Paganism

Paganism

Paganism is a word that people a long time ago used for those who believed in many gods. The word comes from a Latin word meaning “rustic,” and it often described people who lived in the countryside.

Back then, pagans were mainly people who were not part of religions like Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, especially in the Roman Empire.

One way people knew someone was a pagan was if they took part in special ceremonies, which were important in ancient Greece and Rome.

Later, the word “pagan” was used in new ways. In the 19th century, some artists and thinkers inspired by ancient cultures began calling themselves pagans. Today, many people who follow modern pagan traditions value nature worship and ideas that are different from larger religions.

Modern pagans often believe in many gods, or that everything is part of God, or that spirits live in all things. We learn about ancient pagan religions by studying old writings and the cultures of classical antiquity.

Paganism today includes many different ways of practicing old religions. Some groups try to copy ancient religions very closely, like Roman Polytheistic Reconstructionism and Hellenism. Other groups mix old ideas with new ones, like Wicca and its branches.

Most modern pagans believe that nature is very important and full of spirit. They often call their beliefs "Earth religions." In Iceland, a group called Ásatrúarfélagið has nearly 2% of the country’s people. In Lithuania, many people practice Romuva, a revived version of their country’s old religion.