianity and Catholicism, believe that we are guests of nature and that when we die, our true journey begins. Us Pagans believe this to be untrue. We are not guests of nature- we are nature. We interact with nature and respect and appreciate it as we do humans”. Morvihschilu is explaining that those of the Pagan sect treat nature as they would treat people and that this life, right now, is the only one we have. Morvihschilu then proceeds to explain that, like every other religion, each Pagan sect has ethics and rules. “ We follow our own virtues, for example, my religion is Asatru and we follow nine important values: Courage, Truth, Honour, Hospitality, Discipline, Fidelity, Self Reliance, Industriousness, and Perseverance. We honour the true turning of the seasons and the nature of the divine within us. We do not need ‘salvation’, all we we need is freedom to live our lives with courage and honour. Today, our minority has been able to stop hiding and to just let others believe what they want because we know who and what we truly are. Us Pagans, us Wiccans, Asatru, and Druids are family and, like everyone else, humans who worship life and death”. Decianna Morvihschilu proves that Pagans live in harmony with the Earth and raise their children and kin to honor the ways of Nature.

The Truth About Farm Owners Ever been faced with others thinking about you in the wrong way? A misconception is a conclusion that is incorrect because it’s based on faulty thinking or facts that are wrong. On the other hand, stereotypes are an idea or belief people have about something or a group that is based on their physical appearance, which may be completely untrue or only partly true. Stereotypes and misconceptions are very different from each other in that misconceptions are based on faulty truths and stereotypes are how people are seen by others. Additionally, a stereotype is an exaggerated belief or distorted image that can be either positive or negative.

Introduction: I would like to begin by stating that when we are told about paganism we are often told a very cartoonish version of it. Pagans are presented as complete idiots, with physical gods riding horses with eight legs or chariots in the sky being pulled by goat men, etc. In order to understand paganism in an intelligent manner, and as our ancestors wished it to be understood you must unlearn everything you know, and remember that paganism was a culture based on reason, and their stories are hyperbole. In my opinion and the opinion of others who truly understand paganism it is obvious that the pagans told their stories in such a manner because they were a very artistic people, and could beautifully craft stories to pass on their knowledge of life to the next generation. They were not boring, or frigid such as intellectuals from our modern age.