definition of paganism

[GoddessViviane]

Hello all!
I think you will all find this very interesting.
Well, i am a senior and in english class we are studying paganism and the christianity takeover thing. well. we had vocabulary, and one of our words to define was pagan.
well,i looked it up in the dictionary, and here is what it said in a few words:


Pagan: one who is not Christian, Jew or Musulim; a heathen.
2, one who has no religion

I WAS APPAULED! i could not believe this decription. ugh.anyway. go take a look at www.dictionary.com and look up the word pagan, you'll see the description.

well, in case any of you were wondering what i put on my paper for the definition, i put pagan-one who practices the old religion.

nothing other than that!
check ya later
~Cyneburghleah

[Radocs]

I'm really not suprised. It's to be expected, unfortunately.

[Amethyst Rose]

In the "old days" the word pagan was simply used to describe those who lived in the country. When Christianity was spreading, it started in the cities, so those in the country were the last to be converted...therefore, "pagans" were "country dwellers".

Just thought you might find that interesting. :)

[Raevyn]

Problem being many many Pagans don't follow the "old religion". Many also feel most of the "old religion" has been lost since so little of it could be recorded and it's so easy for what is passed down to be lost or changed.

Some Pagans resurrect the past, and some create their future. Some work with earth, some worship it, and some don't really recognize it in their beliefs at all. Some believe you harm none, some do whatever you want. The only definition I've heard so far that I can't disagree with is someone who isn't Jewish/Christian/Islamic and self identifies as Pagan. :)

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Pagan - country dwellers

and like Aemthyst Rose said the last to be converted

hence the newer defination one who is not Christian, Jew, Musulim.

[flar7]

Pagan doesnt mean country dwellers. The latin word it is derived
from means country dwellers or civilian~paganus(sp?)

Pagan being a derivative and english has a different meaning.
most agree to the non christian/muslim/jewish thing. Some also
say, Idolater, worships false gods, and so on....

[cherrywind]

That's to be expected. You get the newest dictionaries and they'll give that definition and an alternative one that incorporates a not so quite offensive definition that attempts to describe Paganism in general.

Problem with your definition-
Wicca is a relatively new religion, it isn't old at all, and is Pagan.
Raevyn's right, it's hard to get a definition for Paganism since it's so broad of a category. At least the different sects of Christianity believe in the same God ;).