Paganism is a term that was first used by early Christians in the fourth century to describe people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism or ethnic religions other than Judaism. The term pagan was not used to describe the religion people practiced until the 20th century. It was a label that Christians applied to others, and it was generally used in a derogatory sense. Paganism traditionally encompasses the collective pre- and non-Christian cultures in and around the classical world, including those of the Greco-Roman, Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic tribes.
A pagan is a person who practices a religion based on paganism, which can refer to polytheism or the worship of more than one god, such as in ancient Rome. Paganism can also refer to contemporary forms of paganism, such as Wicca, Druidry, and Gwyddon. Paganism can also be used to describe a person who has no religion and indulges in worldly delights and material possessions, someone who revels in sensual pleasures, or a hedonistic or self-indulgent individual.
It is important to note that the term pagan has been used in different ways throughout history and by different religions. From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term pagans to describe those outside their religion.
