Paganism 101: Frequently Asked Questions

This is more accurately described as "questions I anticipate people having". Most of this is lifted directly from my personal website. Last updated December 21st, 2025.

Do pagans believe in Heaven and/or Hell?

Short answer is no. Some traditions have their own analogues to the concept (ie Wiccan "Summerland"), but generally the fact that pagans don't believe in Heaven and Hell, or eternal reward/damnation, is the appeal. Pagans, broadly, care about what we do while we're alive.

Do pagans believe in sin?

No. There are definitely taboos and things pagans think you should/shouldn't do (varies by tradition), but there isn't anything analogous to the concept of sin.

Do pagans worship demons/Satan?

Every time I read something from pagans/witches that is intended to answer basic beliefs, there is always a part where they are adamant that they do not worship demons/Satan and that, in fact, no pagans worship demons/Satan. I personally think it's a form of respectability politics (Christians do not like when people worship Satan), but unfortunately for the people insisting on this, there are pagans who worship demons and/or Satan. It is not very common for a Satanist or Demonolatrist to identify as a pagan though. It would be more accurate to say that paganism is not the same as Satanism or devil worship, rather than doing the No True Scotsman thing and saying pagans just absolutely do not worship demons and anybody who does is just not a pagan.

What do pagans think happens to you when you die?

It really depends on the tradition and how the stories of each tradition are interpreted. Most pagan traditions have mythology that references a land of the dead or several different realms that a person's soul could go to after death, but that doesn't necessarily mean that pagans in those traditions think those places are real. Some believe nothing happens, some believe you join your ancestors, some believe the places named in mythology are where they'll go. There's a lot of variation.

What do pagans think the purpose of life is?

I think this answer would also depend, but would probably fall on a scale between "your purpose in life is to find your purpose" to "our purpose is to serve the gods". I think most people are closer to the "find your own purpose" end of things though.

Do pagans have sacred texts?

No. There are certainly texts that pagans view as important (ie Prose/Poetic Eddas and the Havamal for Heathens), but there isn't anything like the Torah or the Quran.

What are pagan ethics/values?

This varies from person to person and tradition to tradition, but most pagans (in my experience) value stuff like honor, respect, piety, protecting nature, hospitality…that sort of thing. Basically, treating others well, treating ourselves well and treating the Earth well.

What are pagan views on God/divinity?

I'd say a vast majority of pagans reject monotheism, but there are a handful of monotheistic pagans. There are pagans who only worship one god while believing in many (henotheism), but generally, pagans are polytheistic or pantheistic ("God is everything, everything is God").

Beyond that, it really depends on the individual.

What holidays do pagans celebrate?

As is the ongoing theme here...it depends on the tradition and a person's specific practices. Generally, however, holidays consist of seasonal celebrations (ie Wheel of the Year for Wiccans, some Druids and many eclectic pagans), celebrations of specific moon phases (usually the full and/or new moon), culturally important observances, dates of personal importance and/or historical festivals reconstructed from surviving historical information.