Difference between revisions of "Paganism"

'''Paganism''' (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early [[Christianity|Christians]] for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism or ethnic religions other than [[Judaism]]. In the time of the Roman empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian population, or because they were not ''milites Christi'' (soldiers of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]).

'''Paganism''' (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early [[Christianity|Christians]] for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism or ethnic religions other than [[Judaism]]. In the time of the Roman empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian population, or because they were not ''milites Christi'' (soldiers of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]).