What Is Paganism? Modern Pagan Religion Explained

The Pagan Federation defines a Pagan as “a follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion,” and says adherents venerate Nature and worship many deities, both goddesses and gods. Christians confess one God, and that Jesus is God.

Key points

• The Pagan Federation says, “Paganism is not dogmatic.”
• It defines a Pagan as “A follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion.”
• It says, “The Pagan outlook can be seen as threefold. Its adherents venerate Nature and worship many deities, both goddesses and gods.”
• It says divination and magic “are accepted parts of life.”
• Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version says the LORD our God is one LORD.
• What is Wicca? is the Federation’s sentence on Wiccan-based Pagans. Witchcraft and the Bible quotes Deuteronomy 18.

What the Federation says

The Pagan Federation says:

Paganism is not dogmatic. Pagans pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience.

Pagan Federation

It gives these definitions:

A follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion.

Pagan Federation

A polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion.

Pagan Federation

It says:

The Pagan outlook can be seen as threefold. Its adherents venerate Nature and worship many deities, both goddesses and gods.

Pagan Federation

And:

Pagan religions all recognise the feminine face of divinity. A religion without goddesses can hardly be classified as Pagan.

Pagan Federation

On practice it says divination and magic “are accepted parts of life.”

The Christian claim

Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version (King James Version) says:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version

Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Exodus 20:3 · King James Version says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Isaiah 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.Isaiah 44:6 · King James Version says beside the LORD there is no God. John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James Version says the Word was God. Acts 17:24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;Acts 17:24 · King James Version says God made the world and does not dwell in temples made with hands. Christians honor the created world as God’s work (Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Genesis 1:1 · King James Version). They do not worship many deities. The confession is the Trinity. Jesus is God.

Frequently asked questions

Is every nature reverence pagan, on this page?

The Federation’s own definition is a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion, and a direct personal vision of the Divine. Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Genesis 1:1 · King James Version says God created the heaven and the earth. Gratitude for that work is not the same sentence as worshipping many deities.

Where does Wicca fit?

The same Federation page says Wiccan-based Pagans see all the goddesses as one Great Goddess and all the gods as one Great God. What is Wicca? quotes that sentence and the short Rede.

What does the Bible say about magic?

Deuteronomy 18:10–12^18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. ^18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ^18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · King James Version forbids divination, observing times, and witchcraft. What does the Bible say about witchcraft? quotes the passage.