by Valerie Williams

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: November 28, 2008

Determining whether or not the ancient Greek gods were pagan requires a definition of the word "pagan" or "paganism". However, attempting to obtain a clear definition of the word is problematic because everyone seems to have their own annotation of what the word should mean. It is generally agreed that the word derives from the Latin "paganus", which has been interpreted to mean "rustic", "hick", or "country dweller", a pejorative term that Christians used to ridicule country people who still held on to what Christianity deemed as out-dated pagan beliefs, beliefs associated with Mithraism, or other religious beliefs of the Greek and Roman state religions. However, the meaning of the word continued to evolve to include all non-Christians, and today is associated with devil-worship. If you ask a Christian, you will get one definition of the term; if you ask someone who practices the Wicca religion, you will get another.

In determining whether or not the Greek gods were pagan, what definition of the word would be the most accurate? Would it be the one supplied by the American Heritage Dictionary, which says that a pagan is one who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially an adherent of a polytheistic religion in antiquity? Or the references that are made in the Hebrew Scriptures, in which the Most High God warns his people not to practice the customs of the nations that surrounded them, the customs of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Babylonians, etc.? Which definition is the truth? The one defined by man, or the one defined by the Most High God?

According to Psalm 119, David says this about the truth: "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth". He also says: "You are near, O Most High God, and all your commandments are truth". The Most High's commandments speak against the customs of the Canaanites, the idolatrous practices of Babylon, the gods of the Greeks and the Romans. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul visits Lystra, a city in which the people worshiped Jupiter (which is Latin for the Greek god Zeus). Paul, through the power of the Most High God, heals a man who had been crippled since birth, and the people, who believed Paul was a god come down from heaven, began to call him Jupiter, and began to bring offerings to him, intending to offer up sacrifices in the name of Jupiter. Paul and his companion, Barnabas, plead with the people to turn from "these vanities (idolatries/paganism) unto the living God".

Paganism

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>