Re: Religious Book Discusion Groups

On Apr 6, 7:27 pm, Steve Hayes <hayesm...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
....
> Pagan - origin of the term.
>          Source: Fox 1987:30.
>     "In antiquity, pagans already owed a debt to Christians.
>   Christians first gave them their name, pagani... In everyday
>   use, it meant either a civilian or a rustic. Since the
>   sixteenth century the origin of the early Christians' usage
>   has been disputed, but of the two meanings, the former is the
>   likelier. Pagani were civilians who had not enlisted through
>   baptism as soldiers of Christ against the powers of Satan. By
>   its word for non-believers, Christian slang bore witness to
>   the heavenly battle which coloured Christians' view of life."
>
B - Yup that's one history of the word. Not sure if it is the true one
but Paganus meaning "of the countryside" was from what I have heard
applied to the backwoods folk for their adherence to old ways...sort
of like someone calling someone a hick. It morphed into those not
Christian,Jew or Muslim.  I would doubt they felt they owed Christians
anything really but that many were kind neighbours and some not so
kind. Blessings B.