So what does pagan mean?

Answer 1

Not a Christian/Jew/Muslim or Atheist or Agnostic.

Pretty much anyone with a belief system or religion not mentioned above could be regarded as a Pagan. Its an umbrella term for many many religons.

Answer 2

Modern definition: A worshiper of a group of nature-oriented religions based on the indigenous culture of Europe before the spread of Christianity.
Now, the technical meaning of the word is that "pagan" is '1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)'. It is derived from the latin word paganus, meaning civilian or country dweller, from pagus, which means district of the country [Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary].
Now, this has a very interesting history attached: Christianity became the dominant Roman faith quite suddenly (considering the width of the empire). The first to convert were the nobles and merchants... who mostly lived in the big cities. The "people from the country" remained attached to their original faiths for a long time... either in full or just superficially converted, mixing the new and old religions. This correlated the word "pagan" with the simple people of the fields, practicing still the old religious system.

Answer 3

There are a lot of good definitions in the answers but I think the word Pagan has become like the word "cult", in that their usage is apart from the typical dictionary definition.

Pagan has come to represent religions that worship more than one God, or not the God of Abraham. Cult has come to mean any religion that does not agree with the "mainstream" religion. Both of these terms could be applied in a loose way to many of the so called "Christian" religions.

Answer 4

Someone who believes in more than one deity. Hindus are pagans, the former Arabs before the start of Islam were pagans.

Answer 5

Pagan, all non-Abrahamic religions.

Neo-Pagan, earth based, recconstructionist religions of pre-Christian practices.

Answer 6

By definition it means those who do not believe in the Christian/Jewish/Muslim God. It also technically means country dweller.
The word has evolved to cover a wide range of faiths that tend to focus on the "old gods" or the "old ways". Not all pagans are witches and not all witches are pagans.
It's not hocus pocus, its a religion and way of life.

Answer 7

Check the latest pagan best seller list. The definition changes monthly.

Answer 8

in general, it means polytheism, believing in and praying to multiple gods. it is a general term used loosely to describe religions that pre-date monotheism (judaism, xianity and islam). paganism can believe in tree gods, mother nature gods, and that kind of thing.
it means different things to people, often as a reaction to something they don't like. so people who don't like patriarchy think of paganism as a kind of matriarchy, women centered, mother worshiping religion.
paganism has NOTHING to do with satan. satan is wholly a christian idea, and came after paganism was flourishing. anyone telling you paganism is satanism is a closed minded and somewhat ignorant believing christian. sorry but it's true.

Answer 9

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

Answer 10

A person who is not a Hebrew follower of the god of Abraham.