Paganism (LATIN paganus meaning country dweller or rustic) is a word with several different meanings.
In the broadest definition, paganism literally means any belief that is non-Abrahamic; therefore, if you do not practice Judaism, Christianity or Islam, yet you believe there is a force larger than yourself, then you are a pagan.
Although I’m sure most Christians, Jews and Islamics today would all agree to disagree, my research indicates that these three religions have been intertwined for approximately 1,300 years and historically, they are considered to be inextricably linked to one another because of a 'family likeness' and a certain commonality in theology.
The term “pagan” originated as a word from a Christian reference. With its uncertain and varied meanings in referring to traditional and historic faiths, in the latter part of the 20th century modern scholars defined paganism under three precise categories.
HISTORICAL (eg., norse, celtic, egyptian, roman, aztec) is practicing a belief that includes the presence of a living mythology. Today, most historical pagan religions are referred to as "mythology,” although the stories and cultures which tell about their gods would be distinguished from their worship or religious practice. For instance, deities portrayed in conflict in mythology would still be worshipped sometimes side by side, illustrating the distinction in the devotee's mind between the myth and the reality.
FOLK/ETHNIC (eg., chinese folk, african traditional) is a traditional religion involving teachings, practices and rituals that lend structure to indigenous societies. These traditional religions also play a large part in the cultural understanding and awareness of the people of their communities.
NEOPAGANISM (eg., druidism, wicca, hindu, germanic) is an umbrella term referring to a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by pre-Christian beliefs, and is a revival of a post-modern religions. A philosophical movement has influenced the attitude and focus of its members ranging from a strictly historical reconstruction to pragmatic occult or mystic approaches; nonetheless, members share a modern spirituality that generally promotes harmony and worship of nature, respect for all beings including the environment and religious tolerance of all, including those who are atheists.
All pagans (also known as polytheists), no matter what category they fall under, have one thing in common which is the belief in one or more deities; however, these are assembled into a pantheon along with their own mythologies and rituals. Polytheists do not always worship all gods equally nor do they worship the same deity at the same time; in fact, some practices such as Hinduism and Wicca believe that various deities (gods/goddesses) are seen as an emanation to a greater Godhead.
So it appears if you are not an athiest, you are either an Abrahamic or Pagan. After hours of research and days of summary, I now feel fully educated on the topic and am no longer afraid to admit I am influenced by all three categories of paganism.
WODEN
Woden was worshipped during the Migration period, when the Anglo-Saxon tribes brought their indigenous faith to what was to become England around the 5th and 6th centuries and continued that form of worship until nearly all were converted to Christianity by the 9th century, at which point the old gods and any records of them were almost completely lost. Germanic paganism was replaced by Christianity.
This process of Christianization followed an established pattern that is attested in accounts of the same from continental Europe: leaders were baptised for varied reasons, and the conversion of their respective peoples almost always inevitably followed, sometimes in the space of a few years, but more often over the course of a few generations though numerous aspects of indigenous beliefs often remained.
In Christianised Anglo-Saxon England, Woden was rationalized as a historical king, and remnants of worship were continued into modern times as folklore.
Woden is a god in Anglo-Saxon paganism and, as records indicate, is also referred to as Odin, a Norse god. Woden and Odin, from different countries, peoples and cultures, were considered one and the same.
Definitely more on Woden and Odin later but because I referred to him in my last post, I wanted to leave you with this Anglo-Saxon peom recorded in the 10th century:
NINE HERBS CHARM
A snake came crawling, it bit a man.
Then Woden took nine glory-twigs,
Smote the serpent so that it flew into nine parts.
There apple brought this pass against poison,
That she nevermore would enter her house.
