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[[File:Calf.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Was this '''[[golden calf]]''' merely superstition or an economic system?. Banking on '''[[one purse]]''' to [[bondage|bind the people]] with a '''[[golden calf]]''' has been part of the schemes of the [[Nimrod]]s and [[Cain]]s of the [[world]]. These systems of exchange bind the people until '''[[benefactors]]''' and the '''[[fathers]]''' of the earth arise [[Polybius|weakening the people]] and becoming despots. '''[[Was Jesus a socialist|Jesus was not a socialist]]'''.]]

Paganism is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity for populations of the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian population or because they were not soldiers of Christ. Alternate terms in Christian texts for the same group were ''hellene'' and [[gentile]].

Gentile or in the Greek is the word ethnos which means those from another nation or people. Christianity was a way of life. It was a way to come together in free assemblies, where those who ministered to the daily ministration of the people did not exercise authority one over the other. Their national welfare was provided by charity through a network of these free assemblies and the servant ministers they chose to contribute to.

[[Religion]] in those days was not just what you thought about God or a supreme being. Most "pagan" religion in the Roman empire at the time of the rise of Christianity were heavily dependent upon government support which came through [[taxation]]. This was all a part of the [[Imperial Cult of Rome]]. Christians practiced [[Pure Religion]] and were often persecuted because they would not participate in the [[Corban]] type systems of social [[welfare]] which [[Christ]] condemned as making the word of God to none effect.

[[Rome]] chose over time to care for their needy through governments that exercised authority one over the other. The election of rulers and their popularity often depended on the amount of [[benefits]] they could bestow on the people. Men like [[Polybius]], who might be called a pagan, predicted before the birth of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] and [[John the Baptist]] that as long as "The masses continue with an [[appetite]] for [[benefits]] and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of [[force]] and violence [and] ... having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others ...[would]  massacre, banish, and plunder,<Ref>[[Luke 16]]:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the [[kingdom of God]] is preached, and every man presseth into it.</Ref> until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch." <Ref> [[Polybius]]:  The Histories (composed at Rome around 130 BC)</Ref> 

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'''“I'll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.”''' ― Herman Melville

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Many attribute the [[modern Christian]] practices and holidays like Christmas and Easter are derived from many of the ancient holidays and rituals and customs of ancient religions labeled as paganism. Or the debate between Sunday vs '''[[Sabbath]]''' which has been a great controversy in the separation of people by denominations. But what is the essential differences between [[The Way|the ways of Christ]] and the [[early Church]] and the rejected ideas or ideologies of paganism and its religions?

Was the conflict between Paganism and Christianity over the [[Sabbath]]s and holidays and [[Calendar issue|calendars]] or over the [[The Way|Holy Ways]] of [[Christ]]?

What was the '''[[Christian conflict]]''' in the days when paganism reigned? 

Christ complained about their [[Corban]] and the burdens they and their lawyers put on the people.

He did not want the people praying to to the [[Fathers]] of the earth.

He did not want them to be like the men who ''called themselves [[Benefactors]] but exercised authority one over the other''.

He wanted the people to actively love one another by being doers of the word while [[seek]]ing the [[righteousness]] of God, attending to the [[weightier matters]] and pursuing the [[kingdom of God]].


Modern Paganism, also known as Contemporary Paganism or Neopaganism, are terms for movements claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs. They are certainly diverse with no single set of beliefs, practices or texts.

As an example Groups like ''The Pagan Federation International'' are open to a wide variety of pagan denominations claiming "Pagans may be trained in particular traditions or they may follow their own inspiration. Paganism is not dogmatic. Pagans pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience."

Even the pagans saw that it was "essential to create a network of like-minded people who shared common aims. The second major focus ... was to put Pagans in touch with each other, so that they could share views and meet and talk. A nationwide network, now run by over 40 Regional Coordinators and numerous local organisers, has been put in the place so that members can meet and work together for the benefit of Paganism in general."

They have three principles of membership include "Love for and Kinship with Nature", "A positive morality, in which the individual is responsible... [which] is often expressed as 'Do what you will, as long as it harms none'" and the "Recognition of the Divine... both the female and male aspect of Deity."

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'''"The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food."''' Dean Ornish

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People often like to feel they belong to something or some group. The personal Philosophy "Do what you will" can be a very popular approach to [[religion]] or life, especially with the personal right to determine what  "no harm" means. Doing no harm requires a moral judgement of what can be labeled ''good and evil''. 

Societies are not bound just by the idea that we should do "no harm" but by care when it is the goal of every-man to do right by one another. It is the pursuit of the righteous [[care]] for others that produces a strong, healthy and free society.


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'''"Individuals can resist injustice, but only a community can do justice."''' James J. Corbett

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There were numerous prohibitions in Christianity if you were to be considered a true followers of Christ. The [[religion]] of Christians was not just what you think about God nor just claiming particular set of beliefs in God and Christ. God hates the deeds of the '''[[Nicolaitan]]''' and [[Christ]] made it clear that you had to be a '''[[Doer]]''' of the word an not just a hearer. {{Template:PeterPaulJameswarned}}

What makes paganism bad is not the rituals of their holidays or the metaphors in their allegories which they glean from  nature but it is their [[sloth]] in the pursuit of the [[weightier matters]],  their [[covetous practices]] instead of a practice of [[pure religion]], their persistent taking a [[bite]] out of one another  and of course their general unforgiveness which divides people into [[denominations]] of judgement and self-righteousness.

If we do not [[forgive]] them their  holidays and superstitions how will we ever  teach them about the way of Christ who never talked about those things but did talk about striving for [[righteousness]] in our giving and [[forgive|forgiving]].

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== Footnotes ==

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