Phenomenon of Neo-paganism as a Challenge for the Church in the 21st century: an Approach of Benedict XVI

Abstract

The phenomenon of the pagan revival is becoming a challenge for the Church of our times. There is a new question for the Church on how to deal with pagans who were or still are Christians, in the fullest sense of the word. The present-day return to the pagan rituals, though in a new form, contributes to the phenomenon of “neopaganism”. Such return is expected in John Hick’s relativistic theory, in which it is even considered a dogma that the reason cannot come to the metaphy- sical cognition. The New Age is one of the answers to the relativity of everything. The Absolute is not the object of faith here; you can experience It as the spiritual energy that penetrates the universe. Hence, religion would mean the inclusion of the self in the cosmic whole and overcoming the existing divisions. The Neopa- ganism, which threatens from the inside, pertains to the lack of conviction about one’s decision to continue being a part of the community of the Church. In such a Christian community the worship becomes incomplete. Furthermore, there are those who consider themselves Christians but choose a way of life or a world view incompatible with the faith. The community disintegrates when some reject certain elements of Church’s teaching. Such faithful – so-called “occasional” Catholics – need the Church for confirming their important life decisions, e.g. marriage, when in fact this is not faith but simply “the tradition” that should accompany certain vital lifetime events. One serious consequence of this phenomenon is perception of the sacraments as pure magic with no faith. In this way, the pagan spirit infil- trates the Church.