Paganism, which is also referred to as contemporary Paganism, Neo-Paganism and Neopaganism,[1] is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety ofmodern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.[2][3] Contemporary Pagan religious movements are extremely diverse, and there is no set of beliefs shared by all of them, although there are commonalities shared by most of them.
These include an approach to theology that embraces such beliefs as polytheism, animism, and pantheism. Many Pagans practice a spirituality that is entirely modern in origin, while others attempt accurately to reconstruct or revive indigenous, ethnic religions as found in historical and folkloric sources.[4]
Contemporary Paganism is a development in the industrialized countries, found in particular strength in the United States and Britain, but also in Continental Europe(German-speaking Europe, Scandinavia, Slavic Europe, Latin Europe and elsewhere) and Canada. The largest Contemporary Pagan religion is Wicca, though other significantly sized Pagan faiths include Neo-druidism, Germanic Neopaganism, and Slavic Neopaganism.
Pagans themselves, with the support of academic Michael York, argue that their religions are similar in theological approach to other "pagan" religions such as those of pre-Christian Europe and indigenous religions from across the world.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism
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