I often get asked about what is Paganism and what constitutes being a pagan.
I find Wikipedia a great source of information. Here are some snippets I took to help you understand what the word Pagan and Paganism really means.
Incidently (or maybe not so) the growth of Pagans and Pagan religions is at an all time high at this point in time.
Remember too that whilst it is accepted by many that witches and pagans are synonomous. That Witchcraft exists in ALL religions - not just Pagan ones
Paganism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Both 'pagan' and 'heathen' have historically been used as a pejorative by adherents of monotheistic religions (such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam) to indicate a disbeliever in their religion. 'Paganism' is also sometimes used to mean the lack of (an accepted monotheistic) religion, and therefore sometimes means essentially the same as atheism. 'Paganism' frequently refers to the religions of classical antiquity, most notably Greek mythology or Roman religion, and can be used neutrally or admiringly by those who refer to those complexes of belief. However, until the rise of Romanticism and the general acceptance of freedom of religion in Western civilization, 'paganism' was almost always used disparagingly of heterodox beliefs falling outside the established political framework of the Christian Church. It has more recently (from the 19th century) been used admiringly by those who believe monotheistic religions to be confining or colourless.
Christianity itself has been perceived at times as a form of paganism by followers of the other Abrahamic religions[3][4]because of, for example, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the celebration of pagan feast days[5], and other practices [6] - through a process described as "baptising" [7]or "christianization". Even between Christians there have been similar charges of paganism levelled, especially by Protestants[8],[9], towards the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches for their veneration of the saints and images.
Pagan religions
The pagan religions are divided into two great groups: the American Paganism and the European (or classic) Paganism.
* Ancient Greek religion
* Ancient Near East Paganism
* Celtic polytheism
* Baltic paganism
* Finnish paganism
* Germanic paganism
* Paganism in the Eastern Alps
* Slavic paganism
* Egyptian Paganism
Neopaganism
In another sense, as used by modern practitioners, Paganism is a polytheistic, panentheistic, or pantheistic religious practice, often nature-based. Most Pagans consider themselves to be religious, however some others use the term for a form of Atheism, Agnosticism, or philosophy. Neopaganism includes reconstructed religions such as Hellenic polytheism, Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism, and the many Germanic revivals such as Ásatrú, Heathenry, Norse paganism and Theodism. Due to the fact that Reconstructionist religions are polytheistic revivals and elaborations based on surviving cultural practices, many Reconstructionists prefer to be called Pagans, not Neopagans. It might best be assessed that they inhabit a grey area between Pagan and Neopagan.
Also categorised as Neopagan are religions such as Forn Sed, Neo-druidism, Longobardic Odinism, Lithuanian Romuva, and Slavic Rodoverie that also claim to revive an ancient religion rather than reconstruct it, though in general the difference is not absolutely fixed.
Modern eclectic traditions such as Discordianism, and Wicca and its many offshoots are Neopagan, although Wiccans and Wiccan-influenced Neopagans may also refer to themselves simply as "Pagan".
Modern nature religion
Many current Pagans in industrial societies base their beliefs and practices on a connection to Nature, and a divinity within all living things, but this may not hold true for all forms of Paganism, past or present. Some believe that there are many deities, while some believe that the combined subconscious spirit of all living things forms the universal deity. Paganism pre-dates modern monotheism, although its origins are lost in prehistory.
