what makes a religion pagan? and is hinduism a pagan religion?
2007-10-09 20:56:18 · 18 answers · asked by yin yang 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ACtually this is a very good question and because I couldn't answer this in my own terms or ways without confusing myself lol. This was the closest I could come to helping you get a better understanding of your question.Perhaps not an answer per se but closer to an answer...
http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm
2007-10-09 21:02:31 · answer #1 · answered by Malia G 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Paganism is a very broad term which encompasses many different religions from many different cultures.
In general Paganism is any polytheistic (multiple diety) spiritual belief system whose dieties are earth or elementally based.
It is a nature based religion which acknowledges the sacredness of all things such as the earth the wind the waters and all natural things and elemental forces.
Examples of Pagan religions are Japanese Shinto, East Indian Hindu, South and central American Mayan and Incan, all Native American tribal beleifs, Norse Asatru, Ancient Celtic and more modern Wicca.
2007-10-10 19:39:18 · answer #2 · answered by Leeanen S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paganism isn't a religion. It's a broad umbrella term that covers all religions that are polytheistic - that is, religions that believe in more than one God [unlike Christianity, Judaism or Islam, and possibly Baha'i as well]. Quite often, Pagans will believe in a God and a Goddess, or many different god and goddesses from Norse, Scottish, Irish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc. mythologies. Many also are considered as those who worship the earth, steward the earth, and care for it as if it were their own body. Many Pagans are involved with environmental movements due to this.
That being said, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what a Pagan is, because many Pagans cannot pinpoint it. I suggest checking out the links in my sources to find out more.
2007-10-10 07:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Paganism is a broad term that encompasses many religions and spiritualities. A pagan is generally one that does not follow one of the main religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Shinto etc.). Originally the term was coined to refer to those that did not follow the main religion so was an insult and is still seen as one today by some. Pagan religions are generally those that aren't one the world religions; that have their roots in pre-Christian times. A pagan can also be one that is irreligious or may just have beliefs but does have a specific religion.
I would say generally pre-Christian belief structures would be pagan; Druidry, Norse religion etc. It also depends on the individuals some do not label themselves "pagan" as the term as so broad and does not denote any specific beliefs. Some pagans are polytheist (probably the majority) others, monotheist, and some are pantheist. Some say that pagan religions are about worshiping nature or are classed as "nature religions." As a pagan I would disagree as my religion teaches respect for nature but we worship Gods not the Earth or any impersonal entities. Pagan religions are generally polytheist and their roots date back to pre-Christian times, but that does not cover all and to be any more specific would be to generalise further as paganism covers so many beliefs it is hard to say.
Also neo-paganism refers to pagans that have newer or modern forms of old religions/beliefs. However not all paganism is neo-paganism.
2007-10-10 04:22:47 · answer #4 · answered by Wyvern 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Greetings!
According to some Religions, every other Religion, outside of theirs is "Pagan" whether the followers of those Religions agree, or not.
"Paganii" is a Roman/Latin word to describe Folk who do not subscribe to the "Popular Religions" which dominated the Cities.
Pagans, or "country Folk" would Worship as they pleased, with no Tithes, Taxes, or fat lazy Priests. They would give to the Ancestors, Spirits of Place(Rivers, Springs, the Moon..), instead of Humanised Gods like Jupiter(Zeus), Mars(Ares),Mercury(Hermes), which had large Temples in the Cities, and were a source of revenue, tourism, and control, rather than any Spiritual benefit.
Pagans nowadays tend toward Natural Spiritual Belief, as in the Earth Mother, and the processes of the Seasons, and our Journey through Life.
/!\
2007-10-10 14:23:01 · answer #5 · answered by Ard-Drui 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paganism is not one religion, but refers to many. It has several meanings. For some of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), everyone else is pagan, including Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, and neo-pagans.
However in contemporary usage a more narrow meaning is common. Neo-paganism is sometimes called paganism; these are earth honoring religions which can be monotheistic, duotheistic, polytheistic, animistic or even atheist (with any references to gods or goddesses really being metaphors ). Neopagans include (among others) Wiccans, Druids, and other witches, a great diversity of beliefs practices and groups. While Satanists exist, they and others debate whether they really are neopagan at all.
2007-10-10 04:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by SC 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Paganism is the worship of Nature. Hinduism has nothing to do with paganism. It is its own religion.
2007-10-10 22:19:34 · answer #7 · answered by Raven B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to many, any religion that is different from their own is a Pagan religion ( LOL). Christians call Muslims pagans and vice versa.
Pagan is the one who dose not believe in the chief world religions.
2007-10-10 04:16:19 · answer #8 · answered by handful_01 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements, or certain gods.
from
www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism
2007-10-10 04:01:29 · answer #9 · answered by ahl06 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Paganism is religions that do not worship the Judaio/Christian/Islamic God.
Paganism includes Buddhism, Hinduism, and all off shoots.
2007-10-10 04:07:12 · answer #10 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋