What happens when Pagans die?

Question

I know paganism has been around just about forever, but what happens when a pagan dies? And if they are polytheistic, then who is their creator?

Answer 1

Our "souls" if you will go to Summerland to rest before being reincarnated into another form and once we have learned all that there is to learn and experienced all that there is to experience, we'll spend eternity in summerland.

Answer 2

I personally think it depends on what they believe, and within paganism beliefs differ widely. I believe that I will go to the hall of my goddess to be with her. As far as who I believe my creator is... I believe people come from the Earth, but have the spirit of the gods. So, I was created both by the planet and by divine essence.

Answer 3

The definition of the word pagan is any person not acknowledging the god of the bible. this includes buddhism, hinduism, wicca, druidism, everything outside of christianity and catholocism.

i feel sorry for all the people who told you they go to hell, the pagans you are most likely talking about dont even believe in hell.

i personally believe deity does not care what you call it as long as you love and worship it, so why does it matter what you call it?
there is a good chance we will all end up in the same place in the afterlife and it will not matter how we worshipped.

not everyone is fit for one specific spiritual path. people generally make their own beliefs and follow what they feel is right. it depends on the person.

some of us believe in reincarnation, some dont, some believe in a combination of reincarnation and summerland.

and for you people who judge others and their beliefs, how do you think it would feel if the same thing were done to you?
what if you got to what you thought would happen in the afterlife and find out you were wrong? please learn tolerance for the sake of everyone.
blessed be :)

Answer 4

Why do people have to be so judgemental and Self-righteous? Woulnd't it be liberating to have the freedom to consider other peoples point of view on religion? I;m referring to 'they go to hell' yes maybe in Christinaity but not in this religion.

The question is clealry asking where do pagans believe they go to when they die. Yet some people happen to know betetter in these so thats what I was getting mad about there sorry.

As Christinaity wiped out most pagan rituals and took over some for themselves such at Christmas, Easter (easter was a pagan festival and the eggs symbolised new life to be born during the approaching spring). Christmanity when it came to Britain had to establish itself and so 'stole' many of the pagan rituals and festivals so as not to upset the general public, who for them paganism was the norm. Halloween you kow is a pagan festival

I however am not indocrinated with religion and can therefore think for myself so I will answer your question.

Most Pagans belive in reincarnation and inbetween carnations they exist in what is known as Summerlands where they get a chance to reflect on their lifes and meet up with loved ones and reflect on comppleted lifes.

As Pagans belieive in karma and rebirth they belive that those who committ a bad deed in ther liftetime, they will find that after reincarnation, they karma is still their waiting for them, as Karma follows from each life to the next.


Prayer for the one who is dying "Carry Only Love"
from The Pagan Book of Living and Dying by Starhawk

Beloved one, you are dying [dead],
but you are not alone.
We are here with you,
the beloved dead await you.
You go from love
into love.
Carry with you
only love
May our love carry you
and open the way.

Can I just say as well there are actually a few different types of wicca who think different things happen to on death but the one I've cited above is (I bielive) is the held most commony.

Answer 5

Pagans don't die, we are recycled.
And, for the most part, we evolved. Like the rest of Nature.
Gaia, the Earthmother is Self-created and She created Her mate and They together created the other Gods and Nature. All of Nature evolved from the initial spark of creation. Hail Aphrodite.

Answer 6

i trust that in all probability, when we die we are lengthy previous. Our molecules and atoms proceed and could remodel into different issues, like airborne dirt and airborne dirt and dust which then will grow to be portion of a tree, and so on. i trust that the memory of me will stay to inform the tale in those who loved me. i trust that my genes will keep on by skill of m descendents. i trust that when you consider that there'll be no actual help equipment (my body) to keep up and nourish my mind cells, which abode my concepts and emotions and self, that i will vanish, maximum in all probability. and that i imagine it's going to be like the time earlier i grow to be born. This does certainly scare me some, yet I comprehend that there is not any longer some thing i will do about it, and that each and each human being the religions in the international are not likely to modify what is going to take position to me, and to anybody. i imagine that we warfare with this question very puzzling and that we've created this style of number of religions because of this no longer understanding, and simply by being petrified of no longer modern-day. I say this with the utmost appreciate, with out disrespect meant ,in gentle of my conflict of words with lots of my esteemed pagan colleagues. I trust that after we stay lengthy sufficient, that mom Nature oftentimes brings in us a sense of entirety, of being drained, of being finished with existence, of being waiting fo be achieved. Nature has a way of doing issues steadily in us, so as that there are not too many in one day differences in our bodies or spirits which may be too jolting. We scarcely observe getting older, it is going each and on a daily basis. I examine the different solutions. an rather interesting and thoughtful team of solutions. advantages, and Merry yuletide, Raji! woman Morgana )0(

Answer 7

IF YOU ARE NOT PAGAN, WHY ARE YOU ANSWERING THIS QUESTION??? I mean, it really doesn't affect you, does it?

Pagans have many different beliefs...which is one of the things I like about being Pagan is that you can have beliefs varying from other Pagans...
Many of us believe in reincarnation. My personal take on that is that after you die, you go to neither heaven nor hell, but the Otherworld, or Summerland, where time does not exist. (Time is after all, a man-made concept.) What happens in Summerland is not for us to know. After you have been in Summerland long enough, you come back to Earth in whatever form, until...
Well...until who knows what. It could be until you have learned all the lessons there are to learn, or until this world is gone, whatever...

Answer 8

Personally, I don't believe in a almighty creator, I believe we evolved as did the Gods. But to answer your question on where do Pagans go when they die: it depends on what pantheon of Gods they honored. I'd imagine for example, a Pagan that honored the Greek Gods would go to the Elysian fields. One that honored the Celtic Gods, might go to Avalon. Wiccans, of course have their Summerlands.

Now in my particular religion's view of the afterlife is those who have lived lives of virtue and power will go on to experience greater fulfillment, pleasure, and challenge. We may get to go to Asgard to dwell with the gods and feast in their halls. (Ever hear of Vallhalla? That's Odin's hall.) To be reunited with our kinfolk would have crossed over. Those who have led lives characterized by vice, weakness, and a low level of consciousness will be separated from kin, in a state of dullness and gloom. (Not forever, and certainly nothing at all like the Christian's hell) The precise nature of the afterlife - what it will look like and feel like - is beyond our understanding and is dealt with symbolically in the myths.

There is also a tradition in Asatru of rebirth within the family line. Perhaps the individual is able to choose whether or not he or she is re-manifested in this world, or there may be natural laws governing this. In a sense, of course, we all live on in our descendants quite apart from an afterlife as such.
To be honest, we of Asatru do not overly concern ourselves with the next world. We live here and now, in this existence. If we do this and do it well, the next life will take care of itself.

Answer 9

Like many Pagans, I personally believe in reincarnation.

Answer 10

The same thing that happens to all of us, waiting for the Day of Judgment.

God knows best

Peace and Love

Answer 11

pagans have several different belief systems. unlike the a** above who is on the short road there for his attitude.. they don't go to hell.
summerland is one theory/idea.
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/astralplane/a/afterlife.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Blount_(deist)

this one is a joke for that guy and other our way or the hwy fundamentalists..above:
and there's far less fun than the mental and lists in 'em..
http://www.bpfh.net/other-humor/pagan-in-heaven.html