What do Pagans believe in?

Question

I don't know much about this. Was just curious.

Answer 1

There are many different beliefs within paganism (we have freedom of opinion and no central orthodoxy) - and for everything I say here ther'll be a pagan who believes differently, but here goes:

Pagans love and respect nature.
Pagans believe in many gods, but most believe in a main God and Goddess, who are equal.
One of the main sayings in paganism is "If it harm none, do as you will" - so there aren't any sacrifices.
Paganism isn't satanism. satanism is a deliberate distortion of Christianity. Pagans don'tbelieve in Satan.
Pagans believe that people are responsible for thewir own behaviour, and that their wrongdoing will come back on them.

The roots of paganism today are complex, with much material and practice being revivals of the old pre-christian religions of (eg) the Celts, Greeks and Egyptians.

Answer 2

Paganism is the largest religion worldwide, and one of the oldest, continuously practised groups of religions.

Celtic Druidism, Neo-paganism, Roman and Greek ancient religions, Nordic, Slavic and Berber mysticism, and so on, including Hinduism, can all be classified as 'paganism' to some degree.

There is a false dichotomy (division between only two things) perpetrated by the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Coptic churches, and by many Protestants which divides the entire world of religions into a simplistic 'Christianity (and they mean a literalist interpretation) and all the rest, which they call 'pagans.'

This is neither historically nor culturally correct. For more perspective on this, try reading Joseph Campbell's 'Hero of a Thousand Faces' of any other book by Campbell -- he was a modern, comparative mythologist, and he de-mystified a lot of what we know about religion.

It could be safe to say, in general, pagans respect the earth and reverence the presence of the Divine within all of creation.

Pagans do not necesarily worship the creation, and are often defamed by Evangelicals as 'Satan worshippers.'

This is A BIG LIE, designed to scare people.

Answer 3

There are many different paths of neo-paganism. Because of the diversity of neo-pagan paths, no one can make accurate, sweeping descriptions that would include them all. I follow a Celtic Reconstructionist (CR) path. I can only speak for the practices of my family and not for all CR paths.

We celebrate four agricultural holidays a year--Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtain, and Lughnasadh. Samhain (beginning of November) is our new year, a time to celebrate the final harvest. It is considered a time when the veil between the worlds is thinner than most so it is a time for divinations and honoring our ancestors. Imbolc (beginning of February) is a time when the first signs of spring are celebrated and lambs come into milk. It is a time for new beginnings and a time for to especially honor the goddess Brighid. Bealtain (beginning of May) is also a time when the veil thins between the worlds. We celebrate the fertility of the land. Lughnasadh (beginning of August) is a time to especially honor the god Lugh. It is a time of the first harvest. We have games of skill and enjoy the fruits of the harvest. We observe the solstices and equinoxes but we do not celebrate them as religious holidays.

On a daily basis, I spend about a half hour in the morning in prayer, praise and meditation. I give small offerings of food and drink to my deities at our family altar. Throughout the day I pray to keep in contact with my deities. I try to live my life according to Celtic values.
http://www.imbas.org/articles/celtic_values.html
In the evening I always pray and meditate before going to sleep. Every day, I try to learn about my deities and the peoples who onced worshiped them. I find inspiration in both academic study as well as meditation and prayer.

I occasionally use magic but it is a very small part of my practice.

Most of my deities were worshiped by the Continental Celts during the Iron Age. My main deities are Taranis, Lugh, Epona, Cernunnos, and I am getting to know Sequana better. For a description of Gaulish deities:
http://www.geocities.com/nemetoneponas/deities.html

After death I believe that I will go to the Otherworld to feast and review the things I've learned before incarnating again.

To learn about various neo-pagan traditions:
http://www.starkindler.org/witch.html
http://www.witches-tutorial.com/paths/neowicca.html
http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=trads

Answer 4

there are many different types of pagans as of non-pagans. paganism is basically earth worship. some pagans have a god, some pagans only worship nature. some pagans have no gods at all. its a huge topic, you might better search the Internet for a start.

Answer 5

You'll have to be more specific. Which Pagan religion? Because Paganism is an umbrella term for a whole host of varying religions, each with their own beliefs.

Most of them have a deep respect for nature, most tend to be polytheistic, most tend to be very tolerate and accepting of others.

Answer 6

Pagan is a term from Latin meaning "country folk". It was a derogatory term for the provincial nature-worshippers by the "sophisticated" Romani, both before and after Christian conversion.

Answer 7

Just to put in my 2 points worth, basically the Pagans worship a sun god,which has a lot to do with the worship of nature nature.

Answer 8

A pagan is any one who does not believe in a made up judgmental, punishing God.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

different pagans believe in different things. Most have a very high regard for nature though, and worship the spirits in trees and animals and such.

Answer 10

Depends on what form of old religion or spirituality they subscribe to that works for them... some are Asatru, some are Druid...

If you're interested... hit witchvox.com which branches out a bit and then there are the "Complete Idiot's Guide" books on the topic. Too much info for one teeeniiiie... wittle box.

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