Paganism is gaining social acceptability and popularity in post-faith Britain as an “unorganised religion” that appeals to those seeking ancient traditions and ritualistic practice without the dogma, commitment, or institutional obligations of traditional faiths.
Paganism Rises as Traditional Faiths Face Commitment Crisis
Paganism is suggested as the “obvious” religious choice for post-faith, post-pandemic Britain, as traditional places of worship and voluntary groups suffer from a crisis of participation. This shift indicates a move away from the “bums on pews” model toward “unorganised religion”—self-initiated ways of connecting with the divine in an increasingly online world. This may be why Paganism is reportedly the most popular path for Britons leaving Christianity, offering ritual and tradition without institutional commitment. “It is a different kind of religion that seeks neither converts nor members.”
A Religion of Doing, Not Believing, Gains Acceptance
While only 74,000 people identified as Pagan in the 2021 Census, dismissing it as small misses the point: it is a religion of “doing rather than believing,” where one becomes Pagan by practicing it. The rise of solitary practices, supercharged by online trends like “WitchTok,” has made commitment optional. The religion no longer feels countercultural, gaining social acceptability evident in the appearance of the Green Man at King Charles III’s coronation. Paganism’s lack of demands and dogma attracts less hostility, making it the inevitable religion for the post-religious age.