Paganism (Heathenism) is made up of beliefs and practices which are polytheistic and hedonistic in character. Many pagan (heathen) faiths are Nature-based faiths. Paganism (also called Heathenism) predates modern Monotheism, even though the origins of Montheism are lost in prehistory. In one sense, paganism (heathenism) is the belief in any non-Monotheistic faith, and in this sense it is often used negatively by those of the 3 Monotheistic faiths (AbraHamitic faiths) Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, toward those of non-Monotheistic faiths.

The Pagan (Heathen) Defined

AbraHamites sometime use the term Pagan (Heathen) as a negative term to distinguish a person who doesn't believe in Monotheism from one that does. The term Pagan (Heathen) is also used to define a person who doesn't believe in The One True Living God, and is therefore used to designate an Atheist. It differentiates the Outsider, as does the Hebrew word Goy (Gentile).

In another sense, as used by modern practitioners, it is a polytheistic, panentheistic or pantheistic, Nature-based belief and practice. Pagan (Heathen) spirituality includes Asatru, Wicca and Neo-paganism. Although Neo-pagans often refer to themselves simply as pagans. Paganism (Heathenism) is all beliefs other than those acknowledged by the 3 AbraHamitic faiths.

Historically, Paganism (Heathenism) has been used as a generic term to describe primitive Non-AbraHamitic faiths, and superstitions including faiths centered on the occult. Paganism (Heathenism), in the broadest sense includes all beliefs other than belief in The One True Living God, and, in a narrower sense, all except the 3 AbraHamitic faiths. The term is also used as the equivalent of Polytheism. The Hebrew term Goy is rendered in English as Gentile and Heathen, a name given to idolaters and demon worshippers.

In the 4th century C.E. the term Pagan (Heathen) carried a negative connotation of "rustically unsophisticated" (i.e. country pluck), in line with Classical civilization's high valuation on urban life. In the 5th century as Christianity began to take hold in the cities for example in ancient Gaul (Celtic France), the Pagans (Heathens) were as yet untouched by this new faith, and so the negative connotation of the word combined with the religious difference to give the then-new meaning to the word Pagan (Heathen).

Christianity also became a major religion in the Roman army, from which concepts of the Church Militant derive. Here Pagan (Heathen) has meanings of non-combatant, pacifist, with attendant derision. From the widespread popularity of Christianity among slaves, the most numerous class in the Roman Empire, by contrast Pagan (Heathen) acquired connotations of "uppity", "dissident" and so on to "heretic".

Certain scholarly fashions from the medieval period onwards, attempted to assert the value of sophisticated Pagans (Heathens) such as Aristotle and Plato and Ovid. This had some influence among upper class educated people but did little to counter a more general prejudice.

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