This is not the headline for which I had hoped
The elephant in the
room: Modern paganism
Commentary by Carmen Fowler, August 4, 2010
The first charge of paganism I heard at the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly came from the lips of an Iowa farmer who serves as a Commissioned Lay Pastor in his small town church. His tear-streaked cheeks quivering, he stood in the exhibit hall following the assembly’s opening worship service and grieved, “Paganism, that’s all I can say. Sheer paganism.” 
Carmen Fowler
The charge was leveled again on the floor of the assembly itself from a representative of the global Church. Standing before plenary, Archpriest Siarhei Hardun looked the role of a prophet. When he opened his mouth, it was confirmed.
Representing the Orthodox Church in Belarus, which he described as having “an unbroken, unchanged and unreformed tradition,” Hardun confessed the faith once delivered to the saints. And for that faith he called Presbyterians to contend.
Tragically, what he witnessed at the assembly was something far different. He was struck by the open discussions of homosexuality, same-sex marriage and other moral issues. As if Christian morality could be re-invented. Apparently he was not familiar with the PCUSA’s proclivity for re-imagining. Then he delivered the words that cut to the heart, these “attempts to invent new morality look for me like attempts to invent a new religion – a sort of modern paganism.”
Modern paganism? Could it be that the denomination once renowned for sending evangelical missionaries around the world to proclaim the good news of the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ could now be aptly described as pagan?
To call something pagan is to paint with a broad brush. So is paganism. Modern paganism however, has some very specific meanings. Known also as Neo-paganism, modern paganism is a term used to identify a variety of 20th and 21st century spiritual movements that are influenced by pre-Christian European pagan beliefs. They are inherently syncretistic, with beliefs blended together from polytheism, animism, pantheism and indigenous, ethnic religions. There are enough allusions to the Biblical narrative to draw the undiscriminating Christian into the web of what are genuinely pagan rituals.
Did you see animals dancing in the aisles? How does that line up with your understanding of Romans 1 where worship of the Creator was exchanged for worship of the creature?
Did you hear testimony where human desire was placed on a level with the Word of God? How does that line up with your understanding of the Christian calling to submit fully to the authority of God as revealed in the Scriptures?
Certainly we heard prayers offered in the name of Jesus. We also heard prayers offered to the Goddess Sophia, Mother Earth, and a pantheon of other characters that cannot be equated with the Triune God who is self-revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It is not that Jesus was omitted. It is that He is asked to share the throne with so many others.
Not ready to call it paganism? At least let us admit that it is no longer monotheism. And if not monotheistic, then pantheistic. And if pantheistic, then not authentically Christian. And if not Christian, then not possibly Presbyterian. Or is that what Presbyterian now means as practiced by some in the PCUSA?
Let us be clear: There is either one true holy God or there is not. If God exists then let us not trifle with Him. If He does not exist then let us stop trifling with all the rest.
Carmen Fowler is president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of its publications.