Modern Pagan Beliefs: Understanding the Spirituality of Today's Pagans
Introduction to Modern Paganism
In contemporary times, the term modern paganism is not about belief in the traditional sense. It is a diverse and rich spiritual practice encompassing a wide range of beliefs and traditions that look to historical pre-modern spiritual practices for guidance and inspiration.
Defining Modern Pagans
Modern Pagans are a diverse collective, with a substantial portion of them being Hindu. From a traditional perspective, Hinduism is often considered a form of modern paganism, given that it is a religion rich in spiritual practices and interconnected with nature and the divine. However, it is important to note that Hinduism, like modern paganism, is an umbrella term that encapsulates many different beliefs and practices. For the majority of Pagans, including Hindus, practice and personal experience are more significant than belief. Practices and experiences are the foundation of their spirituality, making questions about belief rather obscure.
Common Beliefs Among Modern Pagans
The Value of Historical Pagan Practices
One of the core beliefs of modern paganism is the value of historical Pagan practices. These spiritual traditions, as practiced by pre-modern peoples, offer valuable insights and practices that are still relevant today. For example, many Pagans believe that these practices can help us better understand the cycles of nature and our place within them.
Among modern Pagans, Hindus have the advantage of a preserved spiritual tradition that has not been lost or broken by external influences. This has allowed Hindus to maintain a direct lineage of spiritual knowledge, making them a valuable source for other Pagans to study and learn from. Other Pagans, such as those following Taoism or Shinto, must piece together their indigenous traditions from folklore and ethnographic sources. Therefore, I highly recommend that all Pagans, regardless of their primary tradition, study Hinduism to gain a deeper understanding of their own ancestral traditions.
The Nature of the Divine
Modern Pagans believe in a multifaceted nature of the divine. The divine is seen as both polytheistic and monistic, panentheistic, and pantheistic. This polytheistic view involves the worship of multiple deities, each with their own distinct personalities and domains. Pagans often specialize in one or more pantheons, engaging in rituals and sub-religions associated with these deities.
Henotheism and kathenotheism are also prevalent among modern Pagans. These beliefs allow for the veneration of a single god or goddess, while simultaneously recognizing the existence of other gods and goddesses.
Many Pagans also believe that these deities are emanations of a higher, monistic principle, often referred to as the Creator Deity or the Transcendental Absolute. Reality is seen as identical or synonymous with divinity, and all things are believed to be woven into an all-encompassing immanent goddess who is both personal and impersonal.
Animism: The Soul of the World
Pagans often embrace a belief in animism, the view that all things possess a spiritual essence or soul. This includes not just living things like animals and plants, but also non-living entities such as rocks, mountains, and even human-made objects like tools. This extends to natural phenomena like rain, lightning, and wind, as well as abstract concepts like words and names.
The animistic view posits that the spiritual and physical worlds are intertwined and indistinguishable. This belief fosters a deep connection with the natural world, recognizing that all aspects of life are imbued with spiritual significance. This spiritual unity is reflected in the recognition of water spirits, tree spirits, and other deities that reside in various elements of nature. The omnipresence of these spiritual beings enriches the practice of modern paganism, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and reverence for the natural world.