What is a pagan?

Answer 1

There are many definitions.

One definition is anyone who is not a Christian, Muslim or Jew.

Another definition is someone who follows a nature based religion that includes female deities.

Answer 2

In ancient times, a "Pagan" was simply a term for a country dweller; a somewhat pejorative one, as in "country bumpkin". When Christianity took over the Roman empire, only the "country bumpkins" held the polytheistic beliefs of their ancestors and were not Christian... or Jewish, because they were already a different and pre-defined group. Because of this, "Pagan" took on the meaning of "not Christian or Jewish."

Modern Pagans (Neo-Pagans) have reclaimed the term and turned it into a term of pride, much like the GLBT community has done with the word "Queer."

People have attempted to find commonalities between different forms of modern Paganism in a few different ways. A study called The Emerging Network by Michael York is one that I found helpful and which has influenced my own definition.

I would say that Pagans in general:
1. Look to ancient polytheistic traditions in order to experience immanent Divine presence.
2. Tend to be (though are not always) earth-based in their spirituality and ethics.
3. Often (though not always) embrace the existence of magic, even if they do not practice it themselves.
4. Regard personal spiritual experiences to be important in their faith system. (As opposed to, say, believing what's written in a book.) This doesn't mean that books aren't important to Pagans, only that they are regarded differently than how Christians usually regard the Bible.

When most people on here describe themselves as "Pagans," they're talking about Neo-Paganism.

Answer 3

In a very general sense, pagans refer to worshippers of the earth, of of deities closely connected to the earth. Usually polytheistic, they may represent forms like "Mother Earth" or "Father Sky", or simply be elemental, like worshipping trees, like Druids.

It is mistakenly associated with being satanic. In truth, pagans do not worship any part of the Christian beliefs, so Satan would be a moot point.

Native American beliefs, as well as many ancient Greek, Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, and African belief systems are inherently pagan.

Answer 4

Someone who follows the polytheistic religion of Paganism.

Answer 5

Pagan is a term used for people who still follow "pre-Christian" religions, Druidism, Wicca and others.

Answer 6

Someone who follows the religion of Paganism. Just like someone who follows Christianity is a Christian.

Answer 7

This question, quite frankly, has been way overasked. I realize that you're asking because you want to know, but haven't you even tried to see if there are other, similar questions already on Y/A? Hint: There are!! Usually the questions are shown to you after you type your own question... or you could go to "search for questions". These questions have some good answers, and you can't expect to get those answers each and every time when this question has been asked at least twice a week.

Answer 8

I think a pagan is someone who is neither a Jew or a Christian.

Answer 9

The literal translation of Pagan is "to question" . Anyone that wasnt christian and chose to question the christian belief was labled a pagan or heritic.

Answer 10

Technically anything outside of Islam, Christianity of Judisim.
The term also defines those who follow the "Old Gods" and the old ways. Such as:
Wicca
Kemetic (Egyptian)
Asatru (Norse)
Hellenistic (Greek)
Celtic Reconstructionalist
Eclectics
Druid
Sumerian
And many more. So you'd have to be a bit more specific