Ep: 5 Bridging the Gap: Explaining Paganism to Christians

Challenge your preconceptions and join in a respectful exploration of the ethical parallels that bind us, despite divergent paths. We confront the stereotypes casting shadows over the peaceful spirituality of pagans, dissecting historical contexts and biblical scriptures to shed light on commonalities with Christian ethics, like environmental guardianship and the pursuit of social justice. Without a whisper of judgment, we promote an interfaith dialogue that aims to dispel fears and forge a path towards mutual respect. By recognizing the shared values and dispelling myths, this episode is a testament to the power of understanding and the beauty of diverse religious expressions standing in harmony.

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

Explaining Pagan Beliefs to Christians

Speaker 1 0:17

Hello and welcome to another episode of Old Gods and New Pagans . Today's episode is on bridging the gap explaining pagan beliefs to Christians . Alright , so we're going to kind of go over a little bit what was last episode Specifically about coming out of the broom closet . So if you haven't listened to that , please , you know , I encourage you to go back and listen to it as well , because we discussed , you know , if you should tell anyone about your pagan practice , why you should tell them who you should tell how to do it and kind of what to say . All right , so today we're going to take it a bit further . In talking about explaining pagan beliefs to Christians specifically , it's important to understand and respect diverse religious perspectives . So I encourage you to always be respectful when speaking about this and kind of avoid any outright hostility . I believe in open conversations and transparency when it comes to this sort of thing . All right , so the first part we're going to discuss understanding paganism . We're going to hit on the definition of paganism , as we've discussed in previous episodes . As we've discussed in previous episodes , but just in general , it's a diverse array of spiritual beliefs and practices that often center around a reverence for nature . Polytheism is often a part of paganism , as well as various rituals honoring ancient traditions , but this varies widely across the different paths that are out there .

Speaker 1 1:44

Paganism encompasses a diverse array of spiritual beliefs and practices that have their roots in ancient pre-Christian traditions . The historical origins of paganism can be traced back to the polytheistic religions of the ancient world , including those of Mesopotamia , egypt , greece , rome , northern Europe , other parts of Africa and even the Americas North and South and Central America . There's so many different practices , so many different belief systems around the world that we are , as a society , are really starting to kind of bring back to light and start opening those practices up where they were shut down for a period of time . We're really working hard on bringing a lot of that stuff back and creating a little bit more understanding and openness about it . Many of these early civilizations they worshipped a pantheon of gods , goddesses associated with aspects of nature , fertility and even the human experience .

Speaker 1 2:43

In Europe , pre-Christian paganism manifested in the form of indigenous belief systems such as Celtic Druidism , norse , heathenry , germanic Paganism and many other paths and practices that were associated . These traditions were deeply interconnected with the natural world and often involved various rituals , ceremonies , seasonal specifically seasonal festivals to honor the cycles of earth and the deities associated with them . With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and other parts of the world , many indigenous pagan traditions were gradually supplanted or assimilated into the dominant Christian culture . However , elements of pagan belief and practice still persisted , often blending with those Christian rituals and folklore to form syncretic traditions . So we can kind of dissect some of the even the modern Christian traditions and find a lot of pagan practices kind of mixed in . One reason that is is like early pagans they didn't really see their belief systems as a religion , as like a lot of the more modern view of Christianity , judaism , islam and some of the other belief systems out there . For most of pre-Christian Europe their belief systems were considered more like culture , practices , traditions , more so than like a set doctrine of religious specific ideals .

Speaker 1 4:10

In the modern era , paganism experienced a revival and a resurgence known as the neo-pagan movement . Beginning in the 19th and 20th centuries , individuals and groups sought to reconnect with and revive those ancient pagan beliefs and practices , which I find really awesome . They drew inspiration from historical sources , folklore and mythology . This neo-pagan movement encompassed a wide range of traditions , including the beginning of Wicca , a resurgence of Druidry , modern heathenry and even forming various eclectic forms of pagan spirituality . Some of these were reconstructions of previous and older traditions , some like Wicca and some of the more eclectic forms of paganism . They were new , they were created specifically around this .

Speaker 1 5:04

In the pagan community you'll find some people that are like really diehard reconstructionists . They want to go specifically by whatever the ancient practice was and in the sense of a lot of people that follow the Norse practice , really they really focus on a very small , narrow timeframe of , like the Viking Age , of what they were doing during the Viking Age , of what where they were doing during the Viking Age , and that's the practice that they encompass . Where , you know , some people will reconstruct and go back even further and , you know , toward animism and some will , you know , will bring in these newer , modern , neo-pagan movements like Wicca and some of the eclectic paths . And I'm not here to tell you one is right or wrong . It's important to find a path that's right for you , but you should absolutely be true to yourself and true to the path you choose . If you choose one of the ancient paths you know , say you want to strictly say Celtic , um , druidry , druidry , you want to go down that path . It's important to be true to that path and not uh , for for lack of a better term pervert that path with some new age and you know you putting in your um , upg or your unverified personal gnosis or ideals into that path and try to sell it off , as this is the way it should be when it's something that you created or something you added to it . So it's important to be true to that path when explaining this to others as well .

Speaker 1 6:39

Paganism continues to evolve every day and adapt in response to contemporary social , continues to evolve every day and adapt in response to contemporary social , cultural and environmental concerns . While it's rooted in ancient traditions , modern paganism embraces diversity , creativity and really that individual spiritual exploration . It offers a rich tapestry of beliefs , practices , community connections for those seeking a deeper connection to the natural world and the sacred mysteries of existence . That's my example of paganism . That's the quickest way I've been able to really kind of explain paganism and where it's come from and where it's going to Christians .

Speaker 1 7:22

Some common misconceptions about paganism , particularly within the Christian community , is one is that all pagans are witches or Wiccans . While Wicca is a form of modern paganism , not all pagans are Wiccans , not all Wiccans are witches and not all witches are Wiccan . That's a tongue twister . I'll have to figure that one out , because paganism encompasses a wide range of spiritual traditions including , like I said , druidism , heathenry , hellenism and so many others . Wicca is not the only path .

Speaker 1 8:00

Another common misconception is that paganism is satanic or evil . This is a misconception rooted in misunderstandings and stereotypes and a lot of just fear . Paganism is a diverse umbrella term for various earth or nature-centered spiritual practices . It does not involve worshipping Satan or engaging in any evil practices . Most pagans don't even believe in a Satan or an all-evil figure anyways . Another misconception is that all pagans worship multiple gods as equals . While some pagan traditions are polytheistic and look at multiple gods , not all pagans worship multiple gods . Some may be monotheistic , duotheistic you know , believing in a single god and goddess or even atheistic . There are some pagans out there that are atheists . They don't believe in a central god figure or any gods that are in this all-powerful level . They believe in nature and they focus on worshiping nature and their own personal spirituality rather than the deity worship . Another misconception paganism is a homogenous religion .

Speaker 1 9:15

Paganism encompasses a broad spectrum of beliefs and practices , making it far from the monolithic religion . Different pagan traditions may have vastly different rituals , deities and beliefs , two different pagan paths that evolved in different parts of the world . They might have some type of an ancestor worship like , say , africa and North America . They may have both have ancestor worship as part of the practice , but they may do it in very different ways and for different reasons as well . Another misconception is that it's about spells and magic . While magic and spell work are elements in some pagan traditions , they are not a sole focus of paganism . Even in those traditions , many pagans prioritize a spiritual connection with nature , their community , personal growth and just simply ethical living over magical practices .

Speaker 1 10:13

Another belief is that pagans are 100% anti-Christian . While some pagans may have negative views towards certain aspects of Christianity , much of that is because of religious trauma that they experienced early in life . But not all pagans are anti-Christian . Many pagans coexist peacefully with people of other faiths and respect the diverse religious beliefs . I even know some Christ-centered pagans out there that they worship their Christ deity , but they also believe that Christ is a deity among many and that they follow a lot of pagan practices , but they really focus on the teachings of Christ and try to build their life around that , which is really cool . Another misconception paganism is a new age fad . While there have been a resurgence of interest in paganism over the recent decades , especially in the West .

Speaker 1 11:17

Pagan traditions have ancient roots that predate Christianity , and even the Christian belief system comes from Judaism , which comes from a polytheistic pantheon of gods , which is essentially pagan in its own way . It just evolved out of that . One of my favorites is that pagans practice ritual nudity . Pagans practice ritual nudity . While nudity may be a part of ritual practice in some pagan paths traditions , it's not a universal practice amongst most pagans . Ritual practices vary widely between different pagan paths and many do not include nudity at all . But yeah , do you have some fun with it ?

Speaker 1 12:02

Some people believe that paganism is a primitive belief system or backward belief system . This misconception stems from a misunderstanding of pagan beliefs and practices and it was often used as a way to dehumanize early pagans . Even the term paganism or pagan , as I've mentioned in previous episodes , refers to country dwellers , as I've mentioned in previous episodes , refers to country dwellers . It was like the way that was a derogatory term for the Christians that lived in the city , or really the higher class people that lived in the city , to kind of denigrate the people that lived out in the country , like , oh , those are those hillbillies out there , the pagans . They have their weird beliefs and traditions . We follow our thing and they do their weird stuff out there . So it's really important to understand that paganism is not a primitive or backward belief system , because it often emphasizes environmentalism , equality , personal responsibility and values that are not inherently primitive or backward . They just are what they are . Just are what they are .

Speaker 1 13:10

This is one that we've been trying to address a lot more in recent years . Is that paganism is specifically for white Europeans . The Nazi movement really kind of hijacked a lot of pagan symbolism and such , so it really kind of brought out the whole white supremacist aspect of some people and they use paganism as like an excuse for that , or they try to say , oh , your blood has to be pure to follow this particular path or that particular path . Paganism in general is a global , and people of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds have practiced various pagan traditions before history . While some pagan groups may have predominantly white membership , there are diverse pagan communities all around the world . There are some problematic organizations out there that are very specific . I believe there's even one that wants you to do a DNA test to prove your ancestry . Like that's kind of silly in my opinion , but that's what they do and we're here to tell you that you know that's not the way that you have to do this .

Speaker 1 14:18

Let's talk about some of the key beliefs and practices with various pagan traditions like Wicca , druidry , heathenry and others . So there are different levels of paganism and different paths that you can choose . There's polytheism or pantheism . Polytheism obviously believes in multiple gods , poly being multiple theistic gods . This kind of contrasts with the monotheistic belief in Christianity but it emphasizes worship of multiple gods . Some belief systems are multiple aspects of God , but many pagan paths do have Paliism as a form of their ritual or their worship . Some belief systems are pantheistic , meaning that they do not worship multiple gods but see the divine as part of nature that you know , say like a Mother Earth kind of deity . It's not so much as a god but it is something worthy of honoring and worship . Or some pantheistic might say that the universe is that .

Comparing Paganism and Christianity

Speaker 1 15:28

One key belief with most pagans is a reverence for nature . The Bible says Pagans place a strong emphasis on nature worship and the interconnectedness of all living beings humans , animals , plants , rivers , mountains , etc . Pagans may view the natural world as sacred and see divinity manifested in those elements , such as trees , animals , bodies of water . As I said , while Christianity also teaches stewardship of the earth , pagan beliefs often prioritize a direct connection with nature . Beliefs often prioritize a direct connection with nature rather than just kind of a side quest , as you could say . One other kind of key belief with paganism is an acceptance of diversity , because pagans tend to embrace the diversity in religious beliefs and practices , the diversity in nature , where you have all these different plants , animals , insects , reptiles , amphibians . You have all these different aspects of nature , all these diverse aspects of nature that really work together and connect with each other in different ways . Pagans embrace this among their paths by valuing individual spiritual experiences and interpretations , while this may contrast with some interpretations of Christianity , which may assert that the exclusivity of their faith and view of other beliefs is a false or misguided or misguided . So while pagans are a little bit more accepting of diversity of pagan paths because not everyone's path is the exact same that does contrast some with the many interpretations of Christianity . So you know , keep that in mind . Many pagans do .

Speaker 1 17:13

As I said before , magic is not the biggest part of paganism but it is a part of paganism . Many pagans embrace magic and the ritual aspect of it as part of their spiritual path . This can include things like spell work , divination , ceremonial rites aimed at manifesting desired outcomes or connecting with the divine . While some Christian denominations may engage in ritualistic practices , magic is generally not accepted or practiced in mainstream Christianity practitioners within the pagan path . A great way to explain that to a Christian and to you know kind of compare that to Christian practices would be to compare it to prayer specifically . So , like a lot of like the spell work and magic that pagan practitioners use is similar in a sense to how Christians pray . It's all about the mindset . It's all about what you're asking , maybe the ritual within it . A lot of Christians I've heard pray . They have a very strict structure in how they pray , particularly when blessing food or opening a ceremony . They have their own rituals and practices . They do that and it's really not much different than the way that pagans incorporate ritual or spell work in their practice as well .

Speaker 1 18:44

Pagans tend to focus on personal responsibility and empowerment , more so than believing that there is one all-seeing God or all-evil figure out there pulling the strings and manipulating things . Pagans tend to focus more on personal responsibility on that , rather than relying on divine intervention or external authority figures to help , we really focus on our own self and our own wisdom and our own spiritual growth to get us through situations . In this next little section we're going to kind of address some Christian perceptions of paganism and we're going to kind of combat those with some context interpretations and I'm actually going to go into a few Christian scriptures that are really common amongst Christians that kind of push against paganism in a lot of ways . So I'm going to go into this a little bit . It's important to approach this with a nuanced understanding of historical context , specifically these biblical passages , because over time these phrases and things are over-translated , mistranslated and altered as they're said over and over again and new interpretations come about . So we're trying to go back into some historical context with these . And , yeah , let's dive in .

Speaker 1 20:14

One of the most common scriptures I see that are thrown out against paganism or pagans in general is Exodus 22 , 18 . Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live trials as a way of justification of killing off people that were deemed witches or what they believed were witches or what they just claimed were , so that they could manipulate people . This passage is often cited to justify the persecution of individuals who they believe are practicing forms of magic , divination or anything deemed as witchcraft by some authorities . However , the term witch in this context may not accurately reflect the practices or beliefs of any of the ancient pagans . The Hebrew word translated as witch in this verse I'm not going to try to pronounce this word , you can look it up . This word you can look it up More likely referred to someone who engages in what they believe were harmful sorcery , necromancy or manipulation of people , rather than simply a practitioner of pagan spirituality .

Speaker 1 21:28

In this time , when this passage was originally written , basic divination and what we consider simple spells were even part of the culture of the people who wrote these passages , and so like to say that all magic was bad or all witchcraft was bad is a little misguided , because even then , like even like hundreds , if not a couple thousand years , like even after Christianity became a thing , there were still a great number of Christians that would draw sigils and have little spells that they would have worked out to protect their home or to do different things . We see a lot of that ritual still in Christianity today , but specifically , even back then , there was a lot more of it . So when this passage was used , it was most likely used to refer to , again , people that would practice things like necromancy or try to manipulate people or would do harmful spells . This was a negative type of witch , you can say like a dark witch or a bad witch , but not necessarily referring to all people who practice paganism . Referring to all people who practice paganism , an alternative view of this would be a prohibition against harmful or manipulative practices that infringed upon the well-being and autonomy of others . It really aligns with the ethical principles of many pagan traditions , which emphasize again , personal responsibility and respect for others , free will and even early jews , who use this passage . That's in the original hebrew . That's what it was , I believe , was meant to interpret , but again , modern interpretations have kind of perverted this and changed it for their own use .

Speaker 1 23:34

Another passage that's commonly used by Christians to denigrate pagans or Wiccans , and such is Deuteronomy 18.10-12, . I believe Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire , who practices divination or sorcery , interprets omens , engages in witchcraft or casts spells , or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults with the dead . In historical context , in the ancient Israelite society , there were concerns about practices such as child sacrifice , divination , necromancy , which were associated with the current culture of the region . Remember Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own child to his god before an angel stopped him , before an angel stopped him . So when a lot of Christians point fingers at paganism , about human sacrifice and things like that , you may want to bring that up in a very respectful tone , don't be combative about it , but it's important to remember that human sacrifice was also a part of their religion at one time too .

Speaker 1 24:34

I believe this passage and its time and its context was an effort of the religious leaders to start to create a sense of morality within their religion to reflect a changing time . Just like now we look at all these past practices like human sacrifice , child sacrifice , as inherently bad . It was around this time that this was being written that peoples around the world started feeling the same way . So this was their attempt at saying , hey , we don't need to do this anymore either , and that was , you know , along their methods , and it was again perceived as morally harmful on these things . So an alternative interpretation would be rather than viewing these prohibitions as a blanket condemnations of all forms of divination or spiritual practices , they can be better understood within the specific cultural or religious context of ancient Israel . The emphasis here is on avoiding practices that were perceived as spiritually or morally harmful , rather than condemning all alternative spiritual paths outright . So yeah , so with those practices you know that are , rather with these scriptures that a lot of Christians use to condemn paganism , it's really good to look into its original context and it wasn't so much condemning the practices of all peoples , it was condemning those that were perceived as morally bad , so like human sacrifice , necromancy , etc . So the context is important when discussing these sorts of things and when talking about pagan practices with Christians , it's important to kind of bring these things out and have open dialogue and understanding how these things kind of came about .

Speaker 1 26:31

Some more Christian perceptions about paganism . They really stem from misunderstandings , stereotypes and fears that have been perpetuated over centuries . Let's look at some of these perceptions and discuss why they are not based on facts . Particularly in modern times , paganism was an association with Satanism or Satan in general . Many Christians equate paganism with Satanism . They see it as the exact same thing , because they just don't understand viewing both as inherently evil or diabolical . Reasons behind this perception is that this association likely stems from historical efforts by early Christian authorities to demonize and suppress any non-Christian belief systems , including pagan beliefs . Additionally , the use of symbols and imagery associated with nature and the occult in some pagan traditions may contribute to this perception .

Speaker 1 27:33

Paganism and Satanism are distinct , distinct belief systems , completely separate , with different origins , principles and practices . While satanism often involves a worship or veneration of a satan figure as a deity like lucifer , paganism encompasses a wide range of spiritual traditions that that emphasize reverence for nature , polyism and rituals honoring ancient traditions . Most pagans do not worship Satan , subscribe to Satan beliefs or even believe that a Satan figure even exists . A lot of the early beliefs associating Satan with pagans stemmed from ancient nature kind of chaotic deities like Pan and such , whereas the early images of Satan were altered to look more like an evil version of Pan . Pan was a satyr with goat hooves and horns , and while the early images of Satan had him with clawed feet , the church started changing those images to give Satan their Satan figure cloven hooves , to make him look more like a goat man , to give that association , basically saying this is our evil figure and doesn't he often look like this other you know thing that pagans worship , this pan figure . So they're obviously the same thing . And that was , you know , like essentially early Christian propaganda and that was , you know , like essentially early Christian propaganda and it's important to know that . You know with historical context how these traditions have been kind of perverted and changed over time . So it's interesting to see how these traditions and things have changed over time in order to pervert or demonize a lot of pagan practices by the authority that was the early Catholic Church or other religious leaders .

Common Misconceptions in Paganism and Christianity

Speaker 1 29:24

Other common Christian misconceptions is the fear of magic and witchcraft within paganism . Many Christians view paganism as synonymous with witches , witchcraft and magic , which are often portrayed as dark or malevolent forces . Media , tv movies like the Craft and things like that don't do a good job at helping this . They all perceive these witches as communing with Satan or doing deals with the devil , and that again comes from Christian propaganda over time where these stories and traditions have been altered and perverted for the public eye , which it's changing it for the public eye rather than going to what actual witches or actual Wiccans and pagans truly believe . It just really just condemned everything like paganism , herbalism , ritual magic as witchcraft by the authorities and led to a widespread fear and persecution of the individuals practicing these traditions . An example we have are the Salem Trials and you know a lot of stuff that happened through Europe . This fear has been perpetuated through literature , folklore . Like I said , media portrayals that sensationalize and demonize these pagan beliefs and ritual practices .

Speaker 1 30:38

While some pagans may engage in practices commonly associated with magical witchcraft , such as spellwork or divination , these practices are not inherently malevolent or harmful . Even most pagans will view harmful or malevolent spells or magic as if , you know , a Christian views somebody cursing them out or asking harm to befall them , just like , you know , no good Christian would pray for God to smite someone or , you know , burn their crop or burn their house . You know pagans aren't going to use ritual spell work for that either , and anybody who does is kind of pushed out of society . Just like the Christians would push somebody out of their church that was inherently negative and bad and wanting to hurt people . Pagans would do the same thing , and it's important to understand that on both sides of that line , because many pagans view magic as natural and an ethical tool for personal transformation , healing , spiritual growth , rather than as a means for causing harm or controlling others .

Speaker 1 31:51

Another Christian perception regarding paganism is that they regard pagans as lacking morals or any ethical guidelines or rules , and see pagans as morally relativistic or even hedonistic . Reasons behind this perception is again from those old misunderstandings of pagan ethics , those old misunderstandings of culture which you know pagan ethics which prioritize principles such as a respect for nature , personal responsibility and harm reduction . Just because we don't have an adherence to a strict set of commandments or dogma Doesn't mean we don't have morals . The emphasis on individual autonomy and diverse spiritual paths within paganism may be construed as moral relativism , but it's really more of an understanding of diversity of belief systems that can intermingle and that do have some understanding between those different systems . Many pagans emphasize values such as environmental stewardship , social justice , compassion for all living beings .

Speaker 1 32:58

While pagan ethics may differ from those found in mainstream Christianity , there are grounded principles of integrity , reciprocity and respect for the interconnectedness of all life . Common Christian perceptions of paganism . Common Christian perceptions of paganism . So kind of concluding those perceptions . Many Christian perceptions of paganism reflect historical biases , cultural stereotypes , misconceptions that are really not based on a factual understanding of pagan beliefs and practices but more on fear and misunderstanding . By fostering this dialogue , this education and mutual respect between individuals of different faith , traditions , different beliefs , we can work to overcome these misunderstandings and promote greater understanding and acceptance of religious diversity . Religious diversity is a great thing . Of religious diversity , religious diversity is a great thing . We should respect other people's beliefs and their belief systems and just strive to understand them as opposed to demonizing them and pushing them to the fringes of society .

Speaker 1 34:10

Another thing to consider when speaking to Christians or really anyone of another faith about pagan spirituality is trying to find that common ground , find your shared values . So shared values between paganism and Christianity , such as environmental stewardship , community belief , community help and involvement . A lot of churches believe in helping their surrounding community with like food drives and things like that . You know pagans have the same pursuit of community connection . We both pursue personal spirituality . We have common ground for dialogue , cooperation with each other . I see churches all the time . You know you have the Baptist and the Pentecostal over there that they might have , you know , slightly different beliefs . You know they kind of fall under that same Christian banner but they have slightly different beliefs . But they can come together for their community . And I believe pagans and Christians can also come together for their community as well and help each other grow spiritually and to foster that understanding and that acceptedness between each other . And that's only going to happen with cooperation and open dialogue and respectful dialogue .

Speaker 1 35:30

Some things to also consider with finding common ground is acknowledge the diversity of beliefs and practices within both pagan and Christian communities , diversity of beliefs and practices within both pagan and Christian communities . Recognize individual differences and try to avoid any broad generalizations like pagans are all Satanists or Christians are all hypocrites . So get rid of those destructive generalizations and try to understand the individual differences and the individual similarities between both sides of that line . Interfaith cooperation is a huge thing , like I said , you know , like the pagans and the Christian groups coming together with mutual respect and collaboration for their communities to help people to help the planet , and collaboration for their communities to help people to help the planet , despite the theological differences . And it's important to keep that dialogue open , open-minded dialogue , respectful communication and fostering understanding to build that bridge between the different religious traditions is a huge thing and our communities really need to get together to , you know , bridge that gap and bring things together .

Speaker 1 36:38

Um , some kind of tips for bridging that gap would be like building some strategies for initiating respectful conversations . Talk within your community about how to uh approach those from the other side of that line , so the Christians , the , any , the Abrahamic faiths there are even some infighting between different pagan groups . So really work within your community to foster an understanding of everything outside that community in order to one understand the similarities but also the differences and to find respectful grounds to have those dialogues open . So I know that was a lot and I'm trying to cut this a little short . But things that you know , we talked about here and I would really like to , you know , put a little emphasis on , is when you're speaking to people of other belief systems , particularly Christians , muslims , et cetera . There's some things that you should . You know some steps that you should really focus on when that dialogue . One is helping the understanding aspect between Christianity and paganism and try to keep that dialogue open to help each other understand both sides of that dialogue . Another thing is address those perceptions and misperceptions of paganism or even Christianity and kind of talk about like be informed and research the differences and specifically the similarities between those so you can find some of that common ground in order to keep that dialogue open and definitely address those misconceptions and explain why those misconceptions are either harmful or just not factual or based on any logic at all . And of course , we need to find that common ground between each other and find ways of bridging the gap in between the different belief systems .

Speaker 1 38:40

Thank you everyone for listening . I invite you to follow me on social media . You can find me . You can look for Old Gods and New Pagans . Excuse me or find me on social media . Just search for B-E-C-O-R-A-T-H . You can leave messages , comments . I'm open . I read everything everyone sends me . I don't always reply , but I absolutely try to read everything that is sent to me and I will address any questions concerns . If I don't know the answer , I guarantee you I will find the answer for you . So if you have any questions or feedback , definitely send it my way . If there's anything you want to hear me talk about , if there's anything that in this episode or previous episodes that I said that was maybe not factual or just wrong , bring it to my attention . I love to learn . I'm open to new ideas and new dialogue . So send that stuff my way and thank you all and keep being the best part of what we do . Thank you .