Paganism
WordNet
noun
(1) Any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From paganismus, "heathenism", from paganus, "peasant, rural, rustic". The term was used as an insult by the early Christians to belittle what remained of the native religions.
Noun
- Local religions practiced before the introduction of Christianity.
- Recently converted societies often dealt harshly with signs of a return to paganism.
- A class of religions often associated with nature rituals.
- While paganism is a broad term, most forms pay close attention to the lunar and solar cycles.