2006-09-16 17:44:36 · 13 answers · asked by JaSam 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it is used in modern society for those who say it is not. i have been called a pagan often.
not all religions call non follwers pagans either (as someone mentioned).
2006-09-16 17:58:51 · update #1
Because it's neccessary to label someone with a name that seperates them from your own group. Once seperated from the "pack" they are no longer as "human" as those who follow the "non-pagan" or popular beliefs.
Once a person has been "labeled" anything to indicate they don't belong to the "pack" it becomes easier to reject and ultimately even do harm to them. Pagan, darky, mex, kike, whatever! It's all a matter of setting persons apart from yourself.
It all becomes a matter of "non-inclusion"! If you're not included you're less worthy of God's graces and therefore you're less human. I'm glad I'm agnostic.
2006-09-16 18:32:30 · answer #1 · answered by Lance 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's alot like the first answerer said. Pagan is derived from the Latin word, 'Paganus', which means "rural; of the country". It was first applied to non-Christians because most early Christian communties were in large cities (Rome, Antioch, Corinth, etc.) . Most of the people who followed their preChristian religions and traditions lived in rural villages, and were labed "Pagans". It finally got to the point where Christian leaders decided you were Christian, Jewish, or Pagan. Over the years, Pagan has became a perjorative term used to describe people who commit blasphemy by not following your faith. To sum it up, the ignorant Christians find it easier to clump all non-Christians together under the term Pagan, rather than learn about other's faiths.
2006-09-17 01:00:41 · answer #2 · answered by Nowhere Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't lnow they were 'often labeled as pagans'. I'm a Christian, but I do not go around pointing the finger at those who are non-Christians. Number one, it's not the appropriate thing to do. Who are we to judge? People that do act as you suggest (calling people pagans) are biggots/stone throwers who have no knowledge of the Bible. I feel that these individuals do Christianity a disservice because they are not exhorting their fellow man/woman in a Christ-worthy manner.
2006-09-17 00:49:24 · answer #3 · answered by Synergy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Only if you worship some one or thing other than the God of the Bible.Jews are not pagans,but wickans are.Pagan basically means Idol Worship,I was gonna say Muslims aren't but the Moon God in old times before Muhammed was El Allah,so ...I don't know?
2006-09-17 00:49:36 · answer #4 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every religion believes that they are the only right ones and the rest are wrong. Same is the case with Christians. But in my view all are pagans.
2006-09-17 00:47:06 · answer #5 · answered by latterviews 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not all non-Christians are pagans, and I don't know anybody who uses the term for all non-Christians. Paganism usually refers to polytheistic or even animistic religious practice, which tend to vary considerably from place to place.
2006-09-17 00:54:50 · answer #6 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because most people have a twisted meaning of the word Pagan, and they don't really know what it means anymore. They automatically assume it means "devil worshiper"
2006-09-17 00:46:03 · answer #7 · answered by Agent Double EL 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ignorance.
2006-09-18 21:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by mave 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because Pagan actually refers to someone that is not of your chosen religion..
in modern day it has come to describe a person that worships multiple gods,,, like me.
2006-09-17 00:52:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nobody has ever called me a pagan. I hardly ever see that word unless it's self applied.
2006-09-17 00:47:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋