What are some religions and spiritualities that would be considered "Pagan"?

Question

Where does the definition begin?

Many people think of Pagans as simply "Wiccan" but the neoPagan movement is also closely related to Asatru, Native American beliefs and others.

What do you consider to be "Pagan"?

Answer 1

With those closest to me, the word pagan describes the non-Christian way of life lived by ancient peoples who lived in rural areas around Rome.

Neo-pagan describes those who follow a modern religion based on the practices of usually polytheistic, pre-Christian peoples.

Sometimes people drop the neo- part of the word. That's okay with me. I don't get hung up on it. When I use the word "pagan" in public, I usually mean "polytheist" but I know that the word has many different meanings.

Other neo-pagan religions would include shamanism (classical and core) , many different forms of druidism, and a slew of reconstructionist faiths such as Asatru, Hellenismos, Kemeticism, Celtic Reconstructionism, Slavic Reconstructionism, Religio Romano, Romuva, Canaanite Reconstructionism, and Brythonic Traditionalism.
There are also countless eclectic and family traditions.
And I'm sure that there are plenty more that I haven't heard of yet.

Answer 2

Satanism is one of those neoPagan religions. It may have been around in one form or another for a couple of centuries, but it is MUCH newer than Wicca, and all too often confused with Wicca. It helps to know that Wiccans have no concept for Satan; Satanism is anti-christian, intentionally opposed to God and goodness.
Any religion that predates a Christian conversion (or conquest) would be considered Pagan. This is a Western World answer, and i can't speak intelligently about terms in the rest of the world.

Answer 3

The word "pagan" actually means country dweller. But christians began to use the term to describe any that were not christian. These include, the druids, the native americans, even buddists can be considered pagan. Pagans were forced to either convert or be killed. It seems funny how the early christians were persecuted but when the Romans made christianity into the power that it is today the christians persecuted the pagans.

Answer 4

Hi Eliza, Considering how a lot of us here feel about Astrology, I think most of us would agree that it is miscategorized in YA. It is definitely not just entertainment for us. Actually, maybe they should leave Horoscopes (for novices) where it is, and create a new category for Astrology (for advanced students) to be included in the R&S section. You are right that people get mobbed in R&S. I went there a while back and posted a few answers. The responses that I received did not make me happy at all, and I resolved to not go there again. However, I have made a few exceptions to that rule when contacts pull me over there. Anyway, to answer directly your question, I don't know if people are beginning to move to our section to discuss "Spirituality," but if they aren't, they should, as we Astrologers are very nice, fun-loving, open-minded people who enjoy discussing various spiritual viewpoints.

Answer 5

that completely depends on what religion your from, first of all you must understand pagan is not in any way supposed to be used offensively it's merely not the religion your from. Christians would believe every other relgion is considered pagan

Answer 6

Pagan originally meant "from the country"

it later came to mean to worship gods of the country folk.

so i would say that anyone that worships a nature god, or a god of a known Pagan faith. would be Pagan. or to worship more than one god.

(most Native Americans do not consider themselves Pagan. because they only believe in one god. and they define Pagan as worshiping more than one god. )

Answer 7

Pagan to me means any religion that is nature-based and usually polytheistic.

Answer 8

I think the general consciences is any religion or lack thereof besides Christianity>>>>Broad spectrum there

Answer 9

all religions EVEN christian have roots of paganism buried deep in history and we of all religions give thanks to our ancestors who handed down their beliefs and secrets .... and we of all faiths .... all rejoice at seasons past and new ones approaching as in "paganism" and still many other religions ....even the dreaded Christians ....so it seems ...mother earth

Answer 10

Anything outside of the big 3