The things I will do to avoid work ...

[flirtaciousj]

On my way in to work today to review financial disclosure forms, I was thinking about some religious discussions that I've had recently, at church, at home and with friends. A short essay began to compose itself in my head. I got to to work but I kept thinking about it, even though I was trying to review financial disclosure reports. Quite

Comments

[souda]

pagan is actually a separate set of beliefs (most would classify Hindu within that group)

the word heathen is often used for pagans and originally meant "of the heath" or hills (basically country folk, I guess because they were considered to be pagan due to lack of sophistication/education?)

[flirtaciousj]

I have heard it argued that "heathen" applies to people who are monotheistic but not Christian, where "pagan" refers to polytheists. I use the terms more or less interchangeably here; certainly my dictionary includes "pagan" among the definitions of the word "heathen." I know that people now overtly identify as "pagan", particularly in the U.S., but that doesn't mean that the broader more inclusive sense of the word is therefore incorrect.

Just out of curiosity, where did you find me, and how did you dig this up? I wrote it quite some time ago, although I vaguely recall linking back to it more recently :)

[souda]

I've never heard that definition of "heathen" so that means that today, at least, I have learned one thing, yay! ^__^

I found this through the Polyamory LJ community, I don't know if it was a recent link or if I found it as I was reading earlier posts. I had posted a question on there and someone told me to look back for an entry they'd made a bit ago, and in the course of my searching I stopped and read some of the posts that seemed interesting. I apologize if it seemed weird or intrusive (my commenting).

[flirtaciousj]

No problem, not weird or intrusive at all. Sometimes the linkages in LJ just amuse me - whether the chain that takes me to someone else's posting or vice versa.

The again, I have a low amusement threshold - I'm easily entertained :)

Welcome!