Do you belive the word Pagan to be the riligious equivalant of the "N" word?

Question

born of hate ignorance and intolerance

i hape to be a polytheist and find all to often when the word pagan is directed twards me it falls from a bitter toung

Answer 1

On one level it's similar, in that the group itself uses it proudly, while the out group uses it derogatorily.

Answer 2

Only if you're still in the Middle Ages and belong to the Catholic Church.

You do know that black rappers use the "N" word quite often, right??? Do you think they mean it the same way a racist does?

Edit:

*Sigh* in the Bible when it talked of "Pagans" (actually the older versions of the Bible NEVER use the word Pagan - they use the word Heathen which is, by definition, different all together) but generally speaking... in the Bible, Pagan, Heathen, meant anyone who was NOT a JEW. It had NOTHING to do with strict religious beliefs.

Damn, why don't people look this stuff up????? Quit just assuming your parents and pastors know what the hell they're talking about...

And yet another Edit: hehe

giantdwarfbat - I know what you mean.. I have had the word directed at me and it mean something totally different than how I use it. Almost as if they are calling me a low-life or a beotch. But I don't place any worth on the insult. How I see it, I first have to care what they think in order for the "insult" to do anything to me. So if they wish to use it in such a way towards me, I simply move on (unless I'm feeling extra froggy - then I confront it, but with less insulting words... I would rather use my mind and show them where they are wrong rather than just exchange insults in that way) =) But, just out of curiosity, what term do you use, other than Polytheist?

Answer 3

It could be. The "N" word is a racist word, targeted mainly at African Americans, I'm not sure if the word is used world-wide. I recently took a quiz called "Dante's Inferno Quiz". It explains the '9 levels of hell'. It determines which level you will be cast to (Purgatory is the best level, I ended up in Limbo, not too bad). Some of the major questions in there had to do with Pagans, ex: Do you practice Pagan ceremonies, believe in Tarot readings, ect....
Though the "N" word is targeted at race, Pagan isn't. There are two totally different things.

Answer 4

No, not in the least. Pagan, by definition, is a person who follows a polytheistic religion. So if you do practice a polytheistic religion and someone calls you a pagan, how is it any different than someone calling you human? Many people now who practice neopaganism call themselves pagans, it is in no way a derogatory term.

Answer 5

As a Christian, I use the word "pagan" as an adjective -- no more, no less. For example, even though Tolkien was a Christian, LOTR is considered pagan by many because there are NO deities of any kind in the books.
(Not my quote, guys, but one I can agree with. If any pagan wants to correct that and show me why, I'm OK with that.)

So, no.

Answer 6

No.

I'm a christian, and when I hear the word Pagan, I think about a peaceful person who lives connected to the energy inherent in the universe.

Biblically, Pagan referred to all fertilitity based religions, or poly-theistic religions.

Some ppl use it as a derogatory word, though.


The N word was a play on the word "*****"
It was simply a descriptive term, but then it was used in a derogatory fashion, and remains so.

Answer 7

*** w06 6/1 pp. 27-28 pars. 7-8 ‘Choose Life to Keep Alive’ ***

In contrast, consider the situation in Israel some 700 years later. By that time, many Israelites were following pagan customs. For example, on the last day of the year, people gathered around a table spread with a variety of tasty foods and sweet wine. This was no simple family get-together. It was a religious ceremony that honored two pagan deities. The prophet Isaiah recorded God’s view of this unfaithfulness: “You men are those leaving Jehovah, those forgetting my holy mountain, those setting in order a table for the god of Good Luck and those filling up mixed wine for the god of Destiny.” They believed that the year’s harvest depended, not on having Jehovah’s blessing, but on appeasing “the god of Good Luck” and “the god of Destiny.” In reality, though, their rebellious course and willful choice sealed their destiny. “I will destine you men to the sword,” Jehovah declared, “and you will all of you bow down to being slaughtered; for the reason that I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not listen; and you kept doing what was bad in my eyes, and the thing in which I took no delight you chose.” (Isaiah 65:11, 12) Their unwise choice brought destruction upon them, and the gods of Destiny and Good Luck were powerless to prevent it.

Making the Right Choice

8 When Moses exhorted Israel to choose life, he pointed out three steps that they should take: “By loving your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:20) Let us examine each of these so that we may make the right choice.

No the N word is a degrading word for a person who is lazy and a thief.

Answer 8

I have never had anyone use pagan in a iggnorant way, but witch has been used a lot. I wear both just like some black people wear the n word. they can say pagan and mean dumb bit!h, you can be garentted though ill be saying christian and meaning guilt ridden Co@@ Su^^Kr.

dont get mad and report me, it is true you know.

Answer 9

Well, except that 'Pagan' is the correct word to use when describing Pagans.

A lot of ignorant Christians toss it around like a curse word. But you shouldn't take them seriously...

A word like "heathen" or "infidel" might fit the bill better.

Answer 10

Certainly not in modern times. Lots of people are self professed pagans and to refer them as such is just a simple statement of whats so for them. Pagans are cool.

Answer 11

Its original meaning was "country dweller". It became a slur when Romans began using it to make themselves appear superior. Then it took on its religious slur when christianity became the rage. Its a term many of us have taken back with pride. Heathen is a term originally meaning "dweller on the heaths" but now is used to define the followers of the Northern European Traditions such as Asatru.