What is a pagan?

This is one simplified answer.

A Pagan is a person who feels a strong connection to nature, who holds the Earth and its creatures sacred, and who seeks a personal connection with the Divine. Pagan religions come from all around the globe, from ancient history and contemporary times as well. Paganism encompasses the reverence of nature, the worship of the Divine in many guises but especially as an embodiment of natural forces, the observance of seasonal cycles, and a perennial quest for personal growth. Most Pagan religions are polytheistic, celebratory faiths. Like any religion, Paganism is much too complex to describe fully in just a few words.

Q: What do Pagans believe?

A: This depends on the Pagans, because different Pagan religions have different tenets. Still, some common threads emerge. More often than not, Pagans believe: The God(s) and Goddess(es) made this world as a kind of school, where souls can enter bodies to learn many valuable lessons. Your body is a precious gift that you should cherish and care for accordingly. All the plants, animals, landscape features – everything in this world is sacred and worthy of respect. You must take responsibility for your own life and actions. Magic, a focusing of Will to alter reality, can help you shape your life to positive ends. Many good spirits offer help and guidance along the way. You have a right to choose a religion meaningful to you and helpful in achieving your goals. You are a good and worthwhile person; you do not need to "do" anything to earn or keep the love of the God and the Goddess, because unconditional love comes with no strings attached. Humanity includes the capacity for great good and great evil; we are not tainted by some "original sin" from which we need "salvation" but we do need to choose right action over wrong action. After you die, you will travel to a beautiful place and be reunited with your ancestors and friends who have gone before; you may or may not return to Earth for another lifetime.

More questions about pagans are answered at the on-line magazine Witches and Pagans, on their FAQ page HERE. 

The author of this FAQ:

— Elizabeth Barrette lives in central Illinois with her lifepartner, in a large Victorian farmhouse with a yard frequented by wildlife. An avid wordsmith, she works as a writer and editor, doing poetry, articles, essays, reviews, interviews, short stories. She is a former editor of PanGaia magazine and has written several popular books published by Llewellyn including the popular 2012 Magical Almanac and Composing Magic and many more. She is a member of The Greenhaven Tradition, and Fieldhaven Coven in central Illinois.

I'll share more from the FAQ sheet about various pagan/goddess/wiccan questions.