Paganism is a big word that Christians used to describe many different religions that weren't their own, and today it also describes modern nature-focused beliefs.

Key idea: The word 'pagan' was originally a Latin term for 'country person' or 'civilian' and was used by early Christians to define those outside their faith.

It's super important to know that for a very long time, people didn't call themselves "pagans"! This word was mostly used by early Christians to describe others. It was a way for Christians to say, "We are this, and they are that." Because of this, the word "pagan" was often used in a not-so-nice way.

The word "pagan" comes from a Latin word, "paganus." This word first meant someone who lived in the countryside, a "villager" or "country dweller." It also meant a "civilian" or "non-soldier" in the Roman army. Imagine calling someone a "yokel" or "bumpkin" – that's kind of how it felt! The word is even related to older words about fixing or fastening things.

Christians started using "paganus" to mean people who weren't Christian. This happened mostly in the western part of the Roman Empire, where Latin was spoken. In the eastern part, where Greek was spoken, they used words like "Hellene" or "gentile" instead. It's interesting how a simple word for "country person" became a big religious label!

Some people in the Middle Ages thought "pagan" meant country people because cities became Christian first. But this idea isn't quite right. The word was used for non-Christians even before that time, and many pagan beliefs were strong in cities too. It's more likely that Christians, who saw themselves as "soldiers of Christ," started calling non-Christians "civilians" or "paganus," and that's how the religious meaning grew.

“It was a label that Christians applied to others, one of the antitheses that were central to the process of Christian self-definition.”

Key idea: In the Greek-speaking East, non-Christians were often called 'Hellenes,' linking Greek culture with non-Christian beliefs.

In the Greek-speaking parts of the Roman Empire, people who weren't Christian were often called "Hellenes" (which means "Greeks"). This might seem a bit strange, but it happened because early Christians often came from Jewish backgrounds. Jewish people at the time used religion to tell themselves apart from others, not just where they came from.

Since Greek culture was very important in the Roman East, and it had many gods, early Christians used "Hellenes" to mean non-Christians. This idea even shows up in the New Testament, where "Hellene" is often compared to "Hebrew," no matter what country someone was actually from.

Over time, some pagans even started calling themselves "Hellenes" proudly! But not everyone liked this. Some Christians and some pagans thought it was wrong to change the meaning of the word "Greek" from a cultural one to a religious one. For example, a powerful church leader named Gregory of Nazianzus didn't like it when the government tried to stop Greek culture because it was seen as pagan.

Even though "Hellene" became a religious word, the Greek language itself was still very important. It helped spread Christianity because many important Christian writings, like letters from Paul, were written in Greek. So, while the word changed, the language stayed a big part of history.

Key idea: The term 'heathen' comes from old Germanic languages and is now used by modern practitioners of Germanic pagan religions.

Another word for someone who isn't Christian or Jewish is "heathen." This word comes from old English and old Norse languages. It might have come from a Gothic word that meant "gentile woman," which was used to translate "Hellene" in one of the first Bibles written in a Germanic language.

Some people think "heathen" might be linked to the word "heath," which is an open, uncultivated land, suggesting someone from the wilderness. However, we're not totally sure about that connection.

Today, the words "Heathenry" and "Heathenism" are used by people who practice modern Germanic pagan religions. They often call themselves "Heathens" as a way to connect with ancient traditions from places like Germany, Scandinavia, and Anglo-Saxon lands.

“The term has recently been revived in the forms 'Heathenry' and 'Heathenism' as alternative names for the modern Germanic pagan movement.”

Key idea: Defining 'paganism' is complex because it wasn't a single religion, but a Christian label for diverse non-Christian beliefs, often implying polytheism but focusing on not worshipping the Christian God.

It's tricky to define "paganism" because it wasn't really one single religion a long time ago. Before Christianity, people who were called pagans didn't have one big book of rules, one church, or even one name for their beliefs. They had many different local customs and ways of worshiping.

Christians grouped all these different beliefs together for their own reasons. While "paganism" often makes us think of many gods (polytheism), the main difference for Christians wasn't just how many gods someone believed in. Many pagans believed in a main god and smaller gods (this is called henotheism). The most important thing for Christians was whether someone worshipped their one true God.

So, anyone outside the Christian church – whether they believed in many gods, one god, or no god – was called pagan. Old pagans probably wouldn't have thought about how many gods people worshipped as the main way to tell groups apart. They cared more about specific rituals and traditions.

Also, it's not quite right to say all pagan religions were "pre-Christian" or only from one place. Some traditions changed over time, and some were influenced by different cultures. "Paganism" usually means the old cultures around the Greek and Roman world, including Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic tribes. But today, people also use it for even older traditions from way back in history.

Key idea: The Christian view of pagans often focused on them being worldly or self-indulgent, and modern scholars point out this perspective can be ethnocentric.

Christians often thought of pagans as people who only cared about fun, money, and themselves, not about the future or serious religions. They were seen as focused on "this world" rather than the spiritual one.

Some smart people today, like scholar David Petts, say that calling other religions "pagan" can be a bit unfair. It's like saying, "Our religion is the main one, and yours is just a local, less important one." This way of thinking, called ethnocentrism, judges other cultures based on your own. It can make us think of other beliefs as not as good, instead of trying to understand them for what they are.

This kind of thinking also happened when people first started studying different cultures. They often compared other spiritual ideas to Abrahamic religions, which sometimes made it seem like there were only two kinds of beliefs: theirs and "pagan." This can be a problem because it doesn't give other religions a fair chance to be understood on their own terms.

Key idea: Ancient history saw many diverse religions, which Christianity later labeled 'pagan,' and some of these older traditions influenced or persisted alongside early Christianity.

In the ancient world, before Christianity became big, there were many different religions. For example, people in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Persia had their own unique gods and ways of worshiping. These were all part of what Christians later called "paganism."

During the time of the Roman Empire, Christianity was just one of many religions. It grew up alongside other beliefs, some with one god and some with many. Christianity set itself apart by saying that anyone who didn't worship their "one true God" was pagan.

Interestingly, some early Christian ideas were influenced by other religions at the time. For example, some scholars think that stories about Dionysus, a Greek god of wine, might have influenced how Jesus was portrayed, especially with wine symbolism. One scholar, Peter Wick, even suggests that Jesus turning water into wine in the Bible might have been a way to show Jesus was more powerful than Dionysus.

Even in places like Albania, old folk religions, which we might call pagan, continued even after Christianity arrived. People in remote areas held onto their traditions, like fire rituals, for a very long time. This shows how strong these local beliefs could be, even when new religions tried to take over.

Key idea: During postclassical history, ancient pagan ideas and texts were preserved through various strategies, sometimes secretly, even as Christianity became dominant.

After the Roman Empire, during the Middle Ages, some old pagan ideas were kept alive, sometimes in secret. In a place called Mani in Greece, people were among the last to fully become Christian, holding onto their old ways until the 9th century. Imagine, they were still practicing old Greek religions centuries after other places had changed!

Smart people in the Byzantine Empire (the eastern part of the old Roman Empire) also found ways to keep old Greek ideas alive, even though the official religion was Christianity. They would study old Greek writings, but sometimes pretend they were just for learning, not for believing. This was a clever way to pass down knowledge without getting into trouble with the Church.

For example, scholars like Proclus and Damascius, who believed in old Greek gods, wrote in ways that made their ideas useful for Christian thinkers, even if they disagreed with their religion. Others, like Ammonius, made deals with Christian leaders to keep their schools open. They found ways to keep ancient wisdom alive, sometimes by being very careful about what they said publicly.

Later, during a time called the Macedonian Renaissance, scholars like Leo the Mathematician were even accused of being "crypto-pagans" (secret pagans) because they studied old Greek ideas so much. They had to be very smart about how they presented their work to avoid problems.

Key idea: The Sabians of Harran played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting ancient pagan knowledge, like astrology and philosophy, into the Arabic world and eventually to Europe.

In the Middle East, some very old traditions, like advanced astrology and special math, were kept safe by groups like the Sabians of Harran. These people were not Muslim, but they found a way to live peacefully within the Arabic world. They were very skilled scholars and translators.

The city of Harran was special because it kept a unique mix of old Mesopotamian paganism and Greek philosophy alive for a long time. They even used a trick to be protected by law: they claimed to be the "Sabians" mentioned in the Quran, which allowed them to keep their distinct religion and studies.

The Sabians believed their science and special studies were part of their religion. They thought of Hermes Trismegistus (a wise figure from ancient times) as their main prophet. Famous scholars like Thābit ibn Qurra, who was openly pagan, helped translate many important works into Arabic, bringing ancient knowledge to new thinkers.

This Arabic knowledge, including ideas from the Sabians, eventually made its way to Europe. For example, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who loved learning, asked for books on astrology and Greek philosophy from Arabic scholars. This shows how ancient pagan ideas traveled across cultures and helped shape new knowledge.

Key idea: The 19th century saw a romantic revival of pagan themes in folklore, art, and national identity, with some groups actively trying to restore ancient religious practices.

In the 19th century, people became very interested in old pagan myths and folklore. Think of the Brothers Grimm, who collected fairy tales! They and others believed these old stories showed the true spirit of a country. This led to a lot of art, poetry, and music that used pagan themes.

This interest in old traditions also mixed with a feeling of national pride, especially around the time of the 1848 revolutions. Countries wanted their own special stories and myths, and pagan tales fit perfectly. This is why you see pagan topics in music and literature from that time, often showing ancient Celtic, Slavic, or Germanic people as strong and noble.

In Italy, after the Pope lost his power, many smart people became interested in bringing back old Roman religious practices. Groups like the Brotherhood of Myriam formed, trying to revive ancient Egyptian and Greek-Egyptian rituals. Even a philosopher named Julius Evola wrote about "Pagan Imperialism," hoping to bring back old Roman ways to Italy.

Key idea: The late 20th century saw a significant resurgence of modern paganism, including Wicca and Neo-Druidism, fueled by new publications, gatherings, and the internet.

The 1960s and 1970s brought a big comeback for modern paganism. Groups like Neo-Druidism grew, and new forms of paganism appeared in places like the United States and Iceland. Wicca, a nature-focused religion, also became popular, especially with women who were interested in feminism and goddess worship.

Books like "Drawing Down the Moon" and "The Spiral Dance" helped many people learn about paganism. Soon, there were big pagan gatherings and festivals. Wicca itself started to have many different styles, often mixing with New Age ideas. These new, open traditions were different from older, more secret forms of Wicca.

In Italy, there was a renewed interest in old Roman traditions, especially among young people who were inspired by Julius Evola's writings. Groups formed to explore these ancient practices. The internet in the 1990s helped these and other pagan movements grow even faster, connecting people all over the world.

After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, people in Russia and other new countries gained religious freedom. This allowed both Christian and non-Christian religions, including pagan ones, to grow openly.

Key idea: The 21st century has seen modern paganism grow, with groups actively reconstructing ancient religions and others creating new, nature-focused spiritual paths.

In the 2000s, groups like Associazione Tradizionale Pietas in Italy started rebuilding temples and trying to get their ancient Roman religion recognized by the government. They even joined with other groups to ask for recognition of European ethnic religions.

The idea of practicing Roman religion has spread beyond Italy, with people in many countries joining groups like Nova Roma, which started in 1998. This shows how much interest there is in bringing back these old ways.

Today, "Modern Paganism" or "Neopaganism" includes many different groups. Some try to carefully rebuild ancient religions, like Roman Polytheistic Reconstructionism or Hellenism. Others are more creative and mix different ideas, like Wicca, Neo-Druidism, and Discordianism.

There can be some friendly disagreements among modern pagans. Some groups, called reconstructionists, want to follow ancient sources very closely. Others, like some Wiccans, are more flexible and focus on nature worship and magic. But most modern pagans agree that the natural world is divine and see paganism as an "Earth religion."

In places like Iceland, nearly 2% of the people are part of Ásatrúarfélagið, a Heathen group. In Lithuania, many practice Romuva, which is a revived version of their country's pre-Christian religion. This shows that these ancient traditions are still very much alive and growing today!