What is a pagan exactly? What are your beliefs?

Answer 1

Pagan is a blanket term that technically applies to all religions except Judaism,Christianity and Islam.So technically it applies to major world religions like Buddhism,Hinduism and Sikhism.However these religions are not usually thought of as Pagan by most people.

The most well known of the 'true Pagan' faiths is Wicca.This is a neo-Pagan faith created in the first half of the 20th century by blending elements from a number of ancient Pagan faiths.Being new does not make it any less valid as a religion though.

Other Pagans follow older paths.I am a Celtic Pagan which means I follow the religion of the Ancient Celts.Others follow the religion of Ancient Greece (Hellenic Pagans) or of Ancient Rome or Ancient Egypt (Roman and Egyptian Pagans).Others follow the various Native American religions.Another Pagan path often mentioned here is Asatru this is the religion of the Ancient Norse-the Vikings etc.

Some Pagan paths were completely wiped out by Christian persecution but most survived with a handful of followers which has made it easier for those of us who wish to follow these paths now.

There are very few things that apply to ALL Pagan paths.Most believe in a god or gods but not all.Of those that do,some have 1 god or goddess others have hundreds of gods and goddesses.Of those religions that have many some paths believe them to all be aspects of 1 or 2 supreme deities,others such as my own faith believe them all to be seperate beings.

Some believe in an afterlife,others in reincarnation etc.Many Pagan religions accept what you would probably call magic as a fact of life but not all.Of those whose religions do believe in magic by no means all followers of the faith choose to use it.

Virtually all Pagan religions have a very strong link with nature and the cycle of the seasons.Some are animistic-believing that animals,plants,stones etc have souls like people do.

There are also many eclectic Pagans who use elements from many Pagan paths to form a religious path which only fits what they believe.

The only thing that can be applied to all Pagan faiths are the things we don't believe.No Pagan religion worships Satan,in fact most of us don't even believe he (or the Abrahamic god or Jesus)exist.We do not practice human sacrifice although many Pagan religions did thousands of years ago-though much less often as you might think-(as did Judaism).Hardly any Pagan religions-with the notable exception of Voodoo-practice animal sacrifice.

Answer 2

Nope, can't tell you that, it's a secret.

Truthfully, there is no one 'pagan' or 'heathen' belief. You are trying to turn something into a religion that isn't one.

There are belief systems that operate outside of religion, the title of pagan is anyone that connects with the natural order of things.

For example a wiccan is a pagan, but not all pagans are wicca.

Heathen, is actually just a word for people that lived or live on heathlands, that would have been the case when the Romans arrived in Britain.

As for the gods, well if you want one, there are some, but the only true 'spirit' is that of the living Earth, if you want to create a deity to represent that the Mother Nature, sometimes referred to as the goddess would be your thing.

Answer 3

Both the word "pagan" and the word "heathen" have no roots in religious texts at all. They were chosen as insults for those who had not converted and they still are insults.

Pagan comes from a Latin root which basically means one who dwells in the country, outside of a city. People who lived in the country and not in Metropolitan Rome and other large cities, were the last to adopt Christianity. Most of their life had been controlled by cycles that related to the stars, for instance, such as planting things according tot he stars and they were a bit loathe to abandon that since it had worked. I know of rural people here in the US who still plant by the stars and would not dig a post hole unless there was a full moon for fear that there would not be enough dirt to fill the hole back up.

Heathen has the same basic roots, but in different languages. Heathen comes from Germanic languages into English, and again it relates to those who lived on the heath, not in the city, and were agrarian

Basically speaking, the words Pagan and Heathen are about the same as "redneck" in the way that they are used

Answer 4

There are many beliefs within the Pagan community, but in brief a Pagan generally has a nature based belief system which may or may not contain a god or goddess figure.

Short version

Answer 5

The person who answered with "polytheistic" is incorrect.

Paganism is a large umbrella for those who do not adhere to the Abrahamic religions.. it can encompass Buddhism (atheistic), Hinduism (polytheistic), Wiccan (generally pantheistic, but can even be atheistic) Witchcraft (animist/pantheist), Asatru (polytheistic to atheistic), Taoist, Native American nations' indigenous beliefs, etc..

So, if you ask any two pagans this question, you'll receive at least 3 different answers.

Answer 6

i'm not sure what u . s . you're in, or what the ordinary situation are in terms of freedom of ideals, yet in my u . s . and an impressive variety of others, Wicca IS legally a faith, and whether it wasn't, all and sundry is entitled to their religious ideals regardless. while you're no longer entitled on your man or woman religious ideals on your u . s ., and are required by utilising government to maintain on with one theory, or none, it particularly is unlucky - that, although, does no longer mean Wicca is a no longer a faith. criminal acceptance or no longer does no longer replace wether Wicca is a faith. it particularly is. Wicca has no valid doctrine or authoritative rigidity, even though it does have set ideals and practices. Casting spells isn't a prepare required in Wicca. Many Wiccans have faith interior the skill of spell artwork, even though it extremely is not area of the religion of Wicca. it particularly is like asserting dyeing your hair is a Wiccan prepare - in all probability many Wiccans dye their hair, even though it does no longer make it a factor of the religion. Wicca is a faith because of the fact Wiccans are thinking approximately following a spiritual direction to connect with Deity. merely like incredibly much another faith. Wiccans carry out rituals to create sacred area to wish or meditate - this could be no longer elementary to swallow, yet MANY Christian branches do the right comparable. A church is an area, that's consecrated. Wiccans merely take place to create their very own sacred area the place ever they choose. Wiccans pray or meditate, merely like in another faith. Wiccans have fun religious trip trips. Wiccans keep on with a code of ethics that's bearing directly to their faith. additionally, many faiths use candles to assist prayer. The Wiccan use of candles isn't any diverse. Sorry to burst your bubble, yet Wicca fits the bill. possibly you will possibly desire to get your self an training, quite than bashing religions which you comprehend no longer something approximately because of the fact your government and faith advised you so.

Answer 7

Look up the word pagan in a lexicon. It is the same word used for heathen, and the "nations". It's Goy, or Goyim (pl).

Answer 8

pagan is an umbrella term for polytheistic religions including wicca, asatru, druidism and many others


thanks dd for starring

Answer 9

A pagan is someone who believes in multiple gods. Someone who is polytheistic.

So like Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian mythology are pagan religions.

Sometimes it is incorrectly used as an insult to refer to anyone outside of Christianity.

Answer 10

Technically speaking, it is anyone who is not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. Any faith other than those three fall under paganism.