Definitions in Modern Magical Context
Labels and definitions can get confusing when you're just dipping into the magical scene (and even if you've been here a while tbh). Here are a couple of titles, words, or labels that you'll see floating around along with their dictionary definitions and how they're generally used in a modern context.
Pagan: is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism,or ethnic religions other than Judaism. (wiki)
Paganism:Â spiritual beliefs and practices other than those of Judaism, Islam, or especially Christianity: such as
a:Â the spiritual beliefs and practices of ancient polytheistic religions
b:Â the beliefs and practices of contemporary religions or spiritual movements based on ancient paganism (MW Dictionary)
-> Be sure to only use the term "pagan" when someone chooses to identify as such. Many other religions have actual names and titles specific to that religion or the culture surrounding it and it's disrespectful to call them "pagan".
Polytheism: belief in or worship of more than one god (MW)
-> A polytheist may choose to identify as solely a polytheist or they may choose to identify as both a polytheist and a pagan.
-> Pagans aren't inherently polytheists, but many are.
Heathen: a person who is not religious or whose religion is not Judaism, Islam, or especially Christianity. (MW)
In the modern magical context "heathen" or "heathenry" usually refers to Germanic paganism or polytheism. (wiki)
So while by dictionary definition "heathen" and "pagan" could be used interchangeably, they usually aren't unless you're a pagan that practices Germanic paganism.
"Heathenry does not have a unified theology but is typically polytheistic, centering on a pantheon of deities from pre-Christian Germanic Europe. It adopts cosmological views from these past societies, including an animistic view of the cosmos in which the natural world is imbued with spirits. " (wiki).
Witchcraft: rituals and practices that incorporate belief in magic and that [usually] are associated especially with neo-pagan traditions and religions (MW).
-> Not all magical practices are called witchcraft, and in many places, it is offensive to call these practices as such. Make sure to ask before referring to someone's practice as "witchcraft".
Witch: a practitioner of witchcraft (MW).
-> This means that a pagan can be a witch and vice versa, but these two labels can and do exist independently of each other. A person can decide that they are both or one or the other, it is up to the individual to decide.
-> Do not call someone a witch just because they practice magic. As stated above, it can be seen as offensive to call someone a witch (and sometimes even dangerous for the person to be called as such), so make sure to ask before referring to someone as a witch.
Hellenism: devotion to or imitation of ancient Greek thought, customs, or styles (MW)
Kemetism: (also Kemeticism; both from the Egyptian kmt, usually voweled Kemet, the native name of ancient Egypt), also sometimes referred to as Neterism (from nᚯr (Coptic â˛â˛â˛Šâ˛§â˛Â noute) "deity"), or Egyptian Neopaganism, is a revival of ancient Egyptian religion and related expressions of religion in classical and late antiquity, emerging during the 1970s. (wiki)
Let me know if I should add anything else!
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