Pagan?

Spirits Reborn · 04-04-2007, 05:57 PM

Okay, Now I know religious discussions are to be avoided. But I'm trying to find out what people define this word as. So lets take this in a more definitive manner than a religious discussion.

I've had people around me use the word pagan alot, and everyone gives me a different definition of it.

So what exactly does pagan mean? is it simply not being Christian? Or is there something more?

VulcanRider · 04-04-2007, 06:40 PM

IMO Christians use it to mean a person who is not Christian/Jewish/Islamic. Wikipedia says mostly the same thing.

robertthebard · 04-04-2007, 07:47 PM

That's close enough to the truth for me. Being a Pagan, I can live with that definition. Trying to define specifics could take a while, but in so far as I am aware, all Earth based religions are Pagan.

Kyrvias · 04-04-2007, 07:53 PM

Earth based religions? Like Celtic gods?

Captain Obvious · 04-04-2007, 09:20 PM

forgive the ignorance, but arent all relgions based on earth? Ive never heard of a mars based religon for example.

Spirits Reborn · 04-04-2007, 09:37 PM

Okay, I think what Robert Means by earth based is that the gods are based in earth? As opposed to heaven and such.

The reason I ask such a question is because, my school has a pagan group. And my friend had a conversation with a member it went as
"So you're in the pagan group?"
"Yep"
"What exactly is pagan?"
"The religion of the group I follow"
"yeah, what is that?"
"The pagan group"
"What does it mean to be a pagan"
"I'm pagan".

.... safe to say the person who was in the group didn't know what he was talking about. lol;

VulcanRider · 04-04-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spirits Reborn:
.... safe to say the person who was in the group didn't know what he was talking about. lol;

I'd bet he's chasing after a girl in the group, and he's hoping that joining will help him get laid...

robertthebard · 04-04-2007, 10:23 PM

Earth based religions would be religions that follow the cycles of Nature, seasons, equinoxes, etc. Not all religions are Earth based, even though they are on Earth, that's the wrong kind of base. The pre-Christianity Celts were Pagan, as well as the Native American cultures that were here before the Europeans took over. You'll notice that pattern a lot. All of the peoples native to Mexico were also Paganistic, prior to the Spaniards coming in.

SpiritWarrior · 04-05-2007, 12:01 AM

Yes, that is my definition of it too. Wicca also is a big one. The whole "earthbound" deity is a good rule of thumb but not a 100% definitive factor in deciding paganism. Like some wiccans pay tribute to heavenly gods or goddesses.

Illumina Drathiran'ar · 04-05-2007, 12:01 AM

To me, pagan is an umbrella term for those who follow... for the lack of a better term... disorganized religion [img]tongue.gif[/img]

There are the mainstream faiths, and there are a bunch of pagan faiths, loosely tied together by a reverence towards the earth and a certain independent streak. But that's my opinion.

04-04-2007, 05:57 PM	#1
Spirits Reborn Anubis Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: .... Age: 35 Posts: 2,473	Okay, Now I know religious discussions are to be avoided. But I'm trying to find out what people define this word as. So lets take this in a more definitive manner than a religious discussion. I've had people around me use the word pagan alot, and everyone gives me a different definition of it. So what exactly does pagan mean? is it simply not being Christian? Or is there something more? __________________ Spirit's 3d Dump, Check it out!

04-04-2007, 06:40 PM	#2
VulcanRider Lord Soth Join Date: July 25, 2002 Location: Melbourne FL Age: 59 Posts: 1,971	IMO Christians use it to mean a person who is not Christian/Jewish/Islamic. Wikipedia says mostly the same thing. __________________ ----- Help feed animals in shelters with just a mouse click at The Animal Rescue Site !!

04-04-2007, 07:47 PM	#3
robertthebard Xanathar Thieves Guild Join Date: March 17, 2001 Location: Wichita, KS USA Age: 60 Posts: 4,537	That's close enough to the truth for me. Being a Pagan, I can live with that definition. Trying to define specifics could take a while, but in so far as I am aware, all Earth based religions are Pagan. __________________ To those we have lost; May your spirits fly free. Good Music: Here. Interesting read, one of my blogs.

04-04-2007, 09:20 PM	#5
Captain Obvious Elminster Join Date: May 21, 2006 Location: New Zealand Age: 41 Posts: 420	forgive the ignorance, but arent all relgions based on earth? Ive never heard of a mars based religon for example. __________________ I am the Walrus!

04-04-2007, 09:37 PM	#6
Spirits Reborn Anubis Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: .... Age: 35 Posts: 2,473	Okay, I think what Robert Means by earth based is that the gods are based in earth? As opposed to heaven and such. The reason I ask such a question is because, my school has a pagan group. And my friend had a conversation with a member it went as "So you're in the pagan group?" "Yep" "What exactly is pagan?" "The religion of the group I follow" "yeah, what is that?" "The pagan group" "What does it mean to be a pagan" "I'm pagan". .... safe to say the person who was in the group didn't know what he was talking about. lol; __________________ Spirit's 3d Dump, Check it out!

04-04-2007, 07:53 PM	#4
Kyrvias Lord Ao Join Date: May 15, 2005 Posts: 2,092	Earth based religions? Like Celtic gods?

04-04-2007, 10:23 PM	#8
robertthebard Xanathar Thieves Guild Join Date: March 17, 2001 Location: Wichita, KS USA Age: 60 Posts: 4,537	Earth based religions would be religions that follow the cycles of Nature, seasons, equinoxes, etc. Not all religions are Earth based, even though they are on Earth, that's the wrong kind of base. The pre-Christianity Celts were Pagan, as well as the Native American cultures that were here before the Europeans took over. You'll notice that pattern a lot. All of the peoples native to Mexico were also Paganistic, prior to the Spaniards coming in. __________________ To those we have lost; May your spirits fly free. Good Music: Here. Interesting read, one of my blogs.

04-05-2007, 12:01 AM	#9
SpiritWarrior Jack Burton Join Date: May 31, 2002 Location: Ireland Posts: 5,854	Yes, that is my definition of it too. Wicca also is a big one. The whole "earthbound" deity is a good rule of thumb but not a 100% definitive factor in deciding paganism. Like some wiccans pay tribute to heavenly gods or goddesses. __________________ Still I feel like a child when I look at the moon, maybe I grew up a little too soon...

04-05-2007, 12:01 AM	#10
Illumina Drathiran'ar Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2002 Location: I can see the Manhattan skyline from my window. Age: 38 Posts: 4,673	To me, pagan is an umbrella term for those who follow... for the lack of a better term... disorganized religion [img]tongue.gif[/img] There are the mainstream faiths, and there are a bunch of pagan faiths, loosely tied together by a reverence towards the earth and a certain independent streak. But that's my opinion. __________________ http://cavestory.org PLAY THIS GAME. Seriously. http://xkcd.com/386/ http://www.xkcd.com/406/ My heart is like my coffee. Black, bitter, icy, and with a straw.

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