A Neo-pagan History Quiz!
Take this 12 question quiz to see how much you know about the history of Neo-Paganism.
- 1.
When did the Neo-Pagan Revival begin?
- A.
1787: When Thomas Taylor poured his first libation to a Greek god.
- B.
1951: When Gerald Gardner announced the existence of his witch coven to the press.
- C.
1967: When Tim Zell filed for incorporation of the Church of All Worlds and Frederick Adams’ Feraferia was incorporated.
- D.
1979: When Starhawk published The Spiral Dance and Margot Adler published Drawing Down the Moon.
Correct Answer
C. 1967: When Tim Zell filed for incorporation of the Church of All Worlds and Frederick Adams’ Feraferia was incorporated.Explanation
Source: Sarah Pike, New Age and Neo-Pagan Religions in America (2006). The Neo-Pagan Revival arose out of the American Counterculture.Rate this question:
-
- 2.
Who is the person most directly responsible for naming the 8 Neo-Pagan Sabbats?
- A.
Gerald Gardner
- B.
Robert Graves
- C.
Aidan Kelly
- D.
Starhawk
Correct Answer
C. Aidan KellyExplanation
Aidan Kelly, one of the founders of NROODG, named 7 of the 8 Sabbats, including inventing the name "Mabon" for the autumn equinox without any historical precedent. He called the February cross-quarter "Brigid", but it was later renamed "Imbolc". Kelly's appellations were published in the Green Egg newsletter, which accounts for their adoption by Neo-Pagans generally.Rate this question:
-
- 3.
Who is the person most directly responsible for concept of the Neo-Pagan Triple Goddess?
- A.
Jane Ellen Harrison, the first female career academic in Britain
- B.
Robert Graves, the author of The White Goddess
- C.
Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca
- D.
Starhawk, the founder of Reclaiming and author of The Spiral Dance
Correct Answer
B. Robert Graves, the author of The White GoddessExplanation
Gerald Gardner's goddess was not triple. Jane Ellen Harrison only wrote about the Maiden and the Mother. Starhawk probably adopted the idea Z. Budapest, who borrowed it from Robert Graves.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
Who popularized the terms "Neo-Pagan" and "Pagan" for the movement that carries that name today?
- A.
Gerald Gardner, founder of Wicca
- B.
Oberon Zell, founder of The Church of All Worlds
- C.
Ed Fitch, founder of The Pagan Way
- D.
Isaac Bonewits, founder of ADF druidry
Correct Answer
B. Oberon Zell, founder of The Church of All WorldsExplanation
The name was actually first suggested by a friend, but Oberon Zell was responsible for its popularization.Rate this question:
-
- 5.
Which of these was NOT a significant influence on the development of Neo-Paganism?
- A.
Wicca
- B.
The Sixties Counterculture
- C.
Heathenry
- D.
Eco-Feminism
Correct Answer
C. HeathenryExplanation
Heathenry and Neo-Paganism appeared and developed over the same period, but had little interaction until the 1990s.Rate this question:
-
- 6.
Which one of these authors did NOT describe Neo-Pagan gods as archetypes?
- A.
Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon
- B.
Doreen Valiente, author of Witchcraft for Tomorrow
- C.
Janet and Stewart Farrar, authors of The Witches' Bible
- D.
Raymond Buckland, author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
Correct Answer
D. Raymond Buckland, author of Buckland's Complete Book of WitchcraftExplanation
Margot Adler, the Farrars, and Doreen Valiente were all strongly influenced by Jungian ideas.Rate this question:
-
- 7.
Which one of these theological orientations was NOT found among early Neo-Pagans?
- A.
Atheism
- B.
Pantheism
- C.
Polytheism
- D.
All of these were found among early Neo-Pagans
Correct Answer
D. All of these were found among early Neo-PagansExplanation
Early Neo-Pagans had a very fluid and non-dogmatic theology. Literal belief in the gods was not required.Rate this question:
-
- 8.
Which of these is NOT part of the Neo-Pagan mythos?
- A.
The rebirth of the Sun God in the winter.
- B.
The sacrifice of the God of the harvest in the spring.
- C.
The battle of the Oak King and the Holly King for the love of the Goddess in the summer.
- D.
The descent of the Goddess into the underworld to learn the mastery of death in the autumn.
Correct Answer
B. The sacrifice of the God of the harvest in the spring.Explanation
The sacrifice of the Pagan god of the harvest occurs in the autumn. The Christian God is sacrificed in spring.Rate this question:
-
- 9.
Which of these beliefs was NOT common among early Neo-Pagans?
- A.
Literalistic polytheism
- B.
Literal belief in efficacy of magic
- C.
Worship of a pantheistic Goddess
- D.
Rationalization of gods as Jungian archetypes
Correct Answer
A. Literalistic polytheismExplanation
The literalization of polytheism did not become common until the 2000s.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
Which of these ideas was NOT anticipated by early Neo-Pagans?
- A.
The Gaia Hypothesis
- B.
Female ordination
- C.
Theological relativism or pluralism
- D.
Pagan nationalism
Correct Answer
D. Pagan nationalismExplanation
Oberon Zell anticipated the Gaia Hypothesis in 1970. Ordination of priestesses was always a part of Neo-Paganism. Theological relativism or pluralism, the idea that no one conception of divinity is adequate, was common among early Neo-Pagans. Pagan nationalism was associated with National Socialism in German and did not become a phenomenon again until the fall of the Soviet Union.Rate this question:
-
- 11.
Which of these was NOT an early Neo-Pagan myth which was later debunked?
- A.
A prehistorical matriarchal religion spread across Europe
- B.
The ancient origins of the Triple Goddess
- C.
Medieval witchcraft as a survival of ancient pagan religion
- D.
9 million witches burned during the Burning Times
Correct Answer
B. The ancient origins of the Triple GoddessExplanation
While the Triple Goddess was not as ubiquitous as Neo-Pagans often claim, she can be found in the writings of the Roman authors, Porphyry and Servius.Rate this question:
-
- 12.
Which one of these quotes is misattributed?
- A.
"A religion without a goddess is halfway to atheism." -- Dion Fortune
- B.
"All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals." -- Gerald Gardner
- C.
"The Goddess is Alive. Magic is afoot." -- Z. Budapest
- D.
"Never Again the Burning." -- Isaac Bonewits
Correct Answer
B. "All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals." -- Gerald GardnerExplanation
The correct source for "All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals." is Doreen Valiente.Rate this question:
-
Back to top