There are many different denominations (or "traditions") within the Neopagan community. As far as our polytheology is concerned, we are far closer to other Neopagan traditions than we are apart (the distinctions can be seen more clearly in the areas discussed in "The Vision of ADF'). We in ADF share the following beliefs with most other Neopagan traditions:
We believe that divinity is both immanent (internal) and transcendent (external), with immanence being far more important for us to pay attention to. Deities can manifest at any point in space or time which They might choose, including within human beings, through the processes known as "inspiration," "channeling," and "possession."
We believe that divinity is as likely to manifest in a female form as it is in a male form, and that the word "Goddess" makes just as much sense as "God." Women and men are spiritually equal, and "masculine" and "feminine" attitudes, values, and roles are of equal importance.
We believe in a multiplicity of gods and goddesses, most (some would say all) of Whom are likely to be worthy of respect, love and worship. We have a wide variety of nonexclusive concepts as to the nature of these deities.
We believe that it is necessary to have a respect and love for Nature as divine in Her own right, and to accept ourselves as a part of Nature and not as Her "rulers." Many of us accept "the Gaia hypothesis;" that the biosphere of our planet is a living being, and we believe that She is due all the love and support that we, Her children, can give Her.
We consider ecological awareness and activism to be sacred duties. We believe in accepting the positive aspects of Western science and technology, but in maintaining an attitude of wariness towards the supposed ethical neutrality of that science and technology.
We believe that monolithic religious organizations and would-be messiahs and supergurus are a hindrance to spiritual growth. We believe that healthy religions should have a minimum amount of dogma and a maximum amount of eclecticism and flexibility. As ADF practices it, Neopagan Druidism is an organic religion, and like all other organisms can be expected to grow, change and produce offshoots as the years go by.
We believe that ethics and morality should be based upon joy, self-love and mutual respect, the avoidance of actual harm to others, and the increase of public benefit. We try to balance people's needs for personal autonomy and growth with the necessity of paying attention to the impact of each individual's actions on the lives and welfare of others.
We believe that it's difficult for ordinary humans to commit offenses against the Gods and Goddesses, short of major crimes such as ecocide or genocide. Our deities are perfectly capable of defending Their Own honor without any need for us to punish people for "blasphemy" or "heresy."
We believe that human beings were meant to lead lives filled with joy, love, pleasure, beauty and humor. Most Neopagans are fond of food, drink, music, sex, and bad puns, and consider all of these (except possibly the puns) to be of spiritual value.
We believe that with proper training, art, discipline and intent, human minds and hearts are fully capable of performing most of the magic and miracles they are ever likely to need. Magical/miraculous acts are done through the use of what most of us perceive as natural (some say "divinely granted") psychic talents.
We believe that there is an art and a science to creating, preparing and performing worship rituals. Our worship celebrations are continually evolving as we search for the most intellectually satisfying, artistically beautiful, spiritually powerful, and magically effective rites possible.
We believe in the importance of celebrating the solar, lunar and other cycles of our lives.
We consciously observe the solstices, equinoxes and the points in between, as well as the phases of the moon. Such "rites of intensification" are human universals, as are the ceremonies known as "rites of passage" celebrations of birth, puberty, personal dedication to a given deity or group, marriage, ordination, death, etc. Together these various sorts of observations help us to find ourselves in space and time.
Many of us believe in some sort of afterlife, usually based on the Spiritualist pattern: rest and recovery in a "Summerland" before reincarnating. Thus you do not escape your obligations by dying, but merely postpone them.
We believe that people have the ability to solve their current problems, both personal and public, and to create a better world. Our utopian vision, tempered with common sense, leads us to a strong commitment to personal and global growth, evolution and balance.
We believe that people can progress far towards achieving personal growth, evolution and balance through the carefully planned alteration of their "normal" states of consciousness. We use both ancient and modern methods of concentration, meditation, reprogramming and ecstasy.
We believe that human interdependence implies community service. Some of us are active in political, social, ecological and charitable organizations, while others prefer to work for the public good primarily through spiritual means (and many of us do both).
We believe that if we are to achieve any of our goals, we must practice what we preach. Neopaganism, like any other religion, should be a way of life, not merely a weekly or monthly social function. So we must always strive to make our lives consistent with our proclaimed beliefs.