Heathen vs. Pagan — What's the Difference?

Heathens are typically associated with pre-Christian beliefs in Europe, often perceived from a Christian perspective as those outside the faith. This term has historical roots in denoting people from rural areas who retained old religions. On the other hand, Pagans are generally referred to individuals following polytheistic or nature-based religions, with the term gaining a wider acceptance and use, especially in contemporary neopagan movements.

While heathen originally had a more specific context related to early Germanic and Norse peoples, Pagan has been used more expansively to describe various ancient and modern religions outside of the major monotheistic traditions. Whereas Heathenry has seen a revival in modern times focusing on reconstructing ancient Germanic faiths, Paganism encompasses a broader spectrum of beliefs, including Wicca, Druidry, and Hellenism.

Heathenry tends to emphasize ancestry and a connection to the pre-Christian cultures of Northern Europe, while Paganism often incorporates a wider range of cultural influences, including Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic. This distinction highlights the more focused cultural and geographical roots of Heathen beliefs compared to the eclectic nature of Pagan practices.

In literature and popular culture, "heathen" is often used pejoratively to describe someone uncivilized or irreligious, reflecting its historical use by Christian missionaries. Pagan, while also used historically in a derogatory manner, has been reclaimed by many modern practitioners as a positive identifier of their spiritual path.

Despite their differences, both terms share a common ground in being used by dominant religious groups to categorize those outside their faith. This shared history of marginalization has led to some overlap in the reclamation and positive self-identification among practitioners of Heathenry and Paganism.