The Pagan Federation is a UK-based voluntary organisation, founded as the PAGAN FRONT with the objective of providing information and countering misconceptions about Paganism. It was formed in 1971, which campaigns for the religious rights of Neo-pagans and educates both civic bodies and the general public about Paganism. Pagan Federation is a constituted voluntary organisation, registered as a private Company limited by guarantee, with exemption for use of `limited' with Companies House on 22 August 2000, with its nature listed as a Religious Organisation. The memorandum of association lists the objects of the Pagan Federation as providing a service for pagans in Uk and abroad, provide information about Paganism to the public and all interested bodies, educate the public about pagan beliefs and traditions, provide access to pagan celebrations, and provide pastoral care for Pagans in the community including those in hospitals and prisons.
Contents
- Beliefs of the Pagan Federation
- Aims of the Pagan Federation
- Pagan Federation in the Media
- Campaigns of the Pagan Federation
- References
The Pagan Federation publishes a quarterly magazine, Pagan Dawn, that features articles, reviews, and research on both modern and historic paganism.
Beliefs of the Pagan Federation
The Pagan Federation believes that `Paganism is the ancestral religion of the whole of humanity', according to Cole Morton who was awarded the`Pagan Federation National Journalist of the Year' in 2010. Pagan Federation states that for someone to be Pagan, they need only believe in the following:
Aims of the Pagan Federation
The Aim of the PF translates as the following core activities,
According to the Pagan Federation Wessex website the Pagan Federation "seeks to support all Pagans to ensure they have the same rights as the followers of other beliefs and religions. It aims to promote a positive profile for Pagans and Paganism and to provide information on Pagan beliefs to the media, official bodies and the greater community."
It is active throughout Europe and organises a large number of Pagan events. The organisation produces the magazine, Pagan Dawn which is the Pagan Federation's journal. In 2001, it successfully fought for the reinstatement of its first Youth Manager, Dr Ralph Morse, whose association with the organisation was considered sufficient grounds for his sacking as Head of Drama, Media and Theatre Arts at Shenfield High School in Essex.
There are many different regional bodies each organising its own events and functioning on a local basis In addition, Scotland has its own national Pagan Federation which carries out the work of the PF in that country.
Pagan Federation in the Media
Campaigns of the Pagan Federation
The BBC reported on 27 February 2011, that according to the 2001 Census, 42,000 people declared themselves as Pagans - the seventh highest number for any UK religion - but some experts believe the true figure was nearer 250,000 - and is significantly higher now. For the 2011 Census, The Pagan Federation was asking all Pagans to put aside their reservations and to put 'Pagan' in the box for religion. This is so that a truer value of the number of pagans in the UK could be determined. The ONS reported that 56,620 people identified themselves as Pagan in the 2011 census, the eighth highest for a UK religion.