Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans

Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic PagansEven in pagan antiquity, there were those who, while participating in the communitys religious life, did not believe in literal gods. In the centuries that followed the Christian domination of the West, the epithet godless pagan was leveled at a wide variety of people. In the 1960s, there emerged a community of people who sought to reclaim the name pagan from its history of opprobrium. These Neo Pagans were interested in nature spirituality and

Even in pagan antiquity, there were those who, while participating in the communityÕs religious life, did not believe in literal gods. In the centuries that followed the Christian domination of the West, the epithet Ògodless paganÓ was leveled at a wide variety of people. In the 1960s, there emerged a community of people who sought to reclaim the name ÒpaganÓ from its history of opprobrium. These Neo-Pagans were interested in nature spirituality and polytheism, and identified with the misunderstood and persecuted pagans of antiquity. While many Pagans today believe in literal gods, there are a growing number of Pagans who are Ògodless.Ó Today, the diverse assemblage of spiritual paths known as Paganism includes atheist Pagans or Atheopagans, Humanistic and Naturalistic Pagans, Buddho-Pagans, animists, pantheists, Gaians, and other non-theistic Pagans. Here, their voices are gathered together to share what it means to be Pagan and godless.