Paganism
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # Home |
The term ‘paganism’ used to refer to primitive, non-Christian religions. Currently it is also used as a catch-all term for movements and beliefs like Wicca, Magic, polytheism, etcetera.
The root meaning of ‘pagan’ (latin paganus) was a country dweller. Country dwellers, being removed from city life, did not practice the religions of the wealthier and more educated city dwellers, such as the Graeco-Roman civic religions, the mystery religions, and finally Christianity when it spread through the Roman Empire; instead they practised their own rites associated with rural life.
Thus until the somewhat later conversion of the country dwellers, ‘pagan’ came to be synonymous with those who did not embrace the Christian faith.
Three features probably characterized the pagan religions: they contrasted with the state religions and the religions of the city dwellers; they were probably related to fertility; and, since rustics are generally deemed to be less literate than city inhabitants, they pagan religions are largely undocumented.
- Source: George D. Chryssides, Exploring New Religions. Continuum, London and New York. 1999, reprinted 2001. Page 336.
News & News Archive
See Also
Share this
To share this page simply copy and paste one of the below URL's:
Comment
• Note: If the current entry includes a Table of Contents, the comments section is located on the first page of the entry (and may indeed be open. Do check.) Also, on some entries, the comments section is located on a separate page. See that topic's Table of Contents.
Subscribe to Apologetics Index updates via RSS news feed or email• Subscribe to this feed (RSS)
• Subscribe by email
Link to this page
• Permalink to Paganism
Information:
• This page was first posted: Jul. 17, 2006
• This page was last updated: Jul. 27, 2006
• How to use this site • Copyright and Linking Policy • Disclaimer
About Apologetics Index
The Apologetics Index (apologeticsindex.org) 'family of web sites' provides 25,000+ pages of research resources on religious cults, sects, new religious movements, alternative religions, apologetics-, anticult-, and countercult organizations, doctrines, religious practices and world views. These resources reflect a variety of theological and/or sociological perspectives. [More Info]
