It’s quite common for people to think that all Pagans are polytheistic, and that’s what separates them from other religions. That’s not an accurate definition.

While it’s true that most Pagans are polytheistic, not all are. Some believe in only one deity or god-form. Believe it or not, there are even non-theistic Pagans, for whom Gods play no role in their spirituality, or are considered nothing more than metaphors. Some believe that the Gods are not all-powerful, while some do not believe in them at all.

It is true though that the majority of Pagans are polytheistic, in that they believe in one or more deities or higher powers. It may be as simple as believing in a God and Goddess, or as complex as worshiping and calling on numerous entities from one or more pantheons. Pagans may also believe in spirit guides, familiars, a universal consciousness and many other things, and those entities may be used alongside or to the exclusion of others.

Because there are so many Pagan traditions, there’s no one label or definition that fits them all. Moreover, as we each grow and travel along our spiritual path, our beliefs and understanding will change, so what is true for us today, may not be in a month or a year.

*Disclaimer: I no longer practice Paganism, but I’ve left these Pagan Myths articles active because I believe they’re still valuable in helping people to understand Paganism and reduce negative stereotypes.*

Briana Blair

Briana Blair is an author and artisan. She has published more then 30 books and thousands of articles across multiple sites. After practicing Paganism and witchcraft for 25 years, she's now on a journey as an atheist and skeptic. She's eclectic, unpredictable, and always evolving. Facebook - Twitter