Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Pagans in the Marketplace of Religions

Pagans in the Marketplace of Religions

Last updated on: April 28, 2022 at 3:00 am by John Beckett

Pagans in the Marketplace of Religions 2022-04-26T18:44:42-06:00 John Beckett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We live in the most religiously diverse society in the history of humanity.

This is true much of the world, and it’s especially true here in North America.

Most people in most of the world throughout most of history have simply followed the religion of their parents and grandparents before them. There have always been converts, but they were usually few – unless you got caught up in a mass conversion, such as the not-exactly-voluntary conversion of whole nations to Christianity or Islam.

The idea that religion is something you can choose is a very new concept, and the idea of religious seekers – people actively trying to find the “right” religion for themselves – is even newer.

Meanwhile, established religions can no longer count on a steady stream of births to keep their churches and other houses of worship filled generation after generation. Even those without a long tradition of proselytizing have to recruit to stay alive.

I call this situation “the marketplace of religions.” I don’t think I coined that phrase, but I can’t remember where I heard it, and I can’t find it on Google.

Regardless of who came up with it, it’s a good metaphor for our overall religious environment.

Think of an open-air market where the purveyors of every religion currently known to humanity are offering their wares: Buddhists and Baptists, Pagans and Presbyterians, Hindus and Heathens. It’s filled with shoppers who are looking for something that will work for them. As always when you’re dealing with shoppers, some want the best they can get, while others are looking for something that won’t cost too much – and cost is measured in time and commitment, not money (for some it is measured in money, but that’s another rant for another time).

Some people don’t like this term. It implies that religion is something to be bought and sold, not a sacred tradition. I get that. In 2018 I offered a glorious garden of religions as an alternative. But whether you call it a marketplace or a garden or something else, the situation remains the same. We’re living in a religiously diverse society where many people are looking for something that fits them better than what they grew up with. They need something that will be meaningful and helpful to them as they make their way through a world that’s growing more and more difficult and unpleasant.

We Pagans are part of this marketplace whether we want to be or not.

I used to advocate for growth strategies for Paganism (by which I mean all the different traditions under the Big Tent). I had dreams of Paganism becoming a mainstream religion. I still think the world could use what we offer – mainly understanding the the Divine as many and a reverence for Nature – but that kind of widespread acceptance isn’t going to happen in my lifetime. Or likely, in the lifetime of anyone alive today. So I don’t do that anymore.

Instead, I want to think about how we should approach and interact with the marketplace of religions.

Make sure people can find us

I often say “Pagans don’t proselytize, but we better publicize.” We need to make sure that people who want what we have and do can find us.

This is certainly easier than it was in previous years. When I was 13 I wanted a book like Mat Auryn’s Psychic Witch – it simply didn’t exist. There’s a whole generation of “Barnes & Noble witches” who got their start in the 1990s because books on witchcraft and Paganism were easily available. Today there are countless books available from Amazon and other booksellers, websites and blogs (including this one), and formal and informal communities on social media.

People who look for us can find us. Our job is to make sure they know we’re here, so they know they can look for us if they want.

That means having a public-facing presence: participating in multi-religion events and multi-religion websites (like Patheos). It means being “out of the broom closet” – at least to the extent it’s safe for you. Not to proselytize (Pagans don’t proselytize!) but just to let people know we exist. It means presenting our values (especially religious plurality and the sacredness of Nature) in the public square.

Let’s make sure people can find us.

Make sure people can find accurate information about Paganism

It’s nice to see witches and Pagans on TV. Representation is always good, and it creates some publicity for us. It also creates some unrealistic ideas and expectations.

People know the magic they see in fiction isn’t real. But they don’t always understand that we know it’s not real too – but we can work magic anyway. It’s nice to see the Greek Gods in movies, but “Zeus behaving badly” doesn’t inspire people to explore authentic worship of the Olympians and other deities.

And let’s face it – social media is not a reliable source for education on any topic, Paganism included.

It’s not my job to correct every error on the internet – that way lies insanity. It is my job to make sure people who are looking for information on Paganism, Druidry, witchcraft, magic, and related topics have reliable and accurate sources.

Make sure we continue to have access to the marketplace

This year has seen a rash of book burnings and book bans. On one hand, these are isolated incidents that have increased book sales and called attention to things people should be reading. On the other hand, the political environment is getting nastier, especially in places like Texas and Florida.

Religiously, the fundamentalists are directing most of their attacks toward Muslims and atheists. There aren’t enough Pagans for them to worry about, at least for now. And they’re doing their best to use the power of government to promote their religion at the expense of everyone else.

At this point, our best course of action is to make sure everyone has access to the marketplace. Right now that mainly means supporting Muslims and atheists and opposing those who want to make their version of Christianity into the religious norm.

Don’t minimize our distinctions

It’s not “many paths up the same mountain.” It’s many paths up many different mountains. Different religions have different myths, different virtues, and different values. Animism isn’t the same as materialism. Polytheism isn’t the same as monotheism or the same as atheism.

Arguing about who’s right – and especially about who has the “one true way” – is counterproductive and often harmful. But the answer isn’t to whitewash over our differences and distinctions. The answer is to respect different beliefs and different practices for what they are.

Not every tradition is worthy of our respect. But we make that determination based on how people live their lives and how they treat other persons, not on how close their beliefs are to ours.

Don’t tell shoppers in the marketplace of religions “deep down it’s all the same.” Tell them what makes us unique, and then let them decide if that’s something that appeals to them or not.

Monitor our own and call out toxic traditions

We want to help people find the path that’s right for them. We also want to keep them from falling in with toxic groups and traditions.

Sometimes this means groups with manipulative and abusive leaders. These can be hard to spot, but when you see something that doesn’t look right, look into it. When you hear reports of abuse, look into it. Yes, sometimes it’s just personality conflicts and related “drama.” But when you hear multiple reports, odds are good something’s not right.

Other times this means groups with hate-filled beliefs and practices. There’s a constant battle in Heathenry to weed out the fascists, white supremacists, and outright Nazis. But don’t for a minute think such ideas are limited to Heathenry. It’s a problem in our wider culture, so you can find problems in virtually every Pagan tradition.

This means guiding newcomers away from groups and traditions that emphasize having the “right” ancestry, that are unaccepting of LGBTQ people, and that promote conspiracy theories.

I’m not running an inquisition and I refuse to participate in “mass shunnings.” But I want to make sure everyone knows who’s folkish (or outright racist), who’s homophobic and/or transphobic, and who’s spreading lies and misinformation.

You do what you’re called to do

I grew up in a church where everyone was expected to proselytize. That’s the last thing I want for Paganism, even after you draw a clear bright line between proselytizing and publicizing. Everybody doesn’t have to be a public Pagan.

But we live in a marketplace of religions. Our traditions need new blood, and some people need and want what we have. Let’s make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for.

Previous Post

April 26, 2022

Dealing With Reality, Because I’m Too Old to Wait and See

Next Post

May 3, 2022 To Everyone Who Was Called by a God Five Years Ago

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Community CUUPS Druidry Foundations and Context Gods and Goddesses Magic Myth Nature Ritual Spiritual Practice Theology Travel Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What sign marked the houses to be spared during Passover?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Blood on doorposts A dove symbol A lit candle A red ribbon