What is a pagan

  • Thread starter Thread starter Teacher
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Teacher

Guest
I’ve done little research but I’m not sure if pagans are the same as Christians/Catholics
 
Pagans are typically those who follow the traditional religions of their native land, culture, or people. For instance, a person who follows Odinism (Norse Folk Religion) would be called a pagan in a traditional sense. The term is also typically associated with European folk religions as well. I’ve talked to some people who follow said religions, and by what I gathered some prefer the term “Heathen” over Pagan.
 
There are a couple definitions.
Any religion outside the Christian religion can be referred to as “pagan”, but more commonly nowadays I think you hear it mainly referring to all non Abrahamic religions, or even all non monotheistic religions.

They tend to not follow the Bible
 
Last edited:
I can’t speak for all, but I think I would be correct in saying that the vast majority do not.

They are not adherents to the Christian faith, and while some might be inspired by Scripture just as some Christians might draw inspiration from other faiths or other holy books, I haven’t ever encountered one who follows the teachings of the Bible. However, some teachings are universal between most faiths (like how thievery is wrong) and therefore they might follow some teachings that they happen to share with the Bible coincidentally.

The reason I’m being so hypothetical is because what one would call “Paganism” or “Heathenism” isn’t an established body of believers with universal precepts. Many modern adherents are fairly individualistic in their beliefs, and therefore no one can say for sure if all have certain beliefs/follow certain teachings. However, typically most would not follow scriptural teachings out of religious conviction.
 
If you are on the east coast of the United States, Pagan can also refer to members of the elite Pagans Motorcycle Club.
 
In a modern sense it’s kind of a fuzzy term meaning ‘non-Christian’ but depending on the context may be a little more or less strict than that. Without turning this into a ‘are Jehovah’s Witnesses christians?’ derailment, some people would call them pagan some wouldn’t. Likewise some would include atheists/agnostics as pagans while others would withhold the term for those practicing another religion specifically. In short, there’s no real meaning behind it and you need to infer what the speaker means based on context.
 
According to my research pagans were NOT Christians, they were more like object worshippers.
 
The Church has traditionally used the term to refer to pretty much any religion (usually idolaters or polytheists), other other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.
 
Last edited:
go to any land and the indigenous will have their gods and practices. wherever you go there are Pagans
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top