Can someone explain Paganism to me.?

“Pagan” can mean several things. One definition is anyone who does not participate in any of the big 3 monotheistic religions. In ancient Rome it meant the people who lived in the country.

Pagan also means someone who participates in a pagan religion or tradition or concept (as well as we can understand it in today’s world and as practically as possible), which can be based on anything from Norse to Egyptian to Celtic to Wicca today. There are many, many variations on this. It’s a very individualized spiritual path.

Pagans may worship one god, a goddess, both, many, or none at all. Pagans tend to have a reverence for nature and a moral code that is not overly administrative but does forbid harming others.

I am a pagan. I am atheist. My spiritual views are mostly Taoist.

I think modern paganism is a result of the failure of 'modern science' to answer those basic questions of what defines our conscienceness. Perhaps the future will reveal the answers to those questions. Un till then, we humans will have an inward desire to look outward, and an outward desire to look inward. Something in us seeks connection with what we have always been. Many people perceive the pagan path as a connection. Modern paganism does not have much historic data that gives insight to actual practices and rituals i.e rotate the magic wand three times clockwise your right hand, or 2 times with your left hand. Modern paganism in the least is reconstructed religion. Maybe that explains why many folk like to do things the old fashioned way, or what they think should be the old fashioned way.

There are some neo-pagans that take the idea that the gods are archetypes, mental constructs common to all people. The Father figure, the warrior, the lover, the farmer, the wife, the old woman, the mother, the maiden, so on and so forth. So, they don't actually believe IN the gods, but as a spiritual practice, pay homage to these concepts.

In that sense, they ARE pagan, and they ARE atheist.

Most of us however believe there is a force, or spirit, that represents these things and we find them in nature. I am one of those =) I see the different forces that effect us as distinct from one-another, and existing whether I believe in them or not, and that these forces are conscious and sentient.

So, in layman's terms, Yes, I believe the Gods of the North exist.

There are numerous different Pagan religions and traditions. None of them involve worshipping the Abrahamic G-d, though, and none involve Jesus.

Wicca is one example of a Pagan religion. Wiccans honour the god and goddess, and often revere nature as well. Norse Heathens are also Pagans, but connect with entirely different deities. Most Pagans are Polytheistic - they worship a number of deities.

I have starred your post in the hope that my Pagan friends will answer in more detail. Meanwhile, check out this website for more information on Wicca: http://www.witchvox.com/

Pagan is a term used by the Church in the middle age to define someone that not Christian, not Moslem, and not a Jew.

btw many pagan have gods, most of them not atheist.

Perfect example for pagan is, Wicca.

Pagans are by definition Theists who are not among the Abrahmic Traditions (Jewish, Christian, Islamic).

By origin, it's the blanket term for the people who live outside of the cities.

By modern term, it's an umbrella term for people that believe in a style of universe not supported by the 'primary' recognized modern religions. As Such, Atheists and Theists are able to be part of the group, even though there does not have to be any common traits among the people involved.

Try this webpage: http://wicca.timerift.net/pagan.shtml

It's a pretty good definition. As the author says, defining paganism is difficult because it is most often defined by what we are NOT. You'll notice in Isaac Bonewits' definition (which I feel is very good), there is no mention of polytheism, or any particular theistic system, for that matter.

paganism is an umbrella term, it is widely used today, for a variety of reasons and to define a variety of people.

there are many different belief systems inside of it.

some worship only one pantheon, some mix pantheons (carefully)

some worship nature in general as an extension of deity.

were are all different.

Luzifer

I really can't because there are many Pagan groups but I am connected to many different Pagans and will star this so one of them may be able to be more specific.

Paganism is an umbrella term.

You could get 1000 different answers on what people believe and how they practice.