The world is full of different people and let’s be thankful that this is so. A variety in all forms of existence insures that life will continue to flourish on this planet (as long as we don’t blow it up, that is). Within each species there exists further variety. This is also a good thing. Just imagine if everyone in the world was exactly the same as that annoying bully you knew in elementary school. Diversity in human life means that for every bully in the world, there will also be an Aunt Dorothy (the one who used to give you candy when your parents weren’t looking) or that best friend who helped you get through those major life emergencies. With such variety, it is natural to assume that there will also be a multitude of thought and expression in the world. This is certainly true of religion. But, the world does not exhibit a variety of individual religions. Instead, we have bodies of religious traditions.
The variety of the world’s religions are examples of the common theological struggles of people filtered through the lens of a specific culture. That is why people that are born in a Christian culture tend to be Christian. That is also why there are a number of religions among the peoples of this planet. Unfortunately, people tend to believe that their way of thinking is the only correct way. Many of the struggles of mankind have come from the belief that one particular religion is more right than another. If we come to recognize that each religion has its own validity but not the right to dominate others, we develop religious tolerance. Tolerance and compassion are the two great pillars of peace.

Paganism recognizes that spiritual people believe and practice in their own unique ways. Within the grand umbrella of Paganism there are a variety of practices and traditions. These are explored in many great existing texts and the purpose of this article is not to try and identify them. Instead, I would like to look at the variety of personalities I have observed in Pagan gatherings and classes. In my experience, our open and unique spiritual pursuits attract particular types of people. In understanding the uniqueness of these personalities, I hope we can appreciate their differences in how they may approach their studies and practices and that we can gain a sense of tolerance for these differences. To aid in understanding these distinctions, I am referring to these personality traits in relation to ancient Greek philosophers. These philosophers, after all, are some of the greatest ancient Pagan thinkers and much of our modern practice has been modeled after their teachings.
I have chosen eight different philosophers whose schools of thought can be used to represent personality traits of many modern Pagans. This is not to say that all Pagans fit into only one of these eight categories. This would be too simplistic and misguided. However, many Pagans do have some of the characteristics I shall describe. If we can recognize that there are those among us who approach their spiritual pursuits in a very different manner than our own, we can begin to learn to work together. There are many who may display combinations of these eight types. Understanding which types and to what degree we relate to these can help us work with others. So, let’s take a look at these eight types. See if you recognize anyone you know in these examples and see which ones correspond to you.

The Skeptical Pagan
The philosophical school of Skepticism was begun by Pyrrho. The Skeptics argued that believing in a philosophy, any philosophy at all was ludicrous. They claimed that philosophy was unnecessary to living fully. Thus, they shunned all previous theory and chose, instead, to live a good life through action. These Pagans, then, are the practical and active Pagans. They choose to focus on ritual rather than philosophy. For them, practicing Paganism is more important than discussing it. For many of us, the road to Paganism began with skepticism. For those brought up in a different religion, especially religions that taught that it is not right to ask questions about faith, we rebelled by asking those questions. Finding those answers led us to break away from those religions and turn to alternatives such as Paganism. Modern Paganism is a haven for Skeptics because questioning and personal understanding is a major foundation of our practices. Pagan Skeptics, however, continue to shun any philosophical idea or practice that is not personally engaging. They tend to avoid any real personal spiritual theology nor do they desire one. Instead, they prefer to live their lives without the distraction of theory.

The Eristic Pagan
Often Skeptic Pagans develop into the Erisitc Pagans. Eristicism was a school developed by Euclides who learned and refined the art of argumentation as a philosophical practice. The word argument often has a negative connotation but this is not the case here. To be engaged in a truly philosophical argument means to discuss particular sides of a principle. In other words, it means to debate. All Greek philosophers loved to have a debate but the Eristics tended to be even more, shall we say, “in-your-face” kind of debaters. They believed that all points of view were subject to debate and that no statement of principle should ever go without question. The Eristic Pagan particular enjoys the act of debate and will attempt to encourage others to engage in one at most any time. Unlike the Skeptic who simply chooses not to accept all that is offered, the Eristic wants you to know exactly why one believes as one does. The Eristic tends have a more firm view of personal belief and once, developed, they tend to grasp onto that belief tightly. The Eristic can turn into a fundamentalist if she begins to believe that her way of thinking is more right than someone else’s. Believing strongly in an idea does not require one to devalue the belief of another. The tolerant Eristic does not deride others for believe but does want them to be able to adequately defend those beliefs in healthy and lively discussions.

The Cynical Pagan
Similar to the Skeptical Pagan is the Cynical Pagan. Though the Skeptic prefers not to cling to any one particular theology, the Cynic is truly in search of answers but insists that all answers be personally questioned and experienced. Pure faith is not enough. The Cynic wants and pursues the pure truth and is not satisfied until she finds it. Like the Skeptic, she questions everything. The difference is that the Skeptic desires no answer while the Cynic is truly searching. Carried to an extreme, this pursuit can lead one to become disillusioned with all thoughts and opinions. Seeking the pure truth may become so frustrating to the Cynic that she ends up simply finding fault in everyone and everything. In order to overcome this frustration, one has to decide how much of eternal truth can actually be made known to mortals and be willing to accept the outcome of that decision. Good natured Pagan Cynics continue to question and be unwilling to accept ideas purely on faith but must become content with the answers that feel right to them. The long sought kernels of truth that are finally accepted must be those that are right for the individual. In the end, the Cynic may need to cease the pursuit of truth through questions and engage in rituals that reveal truths through the senses.

The Mystical Pagan
Pythagorus is one of the best known of the Pre-Socratic Greek philosophers and his teachings developed into one of the most popular schools of Greek thought. The reason may be because he advocated the use of both reason and mysticism in his philosophy. Pythagoreans knew no separation between science and religion. His school studied the mystical meanings of numbers and explored how mathematical principles could reveal universal and cosmic truths. This thirst for knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and the belief that we can personally identify with them are some of the traits of the Mystic Pagan. Pythagorus believed that the purpose of the soul was to find its way back to the divine. Through the study and practice of mystical truths, one can come to understand universal principles. When one knows the mind of the gods, they might reason, one can become a god. Mystic Pagans love to study occult and mystical topics and have no problem with the principle of faith. They are avid readers and love to share what they have learned with others who will listen. They tend to practice magick but, more often than not, they usually end up practicing “low” magick or magick which does not require a lot of tools and formulations. They prefer the quiet solemn ritual to the loud boisterous type.

The Hedonistic Pagan
In contrast to the Mystical Pagan is the Hedonistic Pagan. It has been said that teenage boys become Pagans so that they can go to rituals where girls get naked and dance around while young teenage girls become Pagans so that they can learn spells that will get them boyfriends who are not like the boys that come to the rituals. When we think of Hedonism (one of whose advocates was the Greek philosopher Epicurius), we think of those young bucks in the ritual who seek the forbidden fruits of life. Strictly speaking, hedonism is not unbridled lust. Hedonists believe that the purpose of life is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. As long as no harm is caused, the seeking of pleasures is not a bad thing, they argue. Obviously , this is a philosophy which goes against the messages of our traditionally Puritan society. Hedonistic Pagans do, indeed, seek pleasure. Consensual sex, dancing, singing, drinking and being full of merriment are all examples of worldly pleasures which the Hedonist says we should not avoid in pursuit of a nonexistent higher purpose. They would shout to the world, “We are here to experience life in its fullest!” This is not to say that Hedonistic Pagans are not ethical. Epicurius himself said that the greatest pleasures were those that last the longest. Pursuit of immediate gratification was secondary to long term happiness. Sometimes, he would explain, it is necessary to deny oneself an immediate pleasure if it interfered with the greater happiness. So, as long as there were no negative long term consequences, the Hedonistic would exclaim: eat, drink, and be merry!

The Stoic Pagan
Standing on the side watching the Hedonists dance the night away are the Stoic Pagans. The Greek Philosopher Zeno developed a philosophy that demanded a high moral character. Ethics and a modern sense of chivalry guide the Stoics in their quest for truth and right. These are the folks that would never miss a Renaissance Festival even it was held in the midst of a raging storm. For the Ren Fest exemplifies a time of grandeur, heroism, and a sense of duty and honor that the Stoic craves. The Stoics tend to be a quiet and serious lot but they can be depended on for most anything. (Anything that does not go against their high principles, that is.) The Stoics live for that moment, however small, when they can save the day. They are the priestly knights who ride in on their mighty steeds. For this reason, they love to help others - especially through divination and healing. This is not to say that all Stoics are classic sourpusses. Deep inside they may have a strong sense of fun and frolic. It’s just that they wait for the proper time and occasion to let themselves be open in frivolous.

The Socratic Pagan
Before the philosopher Socrates was considered the great genius he is today, his home town of Athens considered him a troublemaker. He taught against the conventional wisdom of the day. Because he questioned the logic of worshipping gods whose actions he felt were no better than the mortals around him, Socrates was eventually condemned to death. This sense of defiance and loss of identity with the community defines the Socratic Pagan. This Pagan is the one who has trouble finding acceptance in the standard world of conformity. In Paganism, we are (hopefully) accepting of those who feel this way. Whether from looks, economic background, philosophical viewpoint, manner of speech, or any other number of factors, our society has an unwritten code of standards. Those who do not meet this code are often shunned. These social misfits can become lost in the system and turn to a variety of negative ways of acting out the frustration associated with such ostracization. Turning to an alternative religions can be a positive step in finding acceptance among others. The Socratic Pagan is not only different, she also has a strong desire to learn and grow. When one learns that a path such as those offered through Paganism is available, one can begin to regain a sense of self worth and respect. Paganism honors the unique contribution of each of its adherents regardless of their sense of convention. A spiritual practice outside the norm must do so. We welcome the social outcast and their strange and wonderful ideas.

The Aristotelian Pagan
One of Plato’s (a student of Socrates) greatest students was Aristotle. A primary drive for Aristotle was his desire to categorize things into their proper classifications. An Aristotelian Pagan exhibits the same desire. They enjoy headings and subheadings and like to know how things fit into the greater puzzle. They tend to search for a tradition that suits them and then stick to it. You might say they are the purists in the family. They do not believe that people should mix and match their religious concepts. Tradition is very important to them. They may be more resistant to change but can be convinced if they can see the purpose of the change within the big picture. Though they may be appear defiant in a group, it must be remembered that every Pagan group should have at least one Aristotelian among them. They are often the anchors in an often aimlessly drifting vessel. They remind us to slow down and consider what we do before moving on too quickly. They are there to remind us of our roots and our original purpose. They are the stalwart ones who may help to hold us together.

Actually, we need all these types of personalities in our groups. Each one provides an important function and role. Each one has a unique history and perspective to share all of which are important and which need to be heard. Having a room full of Cynical Pagans would probably not be very effective without some other personalities included as well.
By now, you will have recognized the Aristotelian futility of this entire exercise. I have tempted to put people into unique categories and any attempt to do such a thing is doomed to failure. No one fits neatly into any one of these character descriptions and most will have characteristics of several of them. I believe there is some benefit to recognizing these traits in others, however. By becoming aware of these personality quirks and the reasons behind their existence, we can come to learn to work together. Recognizing our differences helps us to clear the way to find common ground. We cannot walk together on separate roads. Leaders of Pagan groups need to recognize the unique gifts of each member and learn to teach the group to respect these differences.