239. Neo-paganism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

239. Neo-paganism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Author: Nick Jamell August 25, 2021 Duration: 29:12

I've noticed a revival of pagan ideas and rituals that have caught on in numerous movements. The climate movement, racial movements (on both the right and the left), and other ostensibly secular movements have neo-pagan elements. In order to discuss this, I want to offer a definition for neo-paganism.

I'd define neo-paganism is an explicit or implicit belief that misattributes spiritual significance. These beliefs, coupled with a set of rituals, are what I call neo-pagan movements, even if the practitioners may think they're merely secular.

Merits of Neo-paganism

While I do not find these new pagan ideas convincing, I do understand where they're coming from. So, I want to be fair and offer my thoughts about what they get right.

  • Neo-pagans recognize the spiritual and moral
  • Often, they speak and frame the world in moral terms
  • They incorporate metaphysical realism into their worldview, even if implicitly
  • And, they often include rituals

Errors of Neo-paganism

Although I understand the motivations and think they're a step in the right direction, I think many have missed the truth that they seek. With that in mind, here are some of the errors I find the neo-pagans of today falling into.

  • Neo-pagans misattribute spiritual significance
  • Often, they reject theism, or at least have mistaken understandings of God
  • Like pagans of the past, they have different moralities for their group and outsiders

Correcting Neo-paganism

Now that I've discussed where neo-pagans go wrong, and where they get things right, I want to discuss how to fix their ideas to comport with reality. If we want to channel this neo-paganism and move it toward the truth, here are a few things we could do.

  • First, we should acknowledge the religious impulse in those who partake in these things
  • Theism should be the end goal, but we have to approach that differently with different groups. In order to reach those who think they're secular, we should point out their religiosity
    For those who acknowledge the spiritual, we should understand what they believe and direct them toward truth
  • We should channel their passion for a cause by opening up the beauty and incredible truth of theism

Previous Episodes:


Nick Jamell hosts Conversation of Our Generation, a space where urgent contemporary questions meet enduring ideas from history and philosophy. Rather than reacting to the noise of daily headlines, this podcast deliberately steps back to examine the deeper currents shaping our society and culture. Each episode is a long-form dialogue that treats topics like politics, religion, and social change not as fodder for debate, but as puzzles to be understood with patience and intellectual humility. The aim is to move beneath entrenched partisanship and surface-level takes, searching instead for clearer perspectives and foundational truths. What you’ll hear are thoughtful explorations that connect modern dilemmas to the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers, asking how we might navigate today’s complexities with a more grounded sense of principle. This isn’t about quick answers; it’s about cultivating a more meaningful and less reactive way of engaging with the world. For anyone feeling adrift in a polarized age, this podcast offers a sustained, earnest conversation that values depth over speed, and understanding over winning an argument. Tune in for a respite from the frantic news cycle and a chance to consider what it means to be part of this particular moment in time, armed with the best ideas from across the ages.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 245

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