Juniors Josh Hansel (left) and Peighton Zebrowski (right) sit together in the student center. Both were raised in a Christian environment.
For years, Franklin College has been a school with limited religious diversity.
Chaplain Hannah Adams-Ingram said the campus has maintained a mostly Christian presence for more than a century, but other faiths have begun taking root, including Paganism.
Paganism is a broad umbrella term for many different religions. The most common similarities between the faiths are that they are Earth-based and often draw on the beliefs of Pre-Christian societies.
Adams-Ingram said students are beginning to explore Earth-based religions.
“These practices are all about seasons and patterns and what’s happening in the Earth and trying to become one with that,” Adams-Ingram said.
Junior Peighton Zebrowski is a Pagan.
She grew up in a Christian family, but as she got older she began to question whether the Christian faith was right for her.
“I kind of listed off my beliefs on a sheet of paper because I realized that my religious beliefs did not align with my parents or grandparents… Paganism stuck out to me,” Zebrowski said.
Zebrowski said Pagans are polytheistic, meaning they believe in many gods. However, what gods they choose to worship is completely up to them.
Zebrowski borrows from many faiths.
“I’m not anything in particular. You can be an omnibus Pagan, which basically means that all pantheons exist. So I kind of fit in that area,” Zebrowski said.
Junior Josh Hansel also landed on Paganism.
He said Pagans who worship specific gods create altars or spaces dedicated to the deity.
Leaving offerings is also a common practice, as well as meditation.
Hansel said his religion also helps him find inner peace and be more accepting of other religions, but people are often skeptical of Paganism.
“When people haven’t heard of Paganism, it sounds scary.” Adams-Ingram said. “It just sounds so different. And yet there’s so many shared practices and histories between Christianity and Paganism.”
Hansel echoed this point.
“Most of the stuff I do now I did under the guise of Christianity… I’ve already been doing this my entire life, but now I’m doing it for myself,” Hansel said.
Adams-Ingram said Paganism is also attractive to students because it can be individualized.
“You choose your own way to practice. That appeals to students that found institutional religion wasn’t healthy for them” Adams-Ingram said. “There’s no forced path with Paganism or Pagan practices. ”
Hansel likes to practice tarot cards, which are commonly used to help Pagans find answers to questions deep within themselves, and pendulum readings, which unlock the answers to questions in our subconscious mind by swinging.
Zebrowski does research to help her make decisions about her faith and meditates.
Adams-Ingram encourages these practices.
She has also helped Zebrowski plan a Spring Equinox event in honor of Earth-based religions.
The event will boast free cookies, egg painting and an egg relay, among other outdoor activities.
It will be held on Mar. 22 at 4 p.m. outside the Richardson Chapel. They hope that others enjoy a chance to experience some of their customs. Ultimately, they think that Paganism is a welcoming faith.
“It’s just that openness, the freeness. I don’t have to worry,” Zebrowski said. “There’s no ancient texts that you have to follow, so I don't feel kind of closed into one particular thing… When I went to church, people would follow the Bible. I was always kind of paranoid when I had that loo
