Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!munnari.oz.au!murtoa.cs.mu.oz.au!ditmela!yarra!melba.bby.oz.au!leo!zvs From: zvs@bby.oz (Zev Sero) Newsgroups: news.groups Subject: Re: Call For Discussion: talk.religion.pagan Message-ID: Date: 13 Nov 89 00:59:33 GMT References: <20614@ut-emx.UUCP> Sender: news@melba.bby.oz.au Organization: Burdett, Buckeridge and Young Ltd. Lines: 17 I know etymology is not the only basis for deciding the meaning of a word, but it pays to bear in mind that the word `Pagan' comes from the Latin for `civilian', and means anyone who is not a soldier in Christ's Army. Thus, the definition quoted as `non-christian' is the correct one, and is *not* a reflection of cultural bias, as was suggested. Jews and Muslims *are* Pagans, and should feel insulted to be called anything else (at least Jews; perhaps Muslims don't mind). Proud to be Pagan -- Zev Sero - zvs@bby.oz.au Australia, n. A country lying in the South Sea, whose industrial and commercial development has been unspeakably retarded by an unfortunate dispute among geographers as to whether it is a continent or an island. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"