Understanding Paganism: A Guide for Christian Readers

Introduction: Understanding a Different Spiritual Path

Today we’re going to explore something that might be new to many of you, and that’s okay! This article is all about bringing light and understanding to common questions you, as Christian readers, might have about Paganism. We know that when you hear about different beliefs, it can bring up a lot of questions, and that’s perfectly natural. Our hope and prayer today is to offer you clear, helpful information that allows you to better understand this diverse spiritual world. We’re going to use simple, straightforward language, the kind an 8th grader can understand, and we’re going to keep a tone of respect and kindness all the way through.

What Exactly is Paganism, and Where Does the Word Come From?

When you want to understand something new, especially a spiritual path, it’s always good to start at the very beginning. What does it mean? Where did the name come from? For Paganism, this is a really important place to start because the word itself has changed a lot over time, and it covers so many different kinds of beliefs and practices.

Paganism: More Than One Religion

Here’s something important to know right from the start: “Paganism” isn’t like one single church or one single organized religion, like Christianity or Islam. Instead, think of it like a big, wide umbrella. It’s a term that covers many, many different spiritual paths and beliefs.¹ And these paths can be very different from each other! Some people who call themselves Pagan focus on the beauty of nature, others look to ancient traditions. Some might honor specific gods or goddesses, and still others might be drawn to practices like witchcraft or old Celtic ways.¹ It’s a big family, a diverse community, with some groups focusing on particular traditions or things like caring for our planet or certain divine figures.¹

When you hear about Modern Paganism, sometimes called Neopaganism, that’s talking about spiritual movements happening today that get their inspiration from these older, pre-Christian ways of believing.³ Some of these modern movements try their best to bring back those ancient, native religions just as they were, using history books and old writings.⁴ Others might follow a spiritual path they see as brand new, maybe blending different traditions or creating fresh spiritual ways that are inspired by the past.⁴

Where Did the Word “Pagan” Come From?

The word “pagan” has quite a story behind it! It comes from an old Latin word, paganus. And you know what paganus originally meant? It meant a “country dweller” or a “villager” – someone who lived out in the countryside, away from the big cities.² At this word wasn’t really about religion; it was just a way to describe where people lived.

As Christianity began to spread across the Roman Empire, it often took root faster in the cities. People living in the quiet, faraway country areas sometimes held onto their traditional beliefs, their polytheistic ways (that means believing in many gods), for a longer time. So, little by little, Christians started using that word paganus to describe those folks who hadn’t yet embraced Christianity, often the ones living out in those country regions.⁵ From the viewpoint of those early Christians, these different religions were seen as ethnic or gentile, different from the Second Temple Judaism of the time.⁵

Isn’t it interesting how words can change? The journey of the word “Pagan” shows a big shift. It started as a label given by others, and sometimes that label could make it sound like someone was “unenlightened” or “not yet converted.” But today, many people who follow these nature-loving or polytheistic spiritual paths have chosen to use the word “Pagan” for themselves in a positive and affirming way. They’re reclaiming it to describe their beliefs and to say, “Yes, this is our diverse spiritual path, and it’s different from the mainstream belief in one God.”6 It just shows you how language can grow and how groups can take a word and make it their own, a symbol of their identity.

Ancient Roots, Modern Expressions

So, a long, long time ago, early Christians used the term “paganism” to talk about all those different non-Jewish religions that believed in many gods, the ones that were around in ancient times and the Middle Ages, like the religions of the Greeks and Romans.⁵ This included the beliefs of the Greco-Roman Empire, various special “mystery religions,” and many local, ethnic traditions.⁵

So, when we see Modern Paganism today, it’s often people trying to reconnect with those ancient spiritual roots and bring them into life in our 21st century.⁷ It’s like a collection of modern religious, spiritual, and even magical traditions that are knowingly inspired by those belief systems from Europe, North Africa, and the Near East that came before Judaism, before Christianity, and before Islam.⁴ It’s also good to remember that in history, and sometimes even “Paganism” has been described by what it’s non—meaning, it’s not Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.⁴ For example, the early Christians defined their own faith by showing how it was different from the Greek and Roman belief in many gods that was common then.⁵ Defining something by how it’s different is a common way for groups to show what makes them unique. Understanding that “Paganism” as a category partly came about because it was seen as different from Christianity can help us see why it might seem so fundamentally different. It’s not just a random collection of beliefs; it represents a distinct set of spiritual ways of looking at the world, with their own inner meaning.

Is Paganism the Same as Witchcraft or Satanism?

This is an area where there can be a lot of confusion and even concern for people who aren’t familiar with Paganism. It’s about how Paganism relates to Witchcraft and, even more alarmingly for some, to Satanism. It is so important that we make these distinctions very, very clear.

Paganism and Witchcraft: Related Not Identical

There is a connection between Paganism and Witchcraft they are not the same thing. Here’s the key: Witchcraft (especially the modern religion of Wicca) is considered one type of Paganism not all Pagans call themselves Witches.2

Think of it this way, it might help: Christianity is a big, broad religious category. Inside Christianity, there are many different groups, like Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy. Catholicism is one form of Christianity not all Christians are Catholic, right? Well, it’s similar with Paganism. Paganism is a big spiritual category, and Wicca (which is a well-known form of modern religious Witchcraft) is one specific path within that larger family.²

Wicca is a modern Pagan religion that many people have heard of. It usually involves honoring a God and a Goddess (or other deities), having a deep connection with nature and its cycles, and practicing magick in an ethical way.² Because Wicca was one of the first Neopagan religions to become more widely known in the middle of the 20th century, sometimes its practices and words got mistakenly mixed up with all of Paganism in people’s minds. But, there are many other Pagan paths, like Druidry, Heathenry, and various traditions that try to reconstruct ancient ways. The people who follow these paths wouldn’t call themselves Witches, and their practices are quite different from Wicca.²

Paganism and Satanism: A Very Clear “No”

This is so important to say, and to say it with absolute clarity: Paganism is NOT Satanism.² This is a mistaken idea that has unfortunately stuck around, and it causes a lot of harm because it’s not at all what the vast majority of Pagans believe or practice.

Satanism, just by its name, is a belief system that centers on the figure of Satan. Satan is a figure that comes from Abrahamic theology – that’s Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions – where he’s usually seen as an enemy of the Abrahamic God. So, to be a Satanist in the traditional sense, you generally have to be working within, or reacting against, that Christian understanding of God and Satan.

Most Pagans, on the other hand, do not believe in, worship, or even acknowledge the Christian figure of Satan. Their spiritual focus is on gods and goddesses from ancient, pre-Christian cultures (like Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse, or Egyptian deities) or on the divine as being present right here in nature itself.² These deities and spiritual ideas came before, or exist completely outside of, the Christian story of God and Satan. As one Pagan resource says very strongly, when asked if Pagans “sacrifice babies and worship evil incarnate, the answer is NO!”.² Those kinds of ideas are false, they’re offensive, and they come from old prejudices, not from a true understanding of what Pagans believe. The practice of “magick” in Paganism, which is aimed at positive change and spiritual growth 9, should never be confused with any idea of wanting to harm or deal with “evil” forces that are often stereotypically linked with Satanism.

Why Do People Get Confused?

So why does this confusion between Paganism, Witchcraft, and Satanism happen? Well, there are a few reasons:

• Historical Misinformation and Demonization: For many, many centuries, especially during really tough times of religious persecution like the “Burning Times” (those were the witch hunts in Europe and America from around the 15th to 18th centuries), people accused of witchcraft were often wrongly and deliberately linked with devil worship by Christian religious and government authorities.² Gods and goddesses that weren’t Christian were often re-labeled as demons, and old folk practices were called diabolical. This history of demonization has left a lasting, and incorrect, association in the minds of some cultures.
• Lack of Understanding and Fear of the Unfamiliar: Sometimes, anything that’s unfamiliar or different from what we believe can be looked at with suspicion or even fear. Some people might just lump any non-Christian spirituality they don’t understand into a negative category, calling it “occult” or even “demonic,” without trying to find out what’s really true.⁸
• Media Portrayals: Popular media, like movies and TV shows, sometimes mix up these terms or show inaccurate, sensational, and stereotypical pictures of Paganism, Witchcraft, and Satanism just to make a more dramatic story. This can really confuse public understanding even more.

Understanding the history of how these wrong ideas came about is important. It helps us see that the association, especially with Satanism, isn’t based on what Pagans actually believe or do. It’s based on a long history of misrepresentation, often fueled by religious conflict and fear. It’s so important to respect how Pagans define themselves; their spiritual ways are their own systems of belief and practice, not just something “anti-Christian.”

How Do Pagan Beliefs About God or Gods Differ from Christian Beliefs?

One of the biggest and most basic differences between Christianity and most kinds of Paganism is how they understand the divine, how they understand God. To really appreciate these differences, it’s good to just quickly remember the Christian understanding of God.

The Christian Understanding of God (A Quick Reminder)

Christianity, as we know, is a monotheistic religion. That means it teaches belief in one God.⁷ This one God is understood as the ultimate Creator of the universe and everything in it. He’s typically described as omnipotent (that means all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere at once), and perfectly good. In addition to these core attributes of God, Christianity encompasses various denominations, each interpreting scripture and doctrine in unique ways. Among these, Credenze e pratiche battiste emphasize the importance of personal faith in Jesus Christ and the significance of baptism by immersion as a public declaration of that faith. This focus on individual commitment and the authority of scripture distinguishes Baptist communities within the broader Christian tradition.

In Christian teaching, God is seen as both transcendent (meaning He exists beyond and separate from the world He created) and also immanent (meaning He is active and present within the world He created). A very central and unique Christian belief is the Trinity. This holds that the one God exists forever as three co-equal and co-eternal persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

Pagan Ways of Understanding Divinity

Pagan views on divinity are very diverse there are several common themes that make them different from the Christian understanding:

• Many Gods and Goddesses (Polytheism): This is probably the most well-known characteristic of many Pagan traditions.² Instead of one single, supreme God, Pagans often honor, worship, or work with many different gods and goddesses. These divine beings might come from various ancient groups of gods, like those of the Greeks (think of Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis), Romans (like Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus), Egyptians (like Isis, Osiris, Ra, Anubis), Norse (like Odin, Thor, Freya, Frigg), or Celts (like The Dagda, Brigid, Lugh, The Mórrígan).⁷ Each of these deities often has a unique personality, their own stories (myths about what they did and their relationships), and specific areas they influence or look after (like a god of the sea, a goddess of wisdom, a deity of healing, or a god of craftsmanship).⁷ This polytheistic way of seeing things views the divine as being full of variety, reflecting the diversity we see in life and in the whole universe.
• A Divine Pair (Duotheism): Some Pagan traditions, especially many forms of Wicca, focus their reverence on a divine pair: a Goddess and a God.¹ These two are often seen as equal partners, complementing each other, representing the feminine and masculine principles in the universe. Their interaction is considered vital for creation and for keeping balance in the cosmos.
• The Divine Feminine (Goddess Spirituality): Many Pagan paths, and some individuals across different traditions, place a really strong emphasis on the Divine Feminine.¹ This might mean worshipping one Great Goddess, seen as the ultimate source of all life, or honoring multiple goddesses. This focus often comes from a desire to bring back and honor the feminine aspects of divinity that some feel have been pushed to the side in religious systems that were more focused on male figures.
• Divinity as Immanent (Pantheism and Panentheism): A very common belief in Paganism is that the divine isn’t just transcendent (separate from and outside the world) but is immanent, meaning it is present nella the world, in nature, and in all living beings.²
• Pantheism is the belief that the divine and the universe are one and the same; God è everything, and everything è God.⁷
• Panentheism is the belief that the universe is part of God, or that God is nell' everything God is also greater than and extends beyond the universe.⁷ This immanent view means that the sacred can be experienced directly in the natural world, in human life, and in the way everything is connected. Nature itself is often seen as a primary way the divine is revealed.
• Deities with Human-like Qualities (and Flaws): Although they are revered, Pagan gods and goddesses in many traditions are often shown in their myths as having complex personalities. They have virtues sometimes they also have flaws, emotions, and they get involved in relationships and conflicts, much like humans do (though on a much grander, more powerful scale). This can be different from the Christian concept of a perfect, unchanging God. This way of portraying deities can make them seem more relatable or easier to approach for some people it also means that morality isn’t always taken directly from divine example in the same way it might be in faiths that believe in one God.
• Animism and Nature Spirits: Beyond specific gods and goddesses, many Pagan traditions also recognize that various spirits exist, like nature spirits (for example, spirits of trees, rivers, mountains), elemental beings, or ancestral spirits.³ These beings are seen as part of the sacred web of the world and may be honored or interacted with.

These different ways of understanding mean that the Pagan relationship with divinity is often more personalized and less centralized than it is in Christianity. Individuals or groups might feel a special connection to certain deities or aspects of the divine, and their practices will show that specific relationship. The divine is often experienced as a dynamic, many-sided presence woven all through existence, rather than a single, absolute being ruling from on high.

What Do Pagans Believe About Jesus, the Bible, Sin, and Salvation?

For Christian readers, understanding how Paganism views figures and ideas that are so central to Christianity—like Jesus, the Bible, sin, and salvation—is often a really key area of interest. It’s important to remember that Paganism is very diverse, so views can vary a lot we can talk about some general tendencies.

Pagan Views on Jesus

Modern Pagan views on Jesus are not all the same. Since Paganism includes many belief systems that came before Christianity or are not Christian, Jesus doesn’t usually have a central or divine role in most Pagan traditions like he does in Christianity. But views can range:

• A Respected Teacher or Historical Figure: Some Pagans might see Jesus as a wise teacher, a historical spiritual leader, or a prophet, much like they might respect figures from other religious traditions. They might appreciate his ethical teachings, like those about love and compassion, without accepting that he is divine or that he has a unique role in salvation as understood in Christianity.
• One of Many Divine Beings (in some eclectic paths): In some of the more eclectic or blended forms of Paganism, some individuals might include Jesus in their personal group of honored divine beings or spirits, as one among others. This isn’t common in most traditional or reconstructionist Pagan paths.
• Christo-Paganism: There is a small but distinct spiritual movement called Christo-Paganism. Here, individuals try to blend Christian teachings and practices with Pagan beliefs.¹⁴ Christo-Pagans might call themselves witches or druids while still worshipping the Christian God and believing in the divinity of Jesus. Some might see the Virgin Mary as a goddess or a form of the Goddess.¹⁴ This path often appeals to people who have a Christian background but are also drawn to Pagan spirituality and don’t see the two as having to be separate.¹⁴
• Irrelevant to Their Path: For many Pagans, especially those who are deeply rooted in specific pre-Christian traditions (like Heathenry or Hellenism), Jesus and Christian theology are simply not part of their spiritual framework. Therefore, these are largely irrelevant to their beliefs and practices.
• Rejection of Exclusivity: A common point where views differ is the Christian claim that Jesus is the (questa è la "forma" o le parole del sacramento): way to God or salvation. Paganism, being generally polytheistic (believing in many gods) or pantheistic (seeing God in everything), tends to be more pluralistic. That means it recognizes many paths to the divine or to spiritual fulfillment. From an Evangelical perspective, it’s noted that while Pagans often reject the institutional church and what they see as restrictive Christian dogma, the person of Christ as shown in the Bible might still hold an attraction for some.⁶

Pagan Views on the Bible

Just like their views on Jesus, Pagan perspectives on the Bible also vary:

• Not a Sacred Text: For most Pagans, the Bible is not considered a divinely inspired or authoritative sacred text in the way it is for Christians. Their own sacred “texts” are more likely to be found in nature, in ancient myths and folklore from their chosen traditions, in personal spiritual experiences, or in foundational writings within specific modern Pagan paths (like those of Wicca).
• A Historical or Literary Document: Some Pagans may view the Bible as an important historical, cultural, or literary document. They might see it as containing wisdom, mythology, and poetry not as the perfect, unchanging word of a single God. They might study it for comparing religions or to understand Western culture, which has been heavily influenced by it.
• A Source of Perceived Negative Dogma: Some Pagans, especially those who have had negative experiences with Christianity or who see it as historically oppressive (particularly towards Pagan or indigenous religions), may view the Bible as a source of dogmatism, intolerance, or patriarchal values that they actively reject.⁶ For instance, some Pagans see biblical teachings about sex as restrictive 15 or see the Bible as condemning practices that are central to their beliefs.¹²
• No Concept of Absolute Truth in One Book: Paganism generally doesn’t have the concept of a single, fixed set of beliefs or a final revelation contained in just one book.¹⁵ Truth is often seen as relative, something you experience, or as having many sides, rather than being absolute and exclusively defined by one set of scriptures.

Pagan Views on Sin and Salvation

The ideas of “sin” and “salvation” as they are understood in mainstream Christianity are generally not central to most Pagan belief systems. This is a fundamental theological difference, a very big one.

Concept of “Sin”:

• Most Pagan traditions do not have a concept of “original sin” – that’s the idea that all humanity is inherently flawed or fallen because of something that happened at the very beginning.¹⁶
• While Pagans have ethical codes and believe in right and wrong actions (often based on principles like not causing harm, taking personal responsibility, or keeping balance), “sin” as an offense against a single, transcendent God that needs divine forgiveness or atonement is largely an Abrahamic concept (from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).¹⁷
• Instead of “sin,” Pagans might talk about actions that cause imbalance, harm to oneself or others, or that disrupt natural or community harmony. Breaking a taboo or an oath to a deity is taken seriously and is believed to have consequences this is often framed differently than the Christian understanding of sin.¹⁷

Concept of “Salvation”:

• Because there is generally no concept of an inherent sinfulness from which humanity needs to be “saved,” the Christian idea of salvation (being rescued from sin and its eternal consequences, often through faith in Jesus Christ) is not a primary concern in most Pagan paths.¹⁶
• The focus in Pagan spirituality is often on living a fulfilling, balanced, and meaningful life right here and connecting with deities and nature, personal growth, and contributing positively to the world.¹⁶ The emphasis is more on achieving balance or, in some paths, liberation from cycles of reincarnation, rather than salvation from damnation.¹⁶
• There isn’t typically a belief in a universal flaw in humanity that requires a universal savior.¹⁶ Instead, individuals are seen as being on their own spiritual journeys, and deities might offer guidance or help not “salvation” in the Christian sense.

Pagan Views on the Afterlife

Pagan beliefs about what happens after death are extremely diverse; there’s no single, universally accepted teaching.¹⁶ This is different from the more defined (though still varied) afterlife scenarios often found in Christian theology (like heaven, hell, or purgatory). Common Pagan ideas include:

• Reincarnation: Many Pagans believe in some form of reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into a new life after death, continuing a cycle of existence.¹⁶ Death is seen as a transition within this ongoing process.¹⁸ Some who believe in reincarnation may also believe it’s possible to eventually break free from this cycle and reach a state of liberation or union with the divine.¹⁶
• The Otherworld/Spirit World: Many traditions talk about an “Otherworld” or a spirit realm where souls go after death.¹⁶ This realm might have various names and descriptions depending on the specific Pagan path (for example, the Summerlands in some Wiccan beliefs, Hel or Valhalla in Heathenry, Elysium in Hellenism). It’s often seen as a place of rest, reunion with ancestors and loved ones, or continued spiritual growth.¹⁶
• Becoming Part of Nature/The Cosmic Flow: Some Pagans believe that when someone dies, their individual essence merges back into the spiritual flow of the universe or becomes part of the Earth and its cycles.¹⁶
• Ancestral Existence: Honoring ancestors is common in many Pagan paths, and some believe that the dead continue to exist as ancestral spirits who can be honored and may offer guidance to the living.
• No Single “Heaven” or “Hell”: While some traditions might have mythical underworlds or realms for those who seriously violated moral codes, the dualistic concept of an eternal heaven for the righteous and an eternal hell for the damned, based on one’s beliefs or actions in a single lifetime, is generally not a feature of Pagan afterlife beliefs.¹⁶ Afterlife destinations, if they are specific, are often less about reward or punishment and more about the nature of one’s life or destiny.

Pagan perspectives on these core theological topics are shaped by their distinct ways of seeing the world, which are often nature-based, polytheistic, and emphasize cyclical views of time and existence rather than linear ones.

What Did the Early Church Fathers Teach About Paganism?

In the early centuries of Christianity, it was a time of much interaction, and often, a lot of disagreement, with the Pagan religions that were common in the Roman Empire. The Church Fathers – these were influential Christian thinkers and writers from about the 2nd to the 8th centuries – they played a huge role in defining what Christians believed and in explaining how Christianity related to the Pagan culture all around them. Their views on Paganism were generally very critical, and this formed a big part of how early Christians defended their faith.

• Condemnation of Idol Worship: One of the main criticisms that the Church Fathers had against Pagan religions was the practice of idolatry—that’s the worship of images or statues made by human hands, as if they were gods.²³
• A writer named Mathetes, in a letter called the Epistle to Diognetus (probably from the early 2nd century), questioned how things made by stonecutters, brass workers, or potters could be thought of as divine. He argued that these items could just as easily have been made into something ordinary, and that by worshipping such lifeless things, people were, in a way, becoming like them.²³
• St. Athanasius, who lived in the 4th century, wrote in his book Against the Heathen that idols were merely “the carver’s art,” not actual gods.²³ This critique was meant to show what Christians saw as the irrationality of honoring lifeless objects instead of the one, invisible Creator God.
• Pagan Gods as Non-Existent or Demonic: The Church Fathers generally said that Pagan gods didn’t exist as true deities.
• St. Justin Martyr, in the 2nd century, wrote in his First Apology that Romans called Christians “atheists” because they refused to recognize the Roman gods. But, he clarified, Christians were atheists only when it came to these “so-called gods,” not when it came to the “Most True God”.²³
• many Church Fathers went even further. They suggested that if Pagan gods had any reality at all, it was as evil spiritual beings—demons—who tricked people into worshipping falsely. Justin Martyr, for example, said that the devils were the ones who invented the scandalous pagan myths.²³ He also suggested that any similarities between Christian stories and pagan myths were because devils, who knew about Christ beforehand through the prophets, deliberately created imitations to confuse people.²⁴ This view didn’t just see Pagan worship as mistaken as potentially dangerous and inspired by evil forces.
• Critique of Pagan Mythology and Morality: The stories, or myths, associated with Pagan gods and goddesses often included tales of conflict, jealousy, lust, and other behaviors that the Church Fathers found morally wrong and not worthy of divinity.²³ They contrasted these stories with the Christian understanding of a perfect, righteous God. Justin Martyr pointed to the scandalous stories of figures like Bacchus and Apollo as examples.²³
• Pagan Philosophy: Partial Truths Pointing to Christ: Although they generally condemned Pagan religion, some Church Fathers, like St. Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria, engaged more thoughtfully with certain parts of Pagan philosophy (like Platonism).
• Justin Martyr acknowledged that some bits of truth could be found in the writings of pagan philosophers. But he always maintained that the complete fullness of truth was found only in Christianity, specifically in Jesus Christ as the divine Logos (which means Word or Reason).²³ He argued that whatever truths philosophers like Socrates or Plato had understood were due to a partial inspiration from this Logos. This approach allowed for some intellectual discussion but always placed pagan wisdom as secondary to Christian revelation.
• Inconsistency of Roman Persecution: Church Fathers like Justin Martyr also pointed out what they saw as hypocrisy and inconsistency in Roman law. The law tolerated the worship of many pagan gods with often questionable stories but persecuted Christians for their belief in one God and His Son, Jesus Christ.²³
• Refusal to Syncretize: Despite the pressures of Roman society and times of persecution, the main stance of the early Church Fathers was a firm rejection of syncretism – that means blending Christian practices with Pagan religious practices. They emphasized how unique the Christian faith and worship were, even when doing so brought hardship.²³ St. Augustine’s great work, The City of God (from the early 5th century), was written partly to argue against pagan claims that abandoning the old gods for Christianity had led to Rome’s decline. This shows there was still a need to defend Christianity against pagan arguments even after it became a dominant religion.²³

So, to sum it up, the early Church Fathers viewed Pagan religions mainly as systems of idolatry and false worship, often believing they were inspired by demonic forces. They critiqued Pagan myths and morals. Although they sometimes acknowledged partial truths in Pagan philosophy, they always asserted that Christian revelation was supreme and exclusive. Their writings were incredibly important in shaping a distinct Christian identity that stood in opposition to the prevailing Pagan culture of the Roman Empire.

Did Early Christianity Adopt Pagan Practices?

The question of whether early Christianity adopted or was influenced by Pagan practices is a big one, and it’s something historians and theologians often discuss. As Christianity spread out from its Jewish roots into the wider Greco-Roman world, it naturally encountered and interacted with Pagan cultures that were very deeply established. This interaction led to a process where some things were adapted, and other things were rejected.

The Theory of “Pagan Influence” or “Appropriation”:

• Some scholars and critics argue that as Christianity grew and tried to convert people who were used to Pagan ways, it strategically adopted or “baptized” certain Pagan customs, symbols, and even festival dates. The idea was to make the new faith feel more familiar and acceptable.⁵ Some believe the Church started out pure but then slowly began to include pagan elements, especially after Emperor Constantine converted in the early 4th century.²³
• A historian named Will Durant once said, “Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it”.¹⁵ This viewpoint suggests that many things that became part of Christian tradition didn’t come directly from the Bible but through this process of cultural blending.

Examples Often Cited:

• Christmas and Winter Solstice Festivals: One of the most common examples people bring up is celebrating Christmas on December 25th. In the ancient Roman calendar, December 25th was the date of the winter solstice and the festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (which means Birthday of the Unconquered Sun). Emperor Aurelian established this festival in 274 AD.⁵ This was a major celebration, often linked with the popular Saturnalia festival (December 17-23), which was known for feasting, giving gifts, and lots of merrymaking.⁵ The theory is that the Church chose this date for Christ’s birth to kind of take over these popular pagan festivities and redirect people’s focus to Christ, calling Him the “Sun of Righteousness”.⁵ The earliest writing we have that links December 25th to Jesus’ birth is from the mid-4th century.⁵
• Easter and Spring Festivals: Although the heart of Easter (the Resurrection of Jesus) is uniquely Christian, some argue that certain folk customs we associate with it (like Easter eggs and bunnies, which are symbols of fertility) have pre-Christian, Pagan roots. These might be connected to spring festivals that celebrated rebirth and new life, perhaps linked to goddesses like the Saxon Eostre (which is where the name “Easter” might come from).²
• Saints and Local Deities: Some suggest that as Christianity spread, local Pagan gods or goddesses were sometimes transformed into, or replaced by, Christian saints. This might have allowed local people to continue honoring familiar sacred figures under a new Christian name.⁸
• Use of Pagan Holy Places: There’s historical evidence that many Pagan temples and sacred sites were converted into Christian churches.⁵ For example, Pope Boniface IV turned the Pantheon in Rome (which was originally a temple to all Roman gods) into a Christian church in 609 AD.⁵ Pope Gregory I, in the early 7th century, advised missionaries in Anglo-Saxon England to purify existing pagan temples and rededicate them for Christian worship, rather than destroying them. The idea was to make the change easier for new converts.⁵ St. Boniface, in the 8th century, famously cut down Donar’s Oak, a tree that was sacred to Germanic pagans, and used the wood to build a church.⁵
• Artistic Symbols and Practices: Early Christian art, like the art found in the catacombs, sometimes used or adapted existing Pagan symbols and designs, giving them new Christian meanings. For example, the figure of the Orant (a praying woman with her hands raised) likely had pagan origins, and symbols like shepherds, cupids, or even the halo (which was used in non-Christian ways too) were brought into Christian art.⁵ Funeral rituals and songs of mourning also kept some aspects of ancient customs.⁵
• Calendar Elements: Many names for months and days of the week in European languages are borrowed from Roman or Norse paganism (for instance, Thursday comes from Thor, and Saturday from Saturn).⁵
• Liturgical Elements: Some critics have suggested that parts of Christian worship services, like the use of incense, candles, processions, or even the concept of a divine trinity, have similarities or origins in earlier Pagan mystery religions or Egyptian beliefs.¹⁵

Christian Responses and Counterarguments:

• Many Christian theologians and historians argue that while Christianity did interact with Pagan cultures, it didn’t just “adopt” paganism. Instead, they say, it often transformed o re-contextualized existing cultural forms, filling them with new, uniquely Christian meaning. The focus, they say, always remained on the core beliefs of the Christian faith.
• They might argue that the timing of festivals like Christmas wasn’t chosen to adopt paganism but to replace it, offering a Christian alternative and showing Christ’s triumph over pagan deities.
• Taking over existing sacred sites could be seen as a practical step and a symbolic way of claiming that territory for Christ.
• Similarities in some symbols or practices are sometimes explained as common human ways of expressing religious feelings or as a “divine preparation” (praeparatio evangelica), where bits of truth in pagan cultures were seen as pointing towards Christian revelation.
• It’s also pointed out that the early Church was often very strongly opposed to pagan religious practices and beliefs. We see this in the writings of the Church Fathers and in the fact that pagan worship was eventually prohibited.⁵ This suggests a very complex relationship – one of opposition also, at times, of strategically adapting cultural forms.

The interaction between early Christianity and Paganism was undeniably complex, friends. Although the core message of Christianity was distinct, the way it was expressed in different cultures involved some level of engagement with existing customs and symbols. Whether this is best described as “adoption” versus “transformation” or “supersession” is something people still discuss today. For Christian readers, it’s important to distinguish between the essential theological claims of our faith and the cultural forms and historical practices that have grown up around it over many centuries.

How Can Christians Understand and Relate to Pagans?

If you’re a Christian and you’re seeking to understand and relate to people who identify as Pagan, the most important thing is to approach the subject with respect, with an open heart, and with a real willingness to learn. Because Paganism is so diverse, and because the history between these faiths can be complicated, building positive interactions takes a conscious effort.

Seek Accurate Information and Avoid Stereotypes:

• One of the very first and most important steps is to learn about Paganism from good, reliable sources. Don’t rely on misinformation, old stereotypes, or sensational things you might see in the media.⁸ As we’ve talked about, Paganism is not Satanism, and most Pagans are not involved in harmful practices.² Remember that “Pagan” is a big, broad term that covers many different beliefs and practices.¹

Recognize Shared Humanity and Values (Where Applicable):

• Although the theological differences are very real and major, it’s often possible to find common ground on a human level. Many Pagans hold values like respecting nature, taking personal responsibility, valuing community, and seeking spiritual meaning in life.²⁰ Focusing on shared ethical concerns (like caring for our environment or working for social justice) can be a wonderful bridge for understanding, even if the spiritual reasons behind those concerns are different.

Respect Their Right to Their Beliefs:

• In societies like ours that value religious freedom, it’s so crucial to respect a person’s right to choose their own spiritual path, even if it’s very different from your own.²⁰ Engaging with Pagans doesn’t mean you have to agree with their beliefs it does mean acknowledging their sincerity and their freedom to hold those beliefs.

Listen More Than You Speak (Initially):

• If you have a chance to talk with someone who is Pagan, go into that conversation with genuine curiosity and a real desire to listen to their perspective. Ask open-ended questions about what their path means to them. Try not to make assumptions or immediately try to correct them or convert them. People are generally much more open when they feel they’ve been heard and respected.

Understand the Appeal of Paganism:

• Try to understand Richiesto/Normativo per la salvezza (Cattolici/Ortodossi/alcuni Protestanti); atto essenziale di obbedienza/confessione pubblica, ma salvezza per grazia solo mediante la fede (Evangelici/Battisti). people are drawn to Paganism (we talked about this in Question 7). Recognizing that individuals might be looking for a connection with nature, for personal empowerment, for a sense of community, or for freedom from dogma can help you feel empathy and understanding.¹³

Be Aware of Christian History with Paganism:

• It’s good to acknowledge, at least to yourself, the historical background of how Christianity interacted with, and sometimes suppressed, Pagan religions.⁵ Some Pagans may have a critical view of historical Christianity because of this past. Approaching with humility, rather than a sense of being superior, can be much more constructive.

Distinguish Between the Path and the Person:

• It is absolutely possible to disagree with a person’s beliefs while still treating them with love, kindness, and respect as a fellow human being. This is in line with Christian teachings to love your neighbor.

For Those Interested in Dialogue or Witness:

• If your intention is to share your Christian faith, it’s often much more effective to do that after you’ve built a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding.
• Understanding their worldview (for example, their views on divinity, nature, the afterlife) can help you communicate Christian concepts in a way that might be easier for them to understand or that might address their specific spiritual questions or longings.
• Some Christian writers suggest that while Paganism’s beliefs are very different from biblical truth, many Pagans are sincere spiritual seekers.¹² Highlighting the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, especially his message of love and truth, might be a point of connection, even if his divine nature or exclusive claims are not initially accepted by the Pagan individual.⁶

Avoid Condescension or Judgmental Language:

• Using words that are dismissive or that condemn will likely shut down any chance for a meaningful conversation. Approach discussions with intellectual humility, being willing to learn.

Focus on Personal Experience (If Sharing Faith):

• Rather than getting into abstract theological debates, sometimes sharing your own personal experience of faith and what it means in your life can be more impactful and less confrontational.

Relating to Pagans, just like relating to people of any different faith or worldview, is about recognizing their inherent dignity, seeking to understand them with an open mind, and interacting with them in a spirit of grace, kindness, and respect.

Conclusion: Navigating a Diverse Spiritual Landscape

Paganism, as we’ve explored today, isn’t one single, straightforward religion. It’s more like a beautiful, diverse story woven from many different spiritual paths, beliefs, and practices. Often, you’ll find a deep reverence for nature, an understanding of the divine that includes many gods or sees divinity in everything (polytheistic or pantheistic), and a focus on spirituality that you experience directly. Its roots go way back into ancient times its modern expressions are varied and always growing and changing.

For Christian readers, understanding Paganism means we need to move beyond old misconceptions and stereotypes that might have been around for a long time. There are key differences in how God or divinity is understood, in what are considered sacred texts, in ideas about sin and salvation, and in views about what happens after this life. The word “pagan” itself has had quite a journey – from just describing people who lived in the country, to a label used by an expanding Christianity, and for many modern spiritual seekers, it’s a reclaimed identity they choose for themselves.

Engaging with Paganism or with individuals who identify as Pagan requires us to commit to getting accurate information, to having respectful conversations, and to acknowledging that people can have very different ways of seeing the world. Although the theological frameworks might be fundamentally different, fostering understanding can begin with something as simple as recognizing our shared humanity and the universal search we all have for meaning and connection. For Christians, this understanding can enrich our own comprehension of the broader religious landscape around us and help us have respectful and loving interactions with those who walk different spiritual paths. Amen.