What exactly is paganism??

Question

An explination from a pagan would be much appreciated, although, all answers are welcome!

Answer 1

Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "a country dweller" or "civilian") is a term which, from a western perspective, has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions. The term can be defined broadly, to encompass many or most of the faith traditions outside the Abrahamic monotheistic group of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This group may include the Dharmic religions, which may be interpreted to incorporate pagan characteristics like nature-worship, polytheism and reverence of female deities, and are thus diametrically opposite to the Abrahamic faiths. Ethnologists avoid the term "paganism", with its uncertain and varied meanings, in referring to traditional or historic faiths, preferring more precise categories such as shamanism, polytheism, or animism. The term is also used to describe earth-based Native American religions and mythologies, though few Native Americans call themselves or their cultures "pagan". Historically, the term "pagan" has usually had pejorative connotations among westerners, comparable to heathen, infidel, and mushrik and kafir (كافر) in Islam. In modern times, though, the words "pagan" or "paganism" have become widely and openly used by some practitioners of certain spiritual paths outside the Abrahamic and Dharmic religious mainstream to describe their beliefs, practices, and organized movements.

Answer 2

Pagan originally meant country dweller. In modern times, it means a religious path which is not one of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Paganism is a broad term, the umbrella of which many religions fall under.

Many pagan religions share common traits. Most will have one or more of the following beliefs (not all will have these, nor will most have all three):
Polytheism - the belief that there are many gods and/or goddesses
Pantheism - the belief that god(s) are present in nature
Animism - the belief that everything, including natural things such as trees, rivers, etc., have spirits

Wicca is probably one the most visible Pagan religion , but is by far not the only one. Druidic, Asatru, Native American and shamanistic paths are just some of the others.

Answer 3

Paganism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "a country dweller" or "civilian") is a term which, from a western perspective, has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions. The term can be defined broadly, to encompass many or most of the faith traditions outside the Abrahamic monotheistic group of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This group may include the Dharmic religions, which may be interpreted to incorporate pagan characteristics like nature-worship, polytheism and reverence of female deities, and are thus diametrically opposite to the Abrahamic faiths. Ethnologists avoid the term "paganism", with its uncertain and varied meanings, in referring to traditional or historic faiths, preferring more precise categories such as shamanism, polytheism, or animism. The term is also used to describe earth-based Native American religions and mythologies, though few Native Americans call themselves or their cultures "pagan". Historically, the term "pagan" has usually had pejorative connotations among westerners, comparable to heathen, infidel, and mushrik and kafir (كافر) in Islam. In modern times, though, the words "pagan" or "paganism" have become widely and openly used by some practitioners of certain spiritual paths outside the Abrahamic and Dharmic religious mainstream to describe their beliefs, practices, and organized movements.

Pagan religions:

Ancient Greek religion
Ancient Near East Paganism
Celtic polytheism
Estonian paganism
Finnish paganism
Germanic paganism
Paganism in the Eastern Alps
Slavic paganism
Egyptian Paganism

Answer 4

Paganism is a wide category of religions. It can be hard to define but generally is seen as being any religion that either is non-Abrahamic (not Jewish, Christian, Muslim etc), is polytheistic or is based on pre-Christian European traditions. There are many pagan religions including Wicca, Druidry, Thelema and various reconstructionist faiths among many others. Some can be vastly different then others while some share many similarities.

Answer 5

A Pagan is much like all religions Just an ignorant person who believes in magic. Paganism is their religion not quite as sophisticated as some but with the same results. Much like Cajun and Creole Voodoo. They perform secret rituals with dead chickens and snakes while chanting all sort of incantations. You don't want to be there. I am not a Pagan this comes from my Evil Step Mother xx

Answer 6

The original meaning of the word "pagan" was village dweller. It did not necessarily define one's religious belief. In today's terms, from Wikipedia,

"In modern times, though, the words "pagan" or "paganism" have become widely and openly used by some practitioners of certain spiritual paths outside the Abrahamic and Dharmic religious mainstream to describe their beliefs, practices, and organized movements."

Being Pagan, I would more or less agree with the Wikipedia definition. It is a polytheistic spiritual path which is in sync with the earth. It is not Abrahamic or monotheistic in nature.

Answer 7

Paganism is a religion on its own, as well as an umbrella for many others. I can't name many, but I know many sects of Wicca, or Witchcraft. There's Gardnerian, Faerie, Eclectic, Celctic, Cclectic (a mix of the previous pair), Blue Star, and many more. There is a complete list if you go to Wikipedia and search "Wicca".

Anywho, Paganism is an umbrella of earth-based, equality and diversity-focused, usually polytheistic religion. Usually followers believe in The Goddess and God (who go by countless different aliases such as "Diana", "The Horned God', "Lord", "Lady", and so forth). But, many do not strictly believe in these two. Many Pagans worship Egyptian, Celtic, Norse, or Greek pantheons (groups of god/desses), and many have a selected group that they acknowledge. Some are atheistic and choose not to believe in any deities at all.

Paganism is NOT the following, although it is often mistaken as so--Satanism, Devil Worship, Antichrist, Black Magic.

First of all, we don't even believe in Satan, The Devil, or any kind of absolute evil. We strive for balance, and have no need for an invisible entity to blame for all of our problems. Satan is purely a Christian concept, and they can damn well keep him! We have no need to live our lives in fear of an absolute evil slavemaster and his fiery pit under the earth. We do not practice Black Magic, because no real Pagan believes in causing harm.

Please do lots of research and know that you're really committed, and make an informed decision. This religion takes a lot of devotion.

Please excuse my lengthy answer, and I hope I helped you at least a little bit! Please note that I wrote this answer at 4:30 in the morning =D

Good luck and Blessed Be! )O(

PS My sources are recommendations of websites where you can learn more.

Answer 8

A pagan is a non christian!

There is no religion called paganism!

The chief religion associated to paganism is Wicca.

Answer 9

Are the ancient religions that didn't convert to Christianism. Most of them were related to the cult of Mother Earth... Anyway, it's known as pagan to everyone who didn't convert to Christian...

Answer 10

Broadly defined, it's polytheism. When Christians refer to paganism though, they sometimes mean everything but their faith. It also can refer more specifically to the European polytheistic traditions that were around before Christianity.