What is Paganism, what is Neo-Paganism?
Paganism: “Paganism” generally refers to ancient pre-biblical polytheistic religions. The word “pagan” comes from the Latin word paganus for “civilian” or “country-dweller.” In Christian Roman times, polytheistic religious practices were looked upon as absurd country anachronisms. The word “heathen” is often used interchangeably with “pagan” except by modern Pagans and Heathens. The term “heathen” has Old English and Germanic roots, and is thus used in place of the Latin term “pagan” to refer to Norse, Germanic, and Anglo-Saxon polytheistic religions. The word “Neo-Pagan” reinforces the fact that the religions are a revivification of the ” Old Ways,” ancient polytheistic religious practices. The word “Pagan,” with a capital P, usually refers to some modern polytheists or duotheists, and is often associated with or inclusive of Wicca. The word “pagan,” with a lower-case p, often refers simply to non-monotheistic peoples, sometimes ancient or modern-day. Sometimes the P and p are used in
