# 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 its adherents venerate Nature and worship many deities. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/wicca/what-is-paganism - Religions: Wicca and Paganism - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: paganism, wicca - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) 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](https://www.paganfed.org/paganism/) 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 6:4](/bible/deuteronomy/6/4) says the LORD our God is one LORD. - [What is Wicca?](/wicca/what-is-wicca) is the Federation’s sentence on Wiccan-based Pagans. [Witchcraft and the Bible](/wicca/witchcraft-and-the-bible) quotes Deuteronomy 18. ## What the Federation says The [Pagan Federation](https://www.paganfed.org/paganism/) says: > Paganism is not dogmatic. Pagans pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience. It gives these definitions: > A follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion. > 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. And: > Pagan religions all recognise the feminine face of divinity. A religion without goddesses can hardly be classified as Pagan. On practice it says divination and magic “are accepted parts of life.” ## The Christian claim [Deuteronomy 6:4](/bible/deuteronomy/6/4) (King James Version) says: > Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: [Exodus 20:3](/bible/exodus/20/3) says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” [Isaiah 44:6](/bible/isaiah/44/6) says beside the LORD there is no God. [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) says the Word was God. [Acts 17:24](/bible/acts/17/24) says God made the world and does not dwell in temples made with hands. Christians honor the created world as God’s work ([Genesis 1:1](/bible/genesis/1/1)). They do not worship many deities. The confession is [the Trinity](/christianity/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 1:1](/bible/genesis/1/1) 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?](/wicca/what-is-wicca) quotes that sentence and the short Rede. ### What does the Bible say about magic? [Deuteronomy 18:10–12](/bible/deuteronomy/18) forbids divination, observing times, and witchcraft. [What does the Bible say about witchcraft?](/wicca/witchcraft-and-the-bible) quotes the passage. ## Passages quoted on this page ### Isaiah 44:6 King James Version. > Thus 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. ### John 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ### Acts 17:24 King James Version. > God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ### Genesis 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ### Deuteronomy 18:10–12 King James Version. > [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. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [The Pagan Federation, Paganism, Definitions](https://www.paganfed.org/paganism/) 2. [Deuteronomy, 6:4](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/deuteronomy/6/4). King James Version 3. [Book of Exodus, 20:3](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/exodus/20/3). King James Version ## See also - [What Is Wicca? What Wiccans Believe](https://apologetics.wiki/wicca/what-is-wicca) — The Pagan Federation says Wiccan-based Pagans see the goddesses as one Great Goddess and the gods as one Great God. The short Wiccan Rede is “An it harm none, do what ye will.” - [What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft?](https://apologetics.wiki/wicca/witchcraft-and-the-bible) — Deuteronomy 18 forbids divination, enchantment, witchcraft, and consulting familiar spirits, and calls those practices an abomination to the LORD. ## History [View history on GitHub](https://github.com/Apologetics-Wiki/apologetics-wiki/commits/main/src/content/articles/what-is-paganism.md)