So if pagan and Athiest are the same thing, why is Athiest more commonly used?

Question

As far as I understand pagan (as an adjective) and Athiest are the same thing: Professing no religeon.

I looked up both words because I was curious to see what differnces would occur in the definitions on an online dictionary that has never yet failed me. However, it only provided a definition for pagan.

So, if the words pagan and Athiest mean the same thing and Athiest isn't even in the dictionary, why is it the more commonly used?

I asked because I didn't know. I said that as far as I understood they were the same thing. I spelled atheist both ways.

I'm 15: I'm allowed room for mistakes.

But anyway, thanks for clearing up the issue.

I looked up pagan, not paganism. I saw this:

pa·gan (pgn)
Beneathe it, as adjectives:
adj.
1. Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
2. Professing no religion; heathen.
3. Neo-Pagan.

Atheists profess no religion.

That's my reasoning. I looked up pagan because someone used it in a way that confused me (I had always assumed that it very vaguely meant you had more than one god and was somehow similar to Wicca [I may be wrong there, too. I know this.]).

Answer 1

Sorry I just wanted to add this question tto my list so I can read all the answers tomorrow.---good question

Answer 2

You're incorrect.

Pagans are actually followers of one of many polytheistic and/or earth based religions, many of which that are older than the Abrahamic religions.

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god... That is all atheism is.

If you go by the incorrect Christian definition, a Pagan is anyone who isn't a Christian.

Answer 3

'Pagan' is usually used to describe the older, pre-Christian religions. The Ancient Greeks who worshipped Zeus and Hermes and all those guys were 'Hellenistic Pagan'. Modern Pagans include the Hindus, and also people in the Western world who've re-started the old rites such as celebration of summer and winter solstices.

Answer 4

Pagans and atheists are not the same. Pagans are witches or wiccans. An atheist simply states that he/she does not believe in God. Even the pagans have a god or gods. They say that they worship nature, but it is far more to it than that.

My housemate is a pagan.

Answer 5

They are not the same. Athiest Don't belive in God, or gods.
Pagans is a general term used to lable many earth whorshipping beliefs. Like Wiccans and so forth. Some are Panthiest (god is in everything) others are polythiest(there are a group of gods) Or some belive just in a greater power of some type.

Answer 6

Ah, there's the problem. Pagan and atheist are NOT the same thing.

paganism is a large group of religions.
atheism is a lack of belief in gods.

Answer 7

Paganism is a religion--it worships nature and the beauty and rhythm of the world around us--whoever or whatever created it.

Atheism is no belief in any creator

Answer 8

Not the same thing.

Pagan belief systems are the foundation of Christianity.

Paul borrowed heavily from pagan sources to create his Pauline belief system. This was later adapted by Rome to replace the Teachings of Jesus. This is what is today called Christianity.

love and blessings Don

Answer 9

Paganism is a religion and atheism is not capitilized.

You are correct in your observation that athiest is not in the dictionary. Neither is shampo nor condiitoner.

Answer 10

Pagan is an old Roman word for "country dweller". These days we say "hick", "hillbilly", redneck, etc. Somewhere along the way, the word was sucked into a religious meaning.

Atheism is not paganism.

Answer 11

Pagans and atheists aren't the same thing.