Yes, I'm a pagan/wiccan, though not a very typical one, and increasingly a lip-service one. Too many pagans harbor knee-jerk opposition to any sort of efficient organization, and I find that pretty frustrating (though not as frustrating as the other end of the pagan spectrum: the Gardnerian wiccans, who insist that their demonstrably 1960s vintage rituals are actually of ancient origin, and must be followed to the letter or else -- that crowd has more in common with the "King James Bible is the literal and complete word of God" crowd, than either of those crowds likes to admit). I've run into at least half a dozen pagans here on FR -- can't recall their names though. Suspect they're all pretty atypical pagans too.
However, I am extremely conservative!
It has been so frustrating to watch Wicca being hijacked by "liberals" and "New Age" idiots over the last few years. Most Pagans today have no concept of a religion. They use the term "pagan" as a code word for "I hate Christians."
One of my strongest beliefs, is that God taught each culture around the world, in ways that they could understand. The basic religious concepts are the same, but how it was presented to them, was individually tailored.
For me, Wicca is my method of exploring the lessons that God has taught different cultures around the world in more detail. I learn by studying what each religion has in common, and not their differences.
Every religion in history has been a mixture of what God taught, and what man has modified for political power. Such is the way of humans and civilizations.
The goal is to separate the two aspects of religion, and strive for an understanding of God's lessons.
Merry met!
Is there any such thing as a "typical" pagan? I've run into everything from a Gardnerian who practices Golden Dawn type ritual magic to a "Kitchen Witch" who comes from an honest-to-goodness family tradition.
I think the aversion to any type of organization is a Celt thing rather than a Wiccan thing. Remember, when you have two Celts in a room, you have three political opinions represented.