I have WHAT in my yard? :
As for the definition of pagan: does pagan still cover ALL polytheistic religions today?? Would you call Hindis pagan?? I would not have, but I am open to the idea.
In today's common parlance, a pagan is anyone whose beliefs are different.
Thus, a Hindu in India is not a pagan, but a Hindu in the US is a pagan. And of course, depending on who is using the term pagan, it can mean 'anyone whose beliefs are different from my own'. Or, when used as a self-reference, it can mean 'my beliefs are not mainstream'.
The word has entirely different meanings depending on who is using it.
If my aunt were to call me a pagan, I'd take it as an insult, as she defines pagan to mean 'anyone who doesn't believe as I do and is thus a complete moron who is going to hell'.
If my Wiccan friend were to call me a pagan, I'd point out the term really isn't applicable, as I am not part of any polytheistic faith.
But I occasionally call myself a pagan, as some of my beliefs and practices are not particularly orthodox and have their roots in more native beliefs rather than anything I learned at the church. For instance, good booze has a soul and you can insult a good sipping whiskey by adulterating it with mixers, also, on judgment day you will be suspended headfirst into a barrel of all the liquor you've let go to waste and if you drown, to hell with you. I also believe that there is a gremlin in my car that causes all sorts of problems to occur but knocks it off the moment the mechanic is trying to duplicate the issue, and who used to make my cell phone only get reception when my mother was calling.
As for the definition of pagan: does pagan still cover ALL polytheistic religions today?? Would you call Hindis pagan?? I would not have, but I am open to the idea.
In today's common parlance, a pagan is anyone whose beliefs are different.
Thus, a Hindu in India is not a pagan, but a Hindu in the US is a pagan. And of course, depending on who is using the term pagan, it can mean 'anyone whose beliefs are different from my own'. Or, when used as a self-reference, it can mean 'my beliefs are not mainstream'.
The word has entirely different meanings depending on who is using it.
If my aunt were to call me a pagan, I'd take it as an insult, as she defines pagan to mean 'anyone who doesn't believe as I do and is thus a complete moron who is going to hell'.
If my Wiccan friend were to call me a pagan, I'd point out the term really isn't applicable, as I am not part of any polytheistic faith.
But I occasionally call myself a pagan, as some of my beliefs and practices are not particularly orthodox and have their roots in more native beliefs rather than anything I learned at the church. For instance, good booze has a soul and you can insult a good sipping whiskey by adulterating it with mixers, also, on judgment day you will be suspended headfirst into a barrel of all the liquor you've let go to waste and if you drown, to hell with you. I also believe that there is a gremlin in my car that causes all sorts of problems to occur but knocks it off the moment the mechanic is trying to duplicate the issue, and who used to make my cell phone only get reception when my mother was calling.
