Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
50. Are Satanism and Paganism the Same?
Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
Ethan Doyle White [+]
University College London
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Ethan Doyle White has a PhD in medieval history and archaeology from University College London and has written extensively on modern Paganism and related forms of esotericism. His publications include Wicca: History, Belief, and Community in Modern Pagan Witchcraft (Sussex Academic Press, 2016), Pagans: The Visual Culture of Pagan Myths, Legends and Rituals (Thames and Hudson, 2023), and The New Witches of the West: Tradition, Liberation, and Power (Cambridge University Press, 2024).
Description
Satanism and Paganism are two distinct movements with some areas of overlap. While Satanism focuses on Satan as a figure of worship, Paganism draws inspiration from pre-Christian traditions. Both movements utilised imagery and identities historically opposed to Christianity. Confusion between Satanism and Wicca, the largest Pagan religion, has led to moral panic, while both traditions are sometimes combined.