Of Paganism and Heresy

Did you know that both those terms are associated with the three major monotheist religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

This is an important starting point. If you grew up out of those 3 major monotheist faiths (think Japan, Amazonia, Aboriginal cultures, or other religions), those 2 terms would not have much meaning to you.

Back to the question at hand, clarify the difference between those words, keeping in mind the definition varies based on the beholder opinion. A heretic is someone who believes something contrary to the established beliefs or customs of a church or religious organisation (the ideas from Dan Brown books the Da Vinci Code for example can be seen as heretic, as opposite to the tenets of the Catholic Church). A pagan is a person not adhering to any major or recognised religion, usually non-Abrahamic, meaning people not from the Judaic, Christian or Islamic faith (an Aboriginal from Australia or the Amazonia, Māori, Wiccans, Shinto or even Buddhism (for example) are all considered pagans for a Christian).

For example, if you are a Catholic thinking Jesus was married, you are a heretic. If you are in Shinto priest who believe that Jesus was married, you are a pagan.

One last fun fact, the term paganism was first used in the fourth century by early Christians to refer to people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism or ethnic religions other than Judaism (belief in falst gods).

Some of you might wonder why or how I ended up down that rabbit hole. A friend recently asked me what paganism was, and I was taken aback as the term was so familiar to me, and I truly thought everybody had the same knowledge. Well, you live and learn!

We keep being told how everybody is different, but when you live in an environment all your life you do not realise all that is different in the world, because everybody around you has the same (or similar) experience, culture and historical background. I am truly blessed to meet so many different people who help me truly see a broader, more fascinating, world.

Sources: Wikipedia (how did we live before it existed?!); https://wikidiff.com/heretic/pagan