Makes sense - perhaps modern neoPaganism is one of the extremes on the scale of organized vs. not:
Catholicism and Mormonism on one hand are extremely organized, with a rigid hierarchy and a single authority at the top; Judaism (Orthodox anyway) is what I call a "disorganized Religion" with a relatively loose association of individual leaders and congregations who use the same texts and sources, and generational consensus determines what teachings are preserved; Modern neoPaganism is far more individual - I have yet to meet the modern Pagan who subscribes to pretty much any (human) authority. Perhaps you're right, and that's actually outside the label "religion" at all, and more in the realm of "loose affiliation of spiritually-like-minded people"
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-06-14 03:53 pm (UTC)Catholicism and Mormonism on one hand are extremely organized, with a rigid hierarchy and a single authority at the top; Judaism (Orthodox anyway) is what I call a "disorganized Religion" with a relatively loose association of individual leaders and congregations who use the same texts and sources, and generational consensus determines what teachings are preserved; Modern neoPaganism is far more individual - I have yet to meet the modern Pagan who subscribes to pretty much any (human) authority. Perhaps you're right, and that's actually outside the label "religion" at all, and more in the realm of "loose affiliation of spiritually-like-minded people"