What is Paganism?

Paganism refers to any religion that is not Abrahamic, or not one of the big world religions. Generally Pagan religions tend to be nature/earth-based, animistic, pantheistic, and polytheistic in nature. There are MANY religions that are considered pagan. Many religions considered Pagan today fall under the category of NeoPaganism, as they are revivals, reconstructions, or new religions based upon ancient religions. Pagan religions tend to be Orthopraxic, not Orthodoxic, focusing more on the ways one practice, rather than the specific beliefs an individual holds in regards to said practices. Popular forms of Paganism include Wicca, Hellenic(Ancient Greek), Kemetic(Ancient Egyptian), Asatru(Norse), Heathenry(Germanic, Saxon, Norse, etc.), Celtic, Druidry(overlaps with Celtic often), Sumerian, Mesopotamian, and Demonolatry(based on worshipping demons as gods, as many were initially pagan gods who got villified). Some lesser known pagan paths include Feraferia, Faery Faith, Natib Qadish(a form of Canaanite Recon/Revival), Rodnovery, Slavic, etc. Some Pagans may stick to one pantheon, or worship from many different ones.

Revivalist vs Reconstructionist vs Eclectic

Revivalist - Revivalist Paganism reworks the ancient practices for a modern day. Often times, Revivalist religions will incorperate new concepts and generally NeoPagan/Contemporary concepts into their religious practices and reliefs.

Reconstructionist - Reconstructionist Paganism focuses on reconstructing ancient religions as close to as they would have been practiced historically.

Eclectic - Eclectic Paganism, much like Eclectic Witchcraft and Wicca, is freeform, and often focuses on one's own intuition and personal experience in regards to practices, gods worshipped, etc.

Types of Polytheism

Hard Polytheism - The belief that all gods/goddesses are separate beings with their own agendas, ideals, etc. For example, a hard polytheist would view Freyja and Inanna as fully separate deities. Some Hard Polytheists may have softer leanings than others, maybe seeing goddesses like Freyja and Inanna as the same deity through a cultural lense, but not seeing them as the same as, for example, Hekate.

Soft Polytheism - The belief that Gods and Goddesses are not necessarily separate beings, and rather, aspects of a greater divine, or aspects of One Great Goddess and One Great God, who may also be aspects of one larger divine whole. A Soft Polytheist may see Freyja and Inanna as the same being, but interpreted differently through a cultural lens. Soft Polytheism is a form of Religious Syncretism. Some soft polytheists may have harder leanings, for example, not seeing the Abrahamic God as part of the overarching divinity, or having harder defined aspects of the divine, for example, The Love Goddess is not The Moon Goddess is not The Earth Mother. Some Soft Polytheism may lean more towards duotheism, monism, pantheism, and panentheism, so much so that they may be interchangable pending the pagan. I consider myself a Soft Polytheist.

There is no right or wrong approach to polytheism, despite what some strict reconstructionists may say.