2006-07-28 10:26:42 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's a term for anyone who is not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
'Pagan' originally comes from Latin. 'Pagus' means a canton or district, or in other words a parcel of land, usually out in the country. A 'paganus' was one who lived on this parcel of land, usually working it as a farm or performing other rural tasks. 'Paganus' came to mean country folk. As Christianity came to various parts of Europe, the people in the towns and cities were converted, but those in the country were not. So country folk were non-Christian, and thus, called Pagans.
2006-07-28 10:42:28 · answer #1 · answered by Joa5 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The non- christain term fits the current times.
pa·gan Audio pronunciation of "pagan" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pgn)
n.
1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
2. One who has no religion.
3. A non-Christian.
4. A hedonist.
5. A Neo-Pagan.
2006-07-28 17:33:01 · answer #2 · answered by rangedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The strict definition of pagan is any non-Christian religion.
There is no one religion that calls ITSELF Pagan, meaning the name of their religion.
Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroatrianism, etc.. all are pagan religion.
But I believe that Jews and Muslims also use the word sometimes to describe religions other than their own.
2006-07-28 17:30:37 · answer #3 · answered by Eldritch 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pagan means worship of nature... actually it definition in "country folk"... but that's it. Live with respect for nature & give back to nature for what you take.
Belief in deities can be associated with paganism, but it not necessarily part of it.
Hope this helps.
Blessed Be.
2006-07-28 17:37:43 · answer #4 · answered by s_an_dubois 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you worship a non existant religion from the point of view of a well recognized religion.
Roman Catholics consider all other religions to be pagans.
2006-07-28 17:32:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My def of Pagan, after a great deal of study & discussion with other Pagans:
A person following a religion with an immanent (non-transcendent) and/or polytheistic concept of divinity and rites & ceremonies based on or inspired by pre-Christian indigenous religions, Western occultism, feminist spirituality and/or nature-based spirituality.
2006-07-29 04:10:48 · answer #6 · answered by Elfwreck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I say that I am pagan, I usually mean to say that I am a polytheist.
2006-07-28 17:46:06 · answer #7 · answered by Witchy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Pagan" religions were demonized by the church a long long time ago to be "devil worshipers" because they did not share the same beliefs.
"If they're not your friends, they must be your enemies" theory.
2006-07-28 17:31:59 · answer #8 · answered by Pericoli 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You worship the old gods (Pre-Christian, usually polytheistic religions).
2006-07-28 17:30:16 · answer #9 · answered by Cannibal Ox 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you do dances around the fire pit.
2006-07-28 17:31:04 · answer #10 · answered by cypher 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋