Why do some neo-pagans use pagan as if it referred to one religion?

Question

Pagan according to most dictionaries means any religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. It therefore covers hundreds of religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and many others. Yet many neo-pagans seem to use it as if it meant one big religion.

Answer 1

This puzzles me as well, although actually I've seen non-Neo-Pagans using the term that way than Neo-Pagans.

Answer 2

Actually most religious scholars do not include Hinduism and Buddhism as Pagan religions, though not always expressed in dictionary definitions. Hinduism and Buddhism both fall under the classification of being Dharmic religions.

May newer Pagans do not always understand that it is more of a classification rather than a specific religion. For some, they do know the difference, they just refer to themsleves as being Pagan rather than always saying something like Eclectic Pagan, etc. Its a more understood term, and just easier to say sometimes.

BB,
Lord AmonRaHa

Answer 3

Well, I do not call myself a Wiccan, because I am not Wiccan (I have not been trained in, nor initiated into, a Wiccan Tradition).

And the word "Witch" is not one I use with everyone. I really do NOT need to deal with the common reaction from the ignorant.

So I use the more general term "Pagan" because I *am* one, in the same way that a Methodist might say that s/he is a "Christian" without saying specifically "Methodist".

It really depends on who I'm talking to.

If I say that I'm about equal parts hedge-witch, and an initiate into two different traditions of Witchcraft, one of which is *informed by*, but not of, Wicca, and that I practice one tradition in my solitary work, and the other is my coven tradition, then I have to explain FAR too much to people who are non-Pagan.

Within Pagan groups, I generally don't have to self-identify.

If any other pagan asks, I say that I am a NROOGD initiate.

Answer 4

When most people think of Pagan they think of Wicca, Asatru, Druidism and other reconstructionish nature religions. I too get a chuckle when I see the statements that Pagans all are peaceful nature based and so on. I wonder what would happen if someone recreated the peaceful Pagan religion of the Mayans who practiced human sacrifice and the kinds would peirce their genitals with stingray spines as blood offerings...

But it is just easier to say one is Pagan in some cases instead of "I am a neo-Pagan with Wiccan influence that also draws on Druidism, Native American, Animism and other aboriginal beliefs."

Answer 5

I think a lot of people (myself included, sometimes) use "Pagan" the way a lot of people use "Christian".
It's used as an umbrella term that includes a large number of religions under the umbrella.
I'm "pagan" in that I don't follow one of the Abrahamic religions.
I'm specifically Asatru.

From my experience, though, a lot of Wiccans use the terms "Wiccan" and "Pagan" interchangeably, as if one means the other, and vice versa.
Also, a lot of Abrahamics SEEM to believe that Paganism is one religion with many sects, like Christianity.

Answer 6

Pagan has many differant meanings to it, one of which you mentioned, another is a civilian(non military person), country dweller, a person who believes in the pre-judaic-christian religions of europe and parts of the middle east and africa. When you say pagan you must specify what you mean, whether through infering it with the text or by coming right out and saying it. A neo-pagan is someone who believes in the old ways of pre judaic-christian religions in the european, middle eastern and african areas. So a neo-pagan is going off of a certain meaning of the word pagan and they can therefore describe themselves as pagan or neo-pagan. Besides the reason you have pagan meaning anyone whos not jewish, christian or muslim is because of the dislike for people who werent one of them over the centuries and its hard to shake that off. I bet if you called a hindu or buddhist pagan they would take offense to it and try to correct you on what you are saying. Just because many dictionaires say one definition does not mean its the only one or the universally accepted one. So in the future if you say pagan make sure people know which definition your using so you dont offend anyone.

Answer 7

I use the term Pagan with "outsiders" because most pagans I know have no idea what Heathen is, so I sure don't expect other to. Neo-Pagan seems to confuse them too, although I'm not sure why....
I think the word "pagan" has evolved as words sometimes do. We have owned the word as our own, I think. If someone says "Really, what kind of Pagan are you?" Then I'll tell them whatever they want to know.

Answer 8

Neo-Paganism is a branch of Paganism. the main difference being that Neo-Pagan groups have known Founders, while Paleo-Pagans often are so old they haven't got known founders. The 'one big religion concept ' is called syncretism, a blending of different beliefs, which most modern NeoPagans are at east familiar with.

Answer 9

Neo-pagan isn't a faith... And Neo-pagan isn't wiccan as you look to have faith... Wiccan, on the different hand, is Neo-Pagan, which you will desire to understand previously heavily thinking turning out to be a member of the religion.

Answer 10

Actually, the term Neo-Pagan helps with the myth of the one big early Pagan religion, and that's one reason I don't use it.

The only people to call *themselves* Pagan are today's Pagans.