What is a pagan?

Question

I have never heard of this term until recently...

Answer 1

Some one who does not believe in God but rather other deites. Pagan is a common term use for Wiccans. I am call pagan sometimes.

Answer 2

Pagan is an old term that originally referred to a rustic person. It was later applied to people who kept the "old faiths" and didn't convert to Christianity. It can now mean any number of spiritual faiths that stick to nature worship. Wiccans and Druids are both pagans, but there are many other groups that can also be considered pagan. Sadly, some established religious groups use it as "snarl" word to describe anyone not of their faith.

I'm including a link to the wikipedia article about paganism. It has a myriad of useful links, if you're interested in knowing more.

Answer 3

In general, a pagan practices a faith that honors and/or worships a Pre-Christian Deity or Deities, sometimes based on shamanic or magickal principles, and/or focusing on the feminine aspect of Deity. Common also is a desire to live in harmony with nature and the Earth, and the free exercise of thought and action, provided no person or being is harmed.

Satanism is not a pagan tradition, but a fundamental Christian sect. To worship an antichrist, one must believe in a divine Christ (i.e., be a "Christian."). Pagans today generally do not acknowledge Christ or the Judeo-Christian God, do not believe in Christian "devils," or acknowledge Christian propaganda describing the Horned God as "evil." For two thousand years many denominations of Christianity have slandered the pagan religions in order to gain converts

Answer 4

Pagan as defined in Oxford American Desk Dictionary:

1. An irreligious person, one of hedonistic beliefs, or one who follows a polytheistic pantheon

This is however in correct. The original word meant 'country folk', and in terms of religion we are religious, nor are we heathens. The word is used today as an 'Umbrella' term to define someone who is not of the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim faith (i.e. to refer to those who follow the old Norse, Greek-Roman, or Egyptian faiths).

I hope this helps.

Peace Out
24 y.o. Pagan College Student

Answer 5

pagan is derived from the roman word Paganus, meaning "country dweller"

this derives form the time of conversion to christianity for the old roman polythiestic tradtions, the citys were faster to convert thatn the country folk.

Now a days it refers to any religion that is not of abrahamic origin ie. christian, muslim, or jewish. At least acoording to the dictionary.

But i highly doubt that H.H. the Dali Lama considers himself a pagan.

On that note the neo-pagan movement generally refers to such nature based new age religions such as wicca, new age spirituality,native american spirituality,etc.

Paganism is such a broad & inclusive classification that it is described by what it is not.

It is not devil worship or satanism.
It is not being void of god... in fact there are many gods to work with..

Answer 6

Paganism is a general term that covers a lot of different religions (a lot of them are nature based)

Heres a dictionary definition

One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially an adherent of a polytheistic religion in antiquity.
A Neo-Pagan.
Offensive.
One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.

Paganism is generally older than any organized religion that we see today but like I said it covers a lot of different religions!

Answer 7

Generally speaking it refers to a non-Christian. See also: heathen, unbeliever, barbarian. Today it refers to people who belong to an Eath-based, nature-oriented religion and tradition.

Answer 8

pa·gan (pgn) KEY

NOUN:

One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.
A Neo-Pagan.
ADJECTIVE:

Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
Professing no religion; heathen.
Neo-Pagan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Late Latin pgnus, from Latin, country-dweller, civilian, from pgus, country, rural district; see pag- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
pagan·dom (-dm) KEY (Noun), pagan·ish (Adjective), pagan·ism (Noun)

Answer 9

pagan is the general term for devil worshipers, people who dont believe in "god" and people who have symbiolic beliefs. basically they are called pagan because people dont understand them, and what people dont understand, they fear.

Answer 10

we work with nature, respect it, some are also like myself witches