What were the Pagan "gods"

[sergius89]

What is the Catholic explanation as to what were the “gods” that the pagans worshipped? I’m talking about the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, etc. “gods”. I read somewhere that they were demons but I can’t find the reference anymore. Any info that can be provided is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Shane

 

[Warrenton]

Hi! Check out 1 Corinthians 10 “the gods of the gentiles are demons.”

 

[Ahimsa]

What is the Catholic explanation as to what were the “gods” that the pagans worshipped? I’m talking about the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, etc. “gods”. I read somewhere that they were demons but I can’t find the reference anymore. Any info that can be provided is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Shane

The gods of the pagans are also simply described as “gods”:

Micah 4:5 KJV: “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”

Plus, the word “daimon” in Greek originally meant simply “a spiritual being”, without any necessarily negative connotation. Socrates had a “daimon” who gave him advice.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

demons. other pagans worshiped wooden poles.

 

[seeker57]

What is the Catholic explanation as to what were the “gods” that the pagans worshipped? I’m talking about the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, etc. “gods”. I read somewhere that they were demons but I can’t find the reference anymore. Any info that can be provided is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Shane

Actually, the proper tense would have been “what are the pagan gods.”

Christians may call them demons, but the Pagans I know call them deities.

They are also as devout in their worship of these deities as their Christian counterparts.

Just saying , , ,

Seeker

 

[Bluegoat]

It kind of depends what you mean. Why do they have to be anything?

Pagans have a connection to the Divine just like we all do. Some philosophers have worshiped a kind of abstract, philosophical idea of God. But most people are not up for that, so they use poetic expressions that describe what they understand about God.

It can be easy for error to creep into these poetic expressions though, or for people to misunderstand them, or even for spirits to make use of the ideas for their own purposes.

So depending on the individual instance, pagans might really be worshiping some aspect of God, or they might be worshiping something imaginary, or even an evil spirit or idea.

 

[stevekehl]

I generally don’t base doctrine on one verse or one passage but this may answer your question.
1Corinthians 10:19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
Something to consider when people say they are Buddhist Christians or Hindu Christians, etc…

 

[Ahimsa]

I generally don’t base doctrine on one verse or one passage but this may answer your question.
1Corinthians 10:19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
Something to consider when people say they are Buddhist Christians or Hindu Christians, etc…

Very funny.

By the way, Buddhists believe in demons too, and are no more eager to drink from their cup as was St. Paul.

 

[uglygal]

so entire nations of people only had access to “demons” for thousands of years

The pagan gods may or may not be real. IMO they were people’s attempt to get get close to God as is the case with most religions. How misguided one may think it is will mostly be a result of upbringing, culture etc

:twocents:

 

[AnAtheist]

other pagans worshiped wooden poles.

I don’t think that any pagan ever worshipped a piece of wood or a molten idol. They worship(ped) that, what the symbol stands for.
When you pray in front of a crucifix, do you worship the piece of wood? I don’t think so.

 

[gatewood1988]

Are you talking about the pagan gods of now? Or the ones the Bible mentions specifically?

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I don’t think that any pagan ever worshipped a piece of wood or a molten idol. They worship(ped) that, what the symbol stands for.

what did they stand for then?

When you pray in front of a crucifix, do you worship the piece of wood? I don’t think so.

But I’m not praying to the crucifix.

Pagans don’t do it now, so it doesn’t really matter too much. The OP was referring to the ancient pagans, and that is what I think the answer is (unless you would like me to say demons ).

Anyway, I’m done participating in this thread as I don’t find it very useful for myself.

God bless you all.

 

[Lokabrenna]

I’m clearly biased because I would say: “The gods are gods–they just fell out of fashion until very, very recently.”
However, I’ve also heard:

The gods were humans who were deified upon death/did something heroic and were worshiped because of it.
The gods were REALLY demons.

Take your pick.

 

[Angels_Eyes]

I don’t think that any pagan ever worshipped a piece of wood or a molten idol. They worship(ped) that, what the symbol stands for.
When you pray in front of a crucifix, do you worship the piece of wood? I don’t think so.

I agree. I believe they had the poles etc as symbols of the man - God o Ummm, for obvious reasons) and there were also symbols of the woman - Goddess. These were things such as caves, symbolising the womb of the Goddess.

They worshipped (and still do) the God and Goddess, equally.

As far as I know, from books and research (and previously being Pagan myself) the Gods were just that Gods. Pagans do not believe in the devil, so I think they would have only seen the Gods as higher/enlightened beings and nothing more.