The term “paganism” elicits many different connotations, depending on who you ask. Images based on stereotypes, such as people practicing “strange rituals” and “taboo” customs, are sadly conjured up inside some individuals’ minds when they hear the word. However, it’s important to understand that the types of faiths and traditions practiced by modern people who call themselves pagans vary widely in both origins and belief systems, along with whom or what is revered as sacred. Clearing away some of the misconceptions and murkiness that surrounds the word may help in comprehending the landscape containing many non-Abrahamic forms of spirituality in the world today.
The Origins of the Word “Pagan”
Unsurprisingly, the word “pagan” gained its traditional usage and meaning as Christianity became more widespread. Author Alan G. Cameron revealed in his book “The Last Pagans of Rome” that around the middle of the fourth century C.E., the term “paganus” began shifting from possessing a colloquial or militaristic meaning to a religious one.
While most Romans used it to speak of “yokels,” “country-dwellers” or “the less civilized,” Roman soldiers used the word to refer only to civilians or non-soldiers. Later, some Roman Christians began to view themselves as soldiers for Christ, or “milites Christi,” and started to borrow other Roman military concepts. It’s possible that they used the term “pagan” to refer to those outside their religion, as in their eyes these individuals were “not fighting for Christ.”
This usage may have been reinforced by Augustine of Hippo’s treatise “The City of God Against the Pagans,” published in the early fifth century. In most cases, the term has been strictly used to refer to those who practice a form of spirituality that does not have origins in an Abrahamic faith.
What Is Neo- paganism?
It is not uncommon to find that most who call themselves pagans today follow paths derived from the indigenous religions of pre-modern Europe, northern Africa and the ancient Middle East. Collectively, these movements can be referred to as Contemporary Paganism or Neopaganism. However, the terms “Neopagan” or “pagan” are not always used by their practitioners. Many identify themselves by the name of the path to which they adhere or the deities they revere, such as Wiccans or Asatruars.
Rather than forming a single monolithic faith, belief systems categorized under the umbrella of modern Paganism take on a variety of forms. These include the polytheistic reconstructionist religions based on the revival of ancient Celtic and Germanic practices, as well as spiritual paths based on those once observed in Greece, Egypt and the Roman Empire prior to Christianity’s advent. While some practitioners opt for an exact following of these older beliefs, others adopt versions that are reinterpreted or synthesized from them, or combined with other traditions. For example, Wicca draws from Western European traditions, including Celtic and Germanic beliefs, and incorporates the idea that the natural world has divine or sacred aspects. For these reasons, it is best to understand these religions as making up a broad category, rather than think of them as divisions of a single religion such as Christianity or Islam.
A Diverse Range of Spiritual Paths
Human cultures, along with natural curiosity and a desire to make sense of the world, have given rise to many different traditions and religions throughout history. While polytheist practices are a common occurrence all over the world, it is a mistake to think of the multifarious faiths as simply “pagan.” Rather, each of these paths proves the complexity and diversity of human beliefs. Whether as a desire to find a spirituality that nourishes and guides one’s life, or to choose an alternative to the faith of one’s raising, many people embrace belief systems that are neither monotheistic nor based in Abrahamic traditions.