Faith council set to let in pagans

PAGANS are set to receive approval from one of Scotland’s leading religious bodies for the first time.

They are expected to be admitted to the Scottish Interfaith Council, which represents all the main faiths in Scotland, and hope the move will pave the way for official state recognition of pagan weddings and funerals as well as special leave for events such as the summer solstice.

The last census showed there were 1,930 Scots who registered themselves as belonging to the ancient tradition.

Members of Christian churches, Islam, Judaism and other established religions will decide whether to accept pagans at their annual general meeting in October.

Pagan followers can go by the title of witches, druids, heathens or shamen, and some adhere to the tradition of Wicca. Others follow pre-Christian religions that focus on nature and the changes of the seasons.

John Macintyre, from the Pagan Federation in Scotland, was optimistic that the ancient religion would gain increasing acceptance.

"We have not encountered any negative feelings in talks with other religions but it is not always that way in wider society," he said.

"People have been worried that we are trying to convert them but paganism is a non-proselytising religion. We are not interested in recruiting but we want people to know about our religion to stop the misconceptions about us."