Does it ever occur to the educated theists here that the word "PAGAN" does not refer to a religion, or beliefs

Question

pa·gan

pa·gan [páygən]
n (plural pa·gans)
1. follower of a less popular religion: somebody who does not follow one of the world’s main religions, especially somebody who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, and whose religion is regarded as questionable (sometimes considered offensive)
2. polytheist or pantheist: a follower of an ancient polytheistic or pantheistic religion
3. heathen: somebody who has no religion (disapproving)

[14th century. Via late Latin paganus from Latin , “villager, civilian,” from pagus “rural district” (source of English peasant).]


I thought perhaps this nugget of knowledge would lend some intelligence to all future questions in which people have specific questions, or comments in regards to pagans. More people, especially bible thumpers willing to believe anything they have been told, should use their dictionaries more. Thank you, that is all I have to say for now.

Answer 1

Fascinating.

However, if you read the questions and answers carefully, you will see that the term is generally used in the sense of 1/2, namely, that persons interested in paganism use the sense 2, and persons of Christian persuasion use the sense 1, which is actually the Christian standpoint on paganism in sense 2.

Answer 2

I agree. Most of the "pagan" aka. non-Christian religions are now labeled under the new title of Neo-Paganism. The transformation of a non-acceptable religion into an organized form.

I practice Witchcraft and do not consider myself a Pagan, Wiccan, or anything else. I simply believe in the power of nature and God as a more etheral being than just some dude in the sky who doesn't judge me by my actions, but by my beliefs and my willingness to be a good person and make the right decisions.

I don't think most people who practice the craft even understand this concept. That's probably why World Religions/Religious Traditions is a required college course in most degree programs lately. If people understood more about what other people believe, they would be much less likely to judge them.

Answer 3

Soooo, is an atheist also a pagan??? I thought people that believed and/or practiced witchcraft were pagans, but I didn't think of atheists as pagan. I also never considered heathens as pagans either, but according to your definition, they are the one and the same. Now, where do infidels fit it?
And your definition of pagan would include Greek mythology or any mythology for that matter. And, where do cults fit in? We all need to get out our dictionaries and have some very interesting religious or non-religious discussions.

Answer 4

RELIGION -

NOUN:


1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

and religion can be a personal belief...so a "pagan" is a follower a personal belief...I can live with that!

Answer 5

I AM SORRY THOUGH,but being a pagan is a religion that is highly worshipped amongst alotta wiccans.being pagan means that you worship a God or a Goddess.we think that there is none other than your god so,how can that be?i have always heard that there are other gods in religions.as for being a pagan and talking about them,i have you to know that i am a dark pagan of the wicca.i am of course offended of you but i know what it means to be a pagan,wiccan,or witch.some pagans dont like to be called witches.though that is what i rather call myself.and i practice magick through the deities of night.alot of people dont wanna take the time to find out what the pagan religion is about.therefore i dont need to add no sites on here.but let it be heard that there are real witches and there is a religion of paganism.always have and always will.
Blessed be,
Lord Ashka Dark Witch )O(

Answer 6

i think of a few human beings seek advice from faith as "brainwashing" via fact they in my view experience they have been inspired with the help of relatives and society (predominately from an early age) to have self belief in a faith they could now no longer thoroughly have self belief in. subsequently, those absolutely everyone seems to be left with a feeling of being wrongly inspired with the help of the very comparable human beings they have confidence. The term "brainwashing" is obviously an exceptionally unfavorable term to throw around, and could be quite of an over-exaggeration, yet human beings subsequently are often describing the term from a private point.

Answer 7

Interesting

Answer 8

yes but as Christian is an umbrella term for many different sects of the Aberhamic religion that believes in Jesus Christ as it's savior.

Pagan is an umbrella term for just about everything that came before that. it was a deragatory word for a very long time. now we have taken it and turned it onto a discriptor. we have stolen the negative conotations of the word by embracing it for ourselves.

plus it is easier for me to say that i am a Pagan than to try to describe that i follow an earth religion but i am not Wiccan, but many of the customs of Wicca came from the religion that i follow which is the same religion as what the Druids and Celts followed, but i do not call myself a Druid becaues i see that as an insult to their great colture. because i was not trained for 20 years to be a druid and i do not do things exactaly as they do. so to call myslef such is adding to the diffusion of their colture and making it harder for anyont to learn the truth about the druids , which is already hard enough to do because not much information remains about them....

i think that i am just a Pagan...maybe a Celtic Pagan...nice and simple.

Answer 9

Two of your definitions DO refer to religious belief.

#1 FOLLOWER OF a less popular RELIGION
#2 Polytheists believe in multiple "gods" and pantheists believe that "all is god"s"

Being a Humanist, I fall into the third definition.

Answer 10

Paganism is an umbrella term for many different kinds of beliefs. Some people are self-identified as "pagan" and there are "pagan societies" on university campuses.

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