Pagans on campus: A cursory exploration

Abstract

Paganism, despite growing as a religious affiliation over recent decades, has rarely been the subject of study within higher education. Due to the general lack of cohesive organizations, a persistent social stigma, and a number of ill‐defined identity labels, they have proven difficult to study even within the general population. This chapter will provide a descriptive snapshot of the population of Pagan college students in the United States and offer guidance for higher education practitioners working with this often‐invisible religious demographic group on their campuses.PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS Pagans remain a small population, which can be an isolating experience for students, particularly given their tendency for solitary practice. Even for Pagan students who want to practice in a community, their small numbers—as well as their social stigma—can make organization difficult. For these and other reasons, social isolation is a pressing concern for Pagan students. Demographically, Pagan students appear to identify as LGB and with gender identities outside of the binary norm at higher rates than the general population of college students. Expressions of these identities may be sources of tension with other religious groups on campus, as well as with individual student peers. Campus professionals should note this tendency when considering the power dynamics at play in their campus spaces. Spiritual customs for Pagans are often personal, personalized, and frequently private. The holidays, practices, and symbols may be strange or even alarming to outsider peers and campus professionals, so it is not unusual for Pagans to conceal them.