Paganism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:29, 2 January 2007

Revision as of 22:08, 5 January 2007

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==Terminology==

===Common word usage===

Both "pagan" and "heathen" have historically been used as a [[pejorative]] by adherents of monotheistic religions (such as [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]]) to indicate a disbeliever in their religion. "Paganism" is also sometimes used to mean the ''lack'' of (an accepted monotheistic) religion, and therefore sometimesis meansin essentiallyno way the same as ''[[atheism]]''. "Paganism" frequently refers to the religions of [[classical antiquity]], most notably [[Greek mythology]] or [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]], and can be used neutrally or admiringly by those who refer to those complexes of belief. However, until the rise of [[Romanticism]] and the general acceptance of [[freedom of religion]] in [[Western civilization]], "paganism" was almost always used disparagingly of [[heterodox]] beliefs falling outside the established political framework of the Christian Church. It has more recently (from the 19th century) been used admiringly by those who believe monotheistic religions to be confining or colourless.

"Pagan" came to be equated with a Christianized sense of "[[Epicurus|epicurean]]" to signify a person who is sensual, materialistic, self-indulgent, unconcerned with the future and uninterested in sophisticated religion. The word was usually used in this worldly and stereotypical sense, particularly among those who were drawing attention to what they perceived as being the limitations of paganism, for example, as when [[G. K. Chesterton]] wrote: "The pagan set out, with admirable sense, to enjoy himself. By the end of his civilization he had discovered that a man cannot enjoy himself and continue to enjoy anything else." In sharp contrast [[Swinburne]] the poet would comment on this same theme: "Thou hast conquered, O pale Galilean; the world has grown grey from thy breath;