heathen

Heathen is a historical term used in English to describe people who practiced non-Christian religions in Europe, especially in Britain and Northern Europe, during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. The word derives from Old English hǣþen, hǣþen, from Proto-Germanic *haþinaz, with a sense of “not Christian.” In medieval Christian usage, it referred to pagans or polytheists, often implying rural or ethnically different populations.

Historically, heathenry encompassed diverse religious traditions practiced by Germanic, Norse, Celtic, and other groups, including the Germanic polytheistic traditions that preceded Christianization. Because it is a broad label, it sometimes obscures regional differences in beliefs and practices.

In contemporary usage, Heathen or Heathenry denotes a modern revival of Germanic and Norse polytheism and related paths. The best-known forms are Asatru (Icelandic: Ásatrú) and related currents in the Anglophone world; adherents may emphasize the worship of ancestral gods such as Odin, Thor, Freyja, and others, along with rituals, seasonal celebrations, and community ethics. Some practitioners prefer to identify as Heathen rather than Pagan to reflect specific cultural roots.

The term can be controversial; in some contexts it remains a pejorative label used by opponents of non-Christian religions. In scholarly contexts, it is treated as a historical descriptor for pre-Christian Europe and as a modern self-designation by certain religious communities.