paganism
Old gods devotion
Paganism is religious belief outside the major world religions—especially pre-Christian European traditions involving nature worship, multiple gods, or animistic spirits.
The term historically carried Christian disapproval, contrasting "civilized" monotheism with "primitive" folk religion.
Modern paganism revives or reimagines these traditions: Wicca, Druidry, Norse heathenry.
She practices a form of Celtic paganism.
The word can still be used dismissively for any non-mainstream spirituality.
Sacred ritual table
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
chant · sacrifice · pentacle · coven · libation · handfasting · blot · offerings
Spirits inhabit all things
- pantheismReality itself is holy
- totemismBelief linking clans to symbols
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- herbalismPlant-based healing tradition
geomancy · flora · fauna · elementals · solstice · equinox · seasons · fertility
All gods of a religion
- deitiesWorshipped supernatural beings
- godsSupernatural beings worshipped
- goddessesDivine feminine beings
- mythsTraditional untrue narratives
legends · Olympians · Asgard · Valhalla · Zeus · Odin · Thor · Isis
Practices of Celtic priests
- heathenryPagan beliefs and customs
- reconstructionismEducation-driven societal reform
- revivalReturn after decline
- witchcraftPractice of supernatural magic
esotericism · alexandrian · eclectic · coven · initiation · reclaiming
Veneration of false gods
- divinitiesGods and goddesses
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- kamiShinto sacred spirits
- orishasYoruba divine spirits
loa · tutelary · syncretism · offerings · veneration · shrines · votives · libations
Holy places or head sides
- idolsObjects of fervent admiration
- sacrificesThings willingly given up
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
augury · priesthood · antiquity · classical · druids · ziggurat · pyramid · obelisk
Irreligious nonbeliever
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- idolaterWorshiper of false gods
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
unholy · blasphemy · sacrilege · godless · unchristian · gentile · unbeliever
Surpassing usual limits
- meditationFocused attention practice
- divinitySacred nature or nougat-like sweet
- sacrednessQuality of being holy
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
devotion · spirit · soul · afterlife · cosmology · mysticism · gnosis · otherworld
Traditional stories or icons
- talesSpoken or written narratives
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- bardPoet of epics
storytelling · traditions · oral-history · sagas · epics · ballads · folktales · proverbs
altar
Sacred ritual table
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
invocation · chant · sacrifice · pentacle · coven · libation · handfasting · blot · offerings · smudging
animism
Spirits inhabit all things
- pantheismReality itself is holy
- totemismBelief linking clans to symbols
- shamanismMediation between worlds
herbalism · geomancy · flora · fauna · elementals · solstice · equinox · seasons · fertility · harvest
pantheon
All gods of a religion
- deitiesWorshipped supernatural beings
- godsSupernatural beings worshipped
- goddessesDivine feminine beings
myths · legends · Olympians · Asgard · Valhalla · Zeus · Odin · Thor · Isis · Ra
druidry
Practices of Celtic priests
- heathenryPagan beliefs and customs
- reconstructionismEducation-driven societal reform
- revivalReturn after decline
witchcraft · esotericism · alexandrian · eclectic · coven · initiation · reclaiming
idolatry
Veneration of false gods
- divinitiesGods and goddesses
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- kamiShinto sacred spirits
orishas · loa · tutelary · syncretism · offerings · veneration · shrines · votives · libations
temples
Holy places or head sides
- idolsObjects of fervent admiration
- sacrificesThings willingly given up
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
divination · augury · priesthood · antiquity · classical · druids · ziggurat · pyramid · obelisk · totems
heathen
Irreligious nonbeliever
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- idolaterWorshiper of false gods
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
profane · unholy · blasphemy · sacrilege · godless · unchristian · gentile · unbeliever
transcendence
Surpassing usual limits
- meditationFocused attention practice
- divinitySacred nature or nougat-like sweet
- sacrednessQuality of being holy
reverence · devotion · spirit · soul · afterlife · cosmology · mysticism · gnosis · otherworld · ancestors
legends
Traditional stories or icons
- talesSpoken or written narratives
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
bard · storytelling · traditions · oral-history · sagas · epics · ballads · folktales · proverbs · fairytales
- ancient religionsGreek religion, Zoroastrianism, mystery cults, Orphism, mystery religion
- Spiritual MovementsGnosticism, Theosophy, theosophy, Kabbalah, Sufism
- Anglo-Saxon EnglandAnglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon, witenagemot, doom, Northumbria
- Estonian HistorySinging Revolution, Soviet occupation, Northern Crusades, deportations, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
- ancient worldancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, pyramids, pyramid
- belieffaith, belief, belief systems, creed, dogma
paganismmonotheism
Belief in one god
Christianity · Islam · Judaism · organized religion · Catholicism
paganismorthodoxy
Adherence to accepted beliefs
state religion · Christendom · organized religion · the faith
paganismasceticism
Severe self-denial practice
Gnosticism · otherworldliness · dualism · transcendentalism · Puritanism
- Norse paganismOld Scandinavian polytheistic religion