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The Atheopagan Society

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The Atheopagan Society
AbbreviationTAPS
TypeNeopaganism
ClassificationNew religious movement
OrientationSecular paganism
TheologyAtheism
HeadquartersSanta Rosa, California[1]
FounderMark A. Green
OriginAugust 5, 2012; 13 years ago[2]
Tax statusExempt
Official websitetheapsocietyorg.wordpress.com

The Atheopagan Society is an online non-profit[3] religious organization[4] dedicated to the non-theistic form of neopaganism defined by founder Mark Alexander Green.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

The society is a new religious movement rooted in environmentalism, egalitarianism, feminism, anti-racism, and anti-capitalism, offering a type of godless paganism.[12][13] Followers identify as atheopagans.

History

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The Atheopagan Society was founded by Mark A. Green,[14][8][15] an atheist, activist, poet, musician and writer,[9] on August 5, 2012. Green is an atheist who first envisioned a non-theistic form of neopaganism in 2005. Green wrote a 2009 essay that outlined the fundamental beliefs,[4] subsequently elaborated in his 2019 book Atheopaganism: An Earth-honoring Path Rooted in Science.[6][9]

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Symbol of atheopaganism[8][16]

The Atheopagan Suntree is the logo of the religion and society.[8] It features a green five-branched tree against an eight-rayed yellow sun. The eight rays represent the holidays on the Wheel of the Year and the five branches represent how five in addition to eight make thirteen which represents the 13 Atheopagan Principles.[16] Various symbols were submitted for a contest to decide which logo would represent the religion such as, a combination of the pentacle and the atom symbol, nautilus shells, and a combination of the pentacle with the letter A.[17] The logo was chosen in August 2018.

Beliefs and practices

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Ethics and principles

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Atheopaganism follows ethics and principles[18][19] called the 13 Atheopagan Principles which are:

  1. Skepticism - I understand that the metaphorical is not the literal
  2. Reverence - I honor the Earth which produced and sustains humanity.
  3. Gratitude - I am grateful.
  4. Humility - I am humble
  5. Perspective - I laugh a lot...including at myself.
  6. Praxis - I enact regular ritual in observance of my religion.
  7. Inclusiveness - I celebrate diversity and am respectful of difference.
  8. Legacy - I recognize and embrace my responsibility to the young and future generations.
  9. Responsibility - I acknowledge that freedom is tempered by responsibility.
  10. Pleasure Positive - I celebrate pleasure as inherently good so long as others are not harmed in its pursuit
  11. Curiosity - I understand that knowledge is never complete. There is always more to be learned.
  12. Integrity - I conduct myself with integrity in word and deed.
  13. Kindness and compassion - I practice kindness and compassion with others and myself, recognizing that they and I will not always meet the standards set by these principles.

The religion also has the Four Pillars of Atheopaganism which are Life, Truth, Beauty, and Love.[20][21] Instead of dogmatic belief, the principles are meant to be guides.[20]

Holidays

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The holidays that are celebrated are Riverain, Beltane, Yule, Brightening, High Spring, May Day, Midsummer, Summer's Waning, Harvest, and Hallows.[22] The holidays are flexible and can be modified by atheopagans.[23]

Magic

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Magic is practiced not as a supernatural power but as a psychological technique defined as "the manipulation of consciousness according to desired outcomes,"[24] made to change attitudes, emotions, and behaviors.[25] It may include the use of magic symbols and sigils.[25][24] Sigils are used to invoke a specific meaning for the practitioner.[24]

Metaphors

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While not inherently part of the religion, deities may be used as metaphors by atheopagans.[26]

Rituals

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Atheopagans believe in overlap between pagan rituals and modern science.[27]

References

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  1. ↑ "Donate". June 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Happy Atheopagan Anniversary!". 2023-08-05. Today, August 5, is the 11-year anniversary of the launching of the Atheopagan community. The Facebook group was created on this day.
  3. ↑ Green, Mark A. (2024-06-08). "Mark A. Green Presents During LlewellynCon2024: Naturalistic (Non-Theist) Paganism: A Path Forward". Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. Archived from the original on 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  4. 1 2 "Imagining a Brand-New, Cringe-Free Paganism". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  5. ↑ "About Mark". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  6. 1 2 Green, Mark (2019). Atheopaganism: An Earth-Honoring Path Rooted in Science. Green Dragon Publications. p. 278. ISBN 9780578571973.
  7. ↑ "Atheopaganism: A Creative, Non-Supernatural Spiritual Path". Pes.hds.harvard.edu. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Pagan Community Notes: Week of April 24, 2023". The Wild Hunt. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  9. 1 2 3 Green, Mark Alexander (October 2019). Atheopaganism: An Earth-honoring Path Rooted in Science. Green Dragon Publications. ISBN 978-0-578-57197-3.
  10. ↑ Hunt, The Wild (2023-05-30). "Pagan Community Notes: Week of May 29, 2023 - News, Pagan Community Notes, Paganism, Religion, TWH Features, U.K., U.S., Witchcraft, World". The Wild Hunt. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  11. ↑ "Atheopaganism: A Creative, Non-Supernatural Spiritual Path | Program for the Evolution of Spirituality". pes.hds.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
  12. ↑ ""Atheopaganism: An Earth-Centered Religion without Supernatural Credulity" by Mark Green". Naturalistic Paganism. 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  13. ↑ Halstead, John (2016-03-18). Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-329-94357-5.
  14. ↑ Hunt, The Wild (2023-05-08). "Pagan Community Notes: May 8, 2023 - News, Pagan Community Notes, Paganism, TWH Features, Witchcraft". The Wild Hunt. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  15. ↑ Green, Mark A. (2024-04-08). Round We Dance: Creating Meaning through Seasonal Rituals. Llewellyn + Orm. ISBN 978-0-7387-7539-5.
  16. 1 2 "The Atheopagan Suntree". The Atheopagan Society. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  17. ↑ "Atheopagan Symbol Contest: Round 2". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  18. ↑ "atheopaganism". Religion Stylebook. 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  19. ↑ "The Atheopagan Principles" (PDF). Atheopaganism.org. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  20. 1 2 "Principles". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  21. ↑ Development, PodBean. "The Four Sacred Pillars | THE WONDER: Science-Based Paganism". thewonderpodcast.podbean.com. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  22. ↑ Green, Mark. "The Wheel of the Year" (PDF).
  23. ↑ "The Atheopagan Holidays". The Atheopagan Society. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  24. 1 2 3 "Sigils: Barcodes for your Brain". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  25. 1 2 "Real Magic". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  26. ↑ "Ritual Practice of an Hellenic Atheopagan". Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  27. ↑ Huff, Peter A. (2021-09-01). Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-4408-7083-5.
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