The Difference Between Pagan And Christian.

[Guest russell f. custureri]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][size="2"]hello. i am a pagan follower. but i've noticed that alot of my pagan beliefs are also christian beliefs with that in mind, is there any real major differences in the two religions? or is christianity another subculture of paganism?[/size][/font]

[Guest russell f. custureri]

my topic is not meant to offend anyone. i just have the understanding that paganism is basically your own interpretation of your religion. and EVERYONE takes different things from religions that makes those people unique followers. so doesn't that make EVERYONE pagan? or am i incorrect in my personal assesments???

[CatherineM]

We worship a living God. Pagans worship idols of stone or flowering trees. So I'd say there are a lot of differences.

[Varg]

The main difference is that Christianity has one god and most forms of Paganism have many

Edited September 18, 2009 by Varg

[Christopher Brandon]

Well, paganism is open to many Gods but Pagans can be monotheistic as well, Paganism is not a jealous religion, you can be pagan and believe in a God or philosphy not consistent with sterio-typical pagan beliefs. and I think what he's asking is, based on how loosely defined Paganism is, can't Pagans be Christians and vise versa, and I'd have to say no, a Pagan can worship the Christian God, as I do but I think someone who defines their religion as being apart of Christianity cannot call themselves Pagan.

[Varg]

Actually Paganism is not a religion, it's an umbrella term for many religions.

Edited September 18, 2009 by Varg

[Christopher Brandon]

It's true, many religions fall under Paganism, Wicca for example, but there are many people who are not Wiccan, or Shamanistic, they are simply Pagan. It's like how some people think all spell craft is witchcraft, and that if you practice spell craft you must be Wiccan. It's simply not true.

[jeffpugh]

Are there any people who fall under the polytheistic "let's slaughter an animal on the altar of Zeus" type anymore? Or is that just too complex?



(despite my sarcasm in the latter half, I mean sincerity in the former)

[Aloysius]

Pagan is the exact antithesis to Christian. Literally... Christians pretty much invented the word (well, we took it from the old word meaning country-dweller and re-invented it to mean those who continue on in non-Christian religious practices) and defined it as "non-Christian religions"... its modern rebirth as a word in which people of all stripes use it to refer to themselves (I even notice above one who uses "Atheistic Pagan" as his religion) consists of the attempted reconstruction of many religions that Christianity all but wiped out (taking the good from their cultures and Christianizing that, of course) when it won over Europe to the faith. Pagan can accurately refer to any religion which is non-Christian

[Nunsense]

I guess a person could call themselves a pagan Christian if they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He died and was resurrected and then ascended into heaven. Oh yeah, also that He is one person in the Trinity and His death was the salvation of our souls, and oh yeah, we must eat His flesh and drink His blood, and what else? you get the picture... for a person to be a pagan Christian requires a lot more than just feeling good about some of the precepts of Christianity... sorry to be a party pooper, but pagan Christian? Not likely....

[Christopher Brandon]

[quote name='Sacred Music Man' date='19 September 2009 - 12:35 AM' timestamp='1253334909' post='1969034']
Are there any people who fall under the polytheistic "let's slaughter an animal on the altar of Zeus" type anymore? Or is that just too complex? [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif[/img]



(despite my sarcasm in the latter half, I mean sincerity in the former)
[/quote]


there are still shamanistic cultures and comunities that believe in animal sacrifice yes, but mainstream paganism rejects it as counterproductive to apeasing their Gods, and that food, spices, candles ect. make better offerings.

[Selah]

[quote name='Sacred Music Man' date='19 September 2009 - 01:35 AM' timestamp='1253334909' post='1969034']
Are there any people who fall under the polytheistic "let's slaughter an animal on the altar of Zeus" type anymore? Or is that just too complex?



(despite my sarcasm in the latter half, I mean sincerity in the former)
[/quote]

The Recons don't

[dairygirl4u2c]

it's always weird to see pagans etc. it's like, are you trying to be counterculteral or something? it's like you're trying too hard. just be who you are, you don't have to have a label.
but then, that's my propensity. no labels etc. i do know i used to say the same thing similarly to people like methodists or lutherans etc. it's like, what's so magical about X religion that you'd be it? that's back when i was more catholic oriented, and thought only beinc called catholic, if anything, made sense. but, for some people, X religion, eg methodist, fits them well. even if not perfect. so they call themself mehtodist. i suppose that's reasonable. if that's what's happening for pagans, sure, whatever floats your boat.
i still stick mostly to the 'why have a label' thing, though.
and i suspect most pagans are merely defining themselves by what they are not-- ie, more mainstream religions, instead of what they are. it's a defining yourself by what you're not is surely a weak form of identity if that's what's happening.
most of these people in an attempt to avoid defining htemselves by mainstream, end up defining themselvse by mainstream anyway, from the negative way. they're giving them too much credit.

kind of like, some people refuse to join facebook 'that's what everyone's doing' or liking X sports team. sure, that's true,,, but what d you think about the matter? who cares what everyone else is doing, or not doing. just be who you are, like what you like etc.

just a rant that was on my mind recently, and seemed at least partially fitting to this thread, so i posted it...

Edited September 19, 2009 by dairygirl4u2c

[Christopher Brandon]

[quote name='dairygirl4u2c' date='19 September 2009 - 02:42 PM' timestamp='1253385731' post='1969263']
it's always weird to see pagans etc. it's like, are you trying to be counterculteral or something?

and i suspect most pagans are merely defining themselves by what they are not-- ie, more mainstream religions, instead of what they are. it's a defining yourself by what you're not is surely a weak form of identity if that's what's happening.[/quote]

well, I wouldn't say this is a fair generalization but it's true that some Pagans are in it for all the wrong reasons. But isn't that true of all religions Dairy?

[Servus_Mariae]

If you believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man and hold to teachings which do not violate this precept and all it entails, you are a Christian...otherwise not. Paganism insists the contrary or at least a nuanced version of it such that it no longer fits the criteria for Christianity.

[dairygirl4u2c]

...

Edited September 20, 2009 by dairygirl4u2c

[dairygirl4u2c]

...

Edited September 20, 2009 by dairygirl4u2c

[dairygirl4u2c]

[quote name='Christopher Brandon' date='19 September 2009 - 03:41 PM' timestamp='1253389263' post='1969282']
well, I wouldn't say this is a fair generalization but it's true that some Pagans are in it for all the wrong reasons. But isn't that true of all religions Dairy?
[/quote]

sure many are in it for all the wrong reasons. but my points have to do with pretty much why anyone would be pagan.
there's a difference between a lifestyle and a religion in the truest sense. my understanding of paganism, or at least the types im aware of, is that it's more like a lifestyle. with something like chrisitanity, believing in Jesus is a very specific thing, and you have to be a "christian" if you believe in Jesus, it's not just a label, it's not just a lifestyle.
im sure there's some forms of paganism that say 'we worship a rock' or soemthing random, that is surely a religion. but if it's just a lifestyle, then no i think there's a big difference.
eg, most pagans have a rebel attitude 'i am somewhat promiscuous, i believe in 'an eye for an eye' etc- this seems natural to the world and me, and yet im the outcast for it?'. just believe what ya do, you dont need the label. i suppose if the person starts believing things of paganism, beleifs, only because they are pagan, then sure, maybe it begins to be like a religion. but why would anyone do anything just cause their religion told them to, if it's not more like an infallible religion? if it's more just a causual acceptance of the belief, and not an ardent 'this is the way it is' type belief, im not sure that's much of a religion either, even if you're taking certai things from them.

either way, though, as i said in my last post, if you want to call yourself pagan, just cause it seems to fit you generally, their beliefs, then sure, whatever, yknow. as i said, i just dont know why ya would.
maybe what im getting at, to return question for a question... 'aren't many in many religions for the wrong reasons?" sure. tocause maybe it's best to make my point in terms of a question, 'what are the *right* reasons to be a pagan?' (i dont mean the question in terms of asking bout their validity or substantively... i mean, in a general discussion sense, the right reasons to be called anything that may or may not be a religion, or here what seems to be a pseudoreligion said in terms of 'religion' being defined more narrowly -- (eg, the 'right' reasons to be a christian, whether you agree with them or not, or a muslim even, is cause you believe something specific that they teach etc... for pagans, it seems more like a label, simply a way of self identification than anything concrete)

Edited September 20, 2009 by dairygirl4u2c

[Winchester]

Okay, okay, you're being nice so I'll change my tone. The fact is, modern paganism is not really paganism. For the most part, the lead pagans seem to be lunatics and semi-literates. They've adopted common morality and some judeo-christian morality.

It's not really paganism.

Edited September 21, 2009 by Winchester

[Paddington]

[quote name='Winchester' date='20 September 2009 - 10:21 PM' timestamp='1253496117' post='1970043']
the guy I know who worships Odin.
[/quote]

I thought I was the only one.

Actually, this messes up my Noah status.