what is paganism?

Question

Someone asked me in a different question I had if I even knew what paganism is. They asked me this because I attribuitted it(and rightfully so) to Islam.

Isn't paganism the worship of someone or something other than the God of Abraham? That is why I call Islam paganism. Allah is NOT the God of Abraham.

Or it could just be an irreligious or hedonistic person.

I think what the poster really wanted to say is just that they disagree with the INFALLABLE proof I gave of why Islam is paganism.

I want to ask them, do you know what paganism is?? Do you really even know what/who it is that you are worshiping? let's start right here...define paganism and show me where in the Quran it defines (since you say it does) Allah.

Thanks for the answers so far. I am going to stick whith what paganism should be...a worship of anyone or anything that is not the true God...the God of Abraham. Allah IS NOT the God of Abraham. Where in the Quran does it define Allah?? No answers to that question yet.

Answer 1

you are correct, and you are wrong.

you are correct, in biblical times a Pagan was a word used to describe anyone that was not of the god of aberham.

then it became a word that described anyone that was not of the chosen religion of the person useing the word.

however it quickly became associated with the european multi god cultures, so pagan came to mean , a person that worships more than one god.

Today Paganism is a broad umbrella of people that follow earth religions and Multiple gods/ goddesses.

many of us have adopted the term for ourselves because it was used as a deragatory term for a very long term and when a group of people embrace the deragatory term and make it their own they steal any power that that word had over them.

Answer 2

Paganism nowadays is an umbrella term used to describe any religion that's not one of the big 5 (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism), can't be described as an Eastern philosophy/religion or a Native American/Aboriginal spirituality, and is deemed as reconstructionalist (meaning trying to reconstruct an ancient faith around before the arrival of the Abrahamic religions), Earth-based or nature-based, and what some might term "New Age". Some faiths that fall under it include Wicca, Asatru, Druidism, Hellenism, and a few others. It's also known as Neopaganism.

Before modern times pagan was usually used to describe anyone who did not ascribe to an Abrahamic religion, yes. Most times it referred to people who were polytheistic or pantheistic in their faith.

Either way, Islam does not fall under pagan, either definition. Muslim are monotheistic, and I would argue that Allah IS the God of Abraham as the Quran talks about his history in both Judaism and Christianity. But even if you disagree, calling Muslims pagan would be an insult to them since they kinda look down on pagans.

Answer 3

I thought Allah was the same entity as God.

Paganism is someone who isn't monotheistic, meaning one god. We worship many different gods and goddesses or just work with one god and one goddess at a time. Paganism is thousands of years older than the "God of Abraham". Pagan actually meant "country people" they were the people who didn't live in cities and hear about God. Paganism is a general term. You can be a Wiccan, a Druid, or even pick and choose from any path you want. Kinda like how Christians are either Methodist, catholics, Pentecostals, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagan

Answer 4

Paganism is not part of the 'big three' religions (Judaism, Islam or Christianity). Typically pagan beliefs are structured (and it varies from faith to faith and even person to person) around the Earth, the elements and usually a Mother Goddess.

One example is Wicca. Ancient Greek mythology is more along the lines of paganism than Islam is.

Islam is a monotheistic religion JUST like Christianity and Judaism. All 3 are 'creation god' belief systems. They all have common themes in their holy books (floods, destruction, vengeful god).

Truly, you need to really study religion (and mythology) to understand where these belief systems came from and why they are structured the way they are.

Try reading about mythology (a good book is a short history of mythology) which discusses how and why myths were formed and how religions formed around them. Read with an open mind and you'll learn something.

Answer 5

Medellia got it right. Paganism predates Christianity by thousands of years, and Pagans worship the old gods, not the ones you might find in the Bible or the Quran. Islam is NOT Paganism.

Answer 6

Islam is paganism?

Then you might as well call Jews pagans, since Allah and YHVH is the same deity. Judiasms roots go to abraham, through Isaac, and Islams also go to abraham, through Ishmael, Abrahams other child.

With you defining Islam as paganism, then Jews and Christians are also pagans.

Answer 7

Paganism is a form of nature worship. Someone who identified themselves as a pagan would most likely follow the practices of Wicca, druidism, or other celtic/gallic ancient religions.

Allah is the God of Abraham, no matter how you try to convince yourself and others to the contrary.

Answer 8

Paganism is not Islamic, paganism refers to those who are not people of the book, (Christians, Muslims, and Jews are people of the book.) who worship one god. most pagans have many different god and goddess that they worship. Most pagan religions and practices are earth centered, and incorporate ancient myths and practices.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagan_%28disambiguation%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism

all of these sites will say pagans are not Muslims, and will inform you of what we really are.

Answer 9

Love and kindness.