CelticBard

Why are Pagans viewed as evil today?

Lord_Cronus

Because they did not believe in the ressurection of Christ.

CelticBard

Nor do Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. but they do not share nearly the negative connotation that Pagans do.

Lord_Cronus

That all depends on who you ask. There are some people, like oh say Mel Gibson, who think the "non-believer" religions are the cause of all the worlds problems. I look into it some more tonight. Didn't the Pagans have ritual sacrifice as well?

CelticBard

Paganism is such a broad term, many groups did practice ritual sacrifice, but many did not. The Romans killed animals, but rarely people, while Caesar says the Gauls killed hundreds of people in the 'burning man' spectacle. The pagan Mexicans made human sacrifice into an assembly line with their pyramids as the buildings of industry. But then worshippers of Bacchus merely got drunk, being a Pagan was like open ended religion.

But isn't Christianity based upon human sacrifice? Jesus allegedly died for everyone's sins so wouldn't that technically be sacrifice, and if you are an outsider looking in, isn't Jesus a human? I know insiders (non-Arrian) believe he's devine.

Let's not discuss Mel, haha, that might get too out of hand.

danrak

Pagan: One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially an adherent of a polytheistic religion in antiquity.

I've talked to many Christian followers who considered all those not Christian evil. Some would not celebrate Holloween due to is pagan past, although when you tell them their Christmas is based on Pagan traditions they do not want to hear it. Others consider the Celtic Cross evil because it dates back before the Christian Cross.

Other Christians do not seem to know or want to know about their religious history.

It seems the ones who think all the stuff is evil are the fantical types. They are the loud ones who like to spread their version of truth around. Sadly thats what those who do know or wish to know about other religions listen to.

Ritocal

I think the twisted definition is one who does not worship God. So the logic goes that if they don't worship God, they must worship the Devil. The Devil is evil so Pagans must be evil.

It's not true, but I guess it could make sense to someone.

hirudinea

Paganism is a religion based on polytheism, nontheless it doesn't mean it's a religion dedicated to "the Devil".
"Pagan" means a "villager", it doesn't mean "non-worshiper of God, nor does it mean worshiper of Devil.
Yet, as CelticBard said paganism is a broad term, mainly because there hasve been many religions, with different cultures and traditions, that nowadays are considered as "paganism". But in essence paganism represents tradition in different cultures. And in some forms of "paganism", for example the nordic paganism, an evil god doesn't necessary exist, it just exist the evil work that is accomplished by humans. But in other forms of paganism, say sumerian paganism, most of the gods were evil, in fact most of the sumerian people worshiped "evil gods".

And as much for that that paganists worship the Devil, let's face it, it's a historical twist Christianity formed. In essence, Christianity is derrived from paganism as a religion. I believe many of us are familiar with the inquisition of the witches(pagan priestesses) during the middle ages, with doing so they (the church) rearanged paganism as a form of satanism, and still today people who are not much informed about this topic, consider pagans to either being atheistic, either satanicistic. I believe, and am informed from different works on this topic, that this was just a strategical movement to eliminate paganism and spread christianity.

oldnavyguy

A thought... Would you agree that most often the term "pagan" is equated to "polytheist"? I think so.

If that is true I think one reason paganism has such a bad reputation is a monotheistic sense of superiority. Almost every history source I read, even when then are not overtly christian, tends to look down on polytheism as primitive or archaic. Even when the author is not presenting a stricly religious interpretation of history monotheism is often presented as something approaching an "improvement" or "development" of human thought.

If I am right a major component of paganism's bad press is that many moderns view paganism as akin to believing in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. Ok for immature children but something no educated adult would believe in. An for anyone to continue believing in a polytheistic world view after being exposed to the advances of monotheism, well they would have to be hopelessly stupid or maliciously determined to remain ignorant.

I also think that elements of nationalism and racism creep into attitudes towards "paganism" for as has been noted there certainly are "pagan" (i.e. polytheistic) religions extant in wide areas of the world today, but not "western" or "white" regions.

Old Navy Guy

Nick

It's strange that Paganism is opposed by nationalists who practice Christianity, a religion originating outside of Europe.
I would say it's monotheist extremists who cause the world's problems (like holy wars) and not pagans, who believe in peace and harmony with nature.
Not just the pagans practice ritual sacrifice, so do the Jews and Muslims (cutting the animal's throat so it bleeds to death)
To sum it up, why paganism is viewed as evil: ignorance of those too stupid to understand, who distort the truth to promote thier own views.