neopagan

American  

[nee-oh-pey-guhn] / ˌni oʊˈpeɪ gən /

noun

1. a modern practitioner of a specific pre-Christian polytheistic religious tradition or of the worship of nature, fertility, etc., as represented by various deities.

   Germanic neopagans call their summer solstice festival Litha.

   As a neopagan, I try to counter misconceptions about my faith wherever I find them.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or participating in the modern revival of interest in a specific pre-Christian polytheistic religious tradition or the worship of nature, fertility, etc., as represented by various deities.

   There is no set teaching on vegetarianism within the diverse neopagan communities.

Usage

Some people object to the label neopagan and prefer pagan, polytheist, or a more specific term. As with any other matter of personal identity, the best way to refer to someone's religious beliefs is the word or name they have told you they prefer.

Etymology

Origin of neopagan

First recorded in 1865–70; neo- ( def. ) + pagan ( def. )

Example Sentences

She also gravitated toward the neopagan goddess movement, engrossing herself in the study of ancient religions and the psychological theories of Carl Jung.

From Washington Post • May 24, 2021

Another neopagan staple is rites and festivals timed to the lunar and solar cycles or the seasons.

From Time Magazine Archive

She and others point to women who have formed separatist "Women-Church" worship, a New Age blend of feminist, ecological, neopagan and Christian elements.

From Time Magazine Archive

Contrary to what many think, Wicca, or modern neopagan witchcraft, has nothing to do with Satan.

From Time Magazine Archive

Together with that of Orvieto, it stands to show what the unassisted genius of the Italians could produce, when under the empire of mediæval Christianity and before the advent of the neopagan spirit.

From Sketches and Studies in Italy and Greece, Third series by Symonds, John Addington