Beginner's Guide to Paganism Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rural, rustic

The word pāgānus refers to someone of the countryside, rural, villager, civilian and by extension, rustic or uneducated. The term Paganism was first used in the fourth century by early Christians to refer to people in the Roman empire who practiced religions other than Judaism. Pagans were typically rural or provincial, and not 'soldiers of Christ'.

Other terms for this class of people included Hellene, gentile and heathen. During the middle ages, the term Pagan was used for anyone practicing a non-Christian religion and worshipping what was perceived as a false God.

Answer: Earth religion

Earth-based religions include any that worship the Earth, nature or fertility deities. Paganism, which is a nature-based religion, is included in this group. Also included is Wicca, which is a belief in an Earth mother goddess; Druidism, which equates divinity with the natural world; and Animism, which believes that all living entities (plants, humans and animals) possess a spirit.

Answer: Belief in more than one God

Polytheism is the belief in more than one God and was the dominant view prior to the spread of monotheistic religions such as Islam and Christianity. There are several religions that hold this view, including Taoism, Shenism, Japanese Shinto, and various Neopagan faiths. Within the Pagan movement, there is the belief in multiple Gods and Goddesses, who often take on human form and therefore possess human flaws.

They are not seen as perfect but as wise and powerful. One exception to this polytheistic view is a form of Ukrainian Paganism which believes in one God called Dazhbog.

Answer: Pagan witchcraft

Wicca, or Pagan witchcraft, is a relatively new religion that was developed in England during the first half of the twentieth century. It is typically duotheistic, meaning there is a belief in two Gods. They are known as the Horned God and the Triple Goddess.

The Triple Goddess is a Goddess that embodies three figures that represent three phases of a woman's life. The Maiden (or Virgin), the Mother, and the Crone (or old woman) also symbolize phases of the moon. The masculine counterpart is the Horned God.

The Triple Goddess represents life, fertility and the springtime and is an ideal role model for women. The Horned God represents nature, animals and the afterlife and is an ideal role model for men.

Answer: Midgard

Heathenry is a modern Pagan religion developed in Europe in the early twentieth century. Practitioners of this religion model it on pre-Christian religions of the Germanic peoples during the Iron and Early Middle ages. It is typically polytheistic. Heathens generally adapt a view of Norse cosmology that the world that humans inhabit is one of nine worlds and that world is called Midgard. Within this view, all nine worlds are part of a world tree called Yggdrasil and different beings live on different realms. For instance, humans live on Midgard, dwarves live on one, elves live on one, and deities inhabit two of the realms.

Heathens live by a similar moral and ethical code as that of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe in which loyalty to family, hard work, courage and integrity are important.

Answer: Way of the Saints

Santeria developed in Cuba in the nineteenth century and is influenced by a number of African religions as well as Christianity. It is a polytheistic religion that revolves around Oricha, which are spirits or saints. Every human is believed to have a link to one of these spirits, who influence their personality.

These saints are venerated and offerings are given. The offerings include flowers, fruit and sacrificed animals. Practitioners are also expected to adhere to the wishes of these spirits, who are believed to be able to communicate with humans through divination, prayers, dreams, music, and dance.

Answer: Iceland

Ásatrúarfélagið has no fixed religious dogma or theology. It was created in Iceland in 1972 by a farmer and poet who led the religion until his death in 1993. The high priests of this religion lean toward a pantheistic view of the world, meaning that reality is identical with divinity.

The central ritual of this religion is a communal feast and there are other activities associated with it such as weddings and funerals. As of 2018, this religion has just over four thousand registered members.

Answer: Chaos

Discordianism was founded in the 1960's. The central belief is that order and disorder are both illusions that are imposed on the universe by the central nervous system. The religion is based on the worship of the Goddess of Eris who is the Greek Goddess of discord and strife although the Discordian version is not as malevolent as the original Greek Goddess.

It's difficult to know how many people consider themselves Discordians and there is some division as to whether it's actually a mock religion. One particularly fascinating aspect to this religion is the belief that all assassinations, calamities and conspiracies are attributed to the Bavarian Illuminati, a secret society wishing to sow paranoia.

Answer: The Goddess

The Goddess movement includes spiritual practices or beliefs that emerged in the 1970s in North America, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a widespread but non-centralized trend and does not have one central tenet. Dianic Wicca honours only Goddesses while Wicca honours a Goddess and a God.

There is no specific code of behaviour although there is a general belief in living in a way that promotes harmony and beauty, nurturing life and taking only what is needed. Many people involved in this movement believe that the Earth is a living Goddess which leads to a value on the environment and it's human and non-human inhabitants.

Answer: False

There is no one common description of Modern Paganism. Contemporary Paganism is understood to be a collection of "modern religious, spiritual, and magical traditions" that borrows from other religions. Another understanding of Modern Paganism is that it is one religion of which groups like Wiccans or Druids are denominations. Most scholars, however, describe Paganism as a collection of religions, not just one.