If words can evolve - why can't the intelligence of the world's major religions?
Thus is the problem with writing.
Maybe the Druids really had it right by teaching the dangers of
writing things down.



http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorp.htm

Pagan
While the etymology is very different, this word developed in a
similar semantic pattern as heathen.

The English word pagan is from the Latin paganus or someone who lives
in a rural district, or pagus. In Latin, the word meant a villager or
rustic, and was also used as an antonym for miles, or soldier.

The term appears in English in the 14th century. In English usage, it
means a non-Christian, or someone who is not a soldier of Christ, a
sense that had developed in the Latin by the 4th century AD.



On 6/9/05, Indigo Nights <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I think the word that better fits in Stephen's
> contention is pagan.  To the other religions of this
> world, Christians are the pagans.
> 
> n.
> 
> 
> One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially
> a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
> 
> One who has no religion.
> 
> A non-Christian.
> 
> A hedonist.
> 
> A Neo-Pagan.
> adj.
> 
> 
> Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
> 
> Professing no religion; heathen.
> 
> Neo-Pagan.
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> [Middle English, from Late Latin pgnus, from Latin,
> country-dweller, civilian, from pgus, country, rural
> district; see pag- in Indo-European roots.]
> 
> --- Mark Janzen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > David,
> >
> > I would have to agree. The term atheist does not
> > apply to anyone who
> > believes in a deity/higher power/gaia etc. It is not
> > a term that has any
> > gray area. That is unless we are talking about
> > another intentional misuse
> > of a word to try and twist it into something new, as
> > in the case of the
> > word theory. I am not sure of the point with
> > "atheist" quite yet.
> >
> > It is certainly sad and a great loss, but to me the
> > central irony about the
> > intellectual implosion occurring at the Tulsa zoo is
> > that there is no
> > substantive challenge to science provided by faith.
> > The challenge is
> > entirely in the minds of the challengers. The
> > problem is that allowing the
> > "challenge" to take place gives it credence in the
> > eyes of the public,
> > which to be quite honest is not, as a whole, paying
> > enough attention to
> > realize the error. But, of course, the challengers
> > know that.
> >
> > They will make the strongest statement by kindly
> > incorporating Christianity
> > into its creation myth series. I think one of the
> > reasons it is not
> > normally included in such programs is because the
> > Christian myth is not
> > nearly as interesting as some of the others. Native
> > American(s) and Hindu
> > traditional beliefs are far more colorful, and
> > typically involve a lot less
> > fear.
> >
> > Mark Janzen
> > Registrar/Collections Manager
> > Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
> > Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
> > Wichita State University
> > (316)978-5850
> 
> 
> Indigo Nights
> [log in to unmask]
> 
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