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FourWinds

10943 posts

Re: pagan

Jul 16, 2002, 14:16

Heathen does indeed mean 'of the heath'.

Thanks for the etymology of pagan. I stand corrected on that point.

But for further reading:
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pagan - 14c., from L.L. paganus "pagan," from L. "villager, rustic, civilian," from pagus "rural district," originally "district limited by markers," thus related to pangere "to fix, fasten," from I.E. base *pag- "fix." Religious sense is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities; but the word is older than that in this sense, and is more likely from use in military jargon for "civilian, incompetent soldier," which the Christians picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (cf. milites "soldier of Christ," etc.).
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Does that last part make sense? It seems to imply that the word 'pagan' was first attched to Christians.

In reply to:
Re: pagan (Rhiannon)

Topic Outline:

witchcraft – Freyja, Jul 15, 2002, 22:56


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