Paganism

Published on 11th August, 2019. in Mid-day Christian missionaries used the word 'pagan' and 'heathen' to derogatorily describe all non-monotheistic pre-Christian religions that indulged in nature and idol worship. Hinduism came under this category. Today, many Hindutva followers want to reclaim the word 'pagan' for Hinduism. Let us first understand the meaning of these words. The word 'pagan' comes from the word 'paganus', which means rustic people who live in the countryside. The word 'heathen' also means people who live in the heath or open lands. Basically, peasants who lack urban sophistication. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which are Abrahamic or Semitic faiths, are rooted in ..