A pagan is a practitioner of any religion that falls outside of the Abrahamic religion tree (Judaism, Christianity, Muslim, etc.). It was first used by the young Church to describe the unconverted masses that lived outside the city limits that were under her control. The word pagan comes from the Latin word paganus meaning country dweller. The pagan religions are typically Earth-centered faiths and a great many of them predate the Abrahamic religions.
Neo-paganism is a generic term used to describe the modern day resurgence of paganism. With it comes a new variety of worshipper called a neo-pagan. Neo-pagans may or may not follow a set tradition and may pull from everywhere. There are a few key things that all neo-pagans have in common. These points are discussed in depth in the book Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham.
Similarly to the word pagan, a heathen originally meant only that a person was of the heath, but in present day is used to describe those who follow the continental variety of Celtic traditions as apposed to the Gaelic variety. It has also been used to describe Native American shamanism, followers of Scandinavian religions, and followers of Asatru.
Agnosticism is the stance that certain things, such as the existence or nonexistence of a Deity, are unknown and to a certain extent, unknowable. In religious terms, it is the middle ground between atheism and theism. It neither rejects nor accepts the existence of a Deity in any form. In a very strict sense, agnosticism is the view that humanity does not currently possess the
requisite knowledge and/or reason to provide sufficient rational grounds
to justify the belief that deities either do or do not exist. (1) Agnosticism may also apply to other topics.
An agnostic is someone who has taken the stance of agnosticism, typically on the Deity topic.
Atheism is the belief that there are no deities. It may also be characterized as a rejection of the concept of deities. It has been argued that it is also the absence of belief in deities with the implication that everyone is born an atheist and later adopts the belief as a societal construct.
An atheist is someone who believes that there are no deities. This does not exclude their practice of another belief structure or their adoption of ethical tenets therein.
Fundamentalism is the belief in and strict adherence to a faith's fundamental principles. Though it can refer to the Pagan religions, it is commonly used in reference to the Abrahamic religions. Used in this way it means that those practitioners believe that their faith and its Book(s) hold the only Truth in all the world and that everyone should follow the tenets of their faith.
Secular Humanism is an ideology that rejects the concept that morality and decisions should be based upon supernatural or religious reasoning. It teaches that reason, ethics, and social justice need not be based upon the existence of a deity. It rejects the concept of supernaturalism or superstitions. This is what makes it distinctive from Neo-Paganism despite sharing many ideals.
A Humanist is someone who adheres to the ideology of Secular Humanism.
Satanism is a broad term representing a series of Western religions characterized by reverence of Satan and/or other rebellious, promethean, and liberating figures. Satanism may see this figure as a metaphor or allegory or they may see this figure on par with Deity. Satanism is based in the Judeo-Christian branch of the Abrahamic tree, and in many ways, its philosophic antithesis. It is currently a majorly American religion, though other major countries have accepted it. While distinctive from paganism, there are several correlating beliefs and resemblances that allow both religious branches to mingle with very little problems.
Theistic Satanism is the belief that Satan is an actual being that should revered or worshipped. There are three main varieties: Luciferianism, Palladists, and Our Lady of Endor Coven (Ophite Cultus Satanas). Each variety approaches the concept in a slightly different manner.
A satanist is someone who follows the ideals of Satanism, which may or may not include worship of Satan as a deity figure. Some theistic practitioners may reject the title of satanist due to the differences in approach.
Shamanism is a spirituality that has many distinctive characteristic of its own. This spirituality was some of our species' first traditions. While Europe and the Middle East saw the rise of the Abrahamic religions, many other places preserved their Ways. Currently in the world there are six distinctive branches of shamanism (excluding neo-pagan revivals): Native American, South American, Tengerism, African, and Australian (and surrounding islands). Shamanism is also distinctive due to their lack of deities. It's not that this practice lack the concept of a centralized deity. It's more that the Creator is not any more important or powerful than a host of other spiritual entities. Shamanism is often raided for its practices by neo-pagans.
A shaman is a specific person within a shamanic religion that has undergone religious trials and studies to become a People's representative to the spiritual realm and their interpreter therein. There are often vows and rituals related to becoming a shaman. Most common ones include vows to secrecy of their Way and protection of the People.
Shamanic is a reference to something having properties of shamanism.
Theism is the belief that there is at least one Deity. There is a clear distinction between Monotheism (belief in only one Deity) and Polytheism (belief in more than one deity). Polytheism is further broken down into henotheism (belief that there are more than one but only worshipping one) and kathenotheism (worshipping different deities at different times, typically within a pantheon).
Wicca is a religion created by Gerald Gardner after a lot of research and years of practising witchcraft in a coven. It has its own traditions and belief structures. The famous Rede comes from this religion. Wicca was first recognized in England in the 1950s. It has since broken into many different variations. Its youth does not invalidate it.
- Dianic Wicca is a denomination of Wicca that only recognizes the Goddess as a Deity. Covens of this kind of Wicca are typically all female, but there is a fair showing of male practitioners.
- Gardnerian Wicca
is also known as Classic Wicca. It is the original form that was
created by Gerald Gardner. There is another branch that closely
resembles it called Alexandrian Wicca.
- Faerie Wicca is a tradition of Wicca that focuses heavily into the Arthurian mythology for practices and symbolism. Depending upon the individual coven or person, it may also pull from Christian mythology as well.
- Seax-Wica is a variety of Wicca that was adapted by Raymond Buckland. It takes a lot from Saxon mythology.
Witchcraft is a spiritual practice revolving around the concept that all the world has energy that people are capable of shaping for specific purposes. This energy is often called magic(k), but what it boils down to is vibration patterns in the substance's atomic level. We cannot measure it completely...yet. Witchcraft is the methodology of shaping magic(k).
A witch is a person who practices formalized witchcraft. That is all. They can be male or female. Gender does not matter. Age does not matter. Years of practising does not matter. Religion does not matter.
Voodoo (Voodun) is a religious practice and magical system based out of Africa that has spread to the Americas. It is a complex system that incorporates the use and worship of Orisha(s). There's an aspect that makes it distinctive among pagan religions: the ritual sacrifice of living creatures. This is not from a lack of respect for the life, but as a method of gifting that life to their Orisha(s) in exchange for large effects. The individuals who have focused their life around their practice and have become skilled in it are often called witch doctors.
- Candomble is a Brazilian tradition that has roots in Voodun and Santeria.
- Hoodoo is the branch of Voodun that started when the African slaves combined their native Animism with English/European traditions. It is also known as Voodoo or Voodun.
- Santeria is a Voodun religion that is modernly practised in Central America, Haiti, and surrounding areas.
What this all boils down to is that you should never assume. A witch may not be a Wiccan or even pagan. A Wiccan may not practice magic(k), though this is rarer. A pagan may not believe in the Rede. An atheist may be pagan.
Do not assume.
Notes and Citations
- This essay will be updated from time to time with new religious and denominations labels as they become necessary.
- Wikipedia was used as a basis for definition.
- This sentence is a direct quotation of the Wikipedia article on Agnosticism.
- Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham was used as a reference.
- Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham was used as a reference.
- Wicca: The Complete Craft by D.J. Conway was used as reference.
