“What is a pagan? What is paganism?”……From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term "pagans" to describe those outside their religion. Others define the term "paganism" as any religion outside of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity; whereas some argue that it is anyone with no religion at all.……Paganism comes from the Latin word paganus, which means "country dweller" and can refer to polytheism (the worship of more than one god), such as in ancient Rome. A pagan is also considered to be one who, for the most part, has no religion and indulges in worldly delights and material possessions; someone who reveres in sensual pleasures; a hedonistic or self-indulgent individual. Another more modern term is "neo-paganism" which refers to some of the contemporary forms of paganism such as Wicca(see article on Wicca), Druidry, and Gwyddons. ……These modern "pagan" practices are actually similar to their ancient counterparts in that they rely heavily on hedonism-sensual gratification and self-indulgence and the pursuit of happiness and pleasure to the exclusion of everything else. In ancient times, sexual ceremonies were a major part of pagan religions. The Old Testament references these perverted religions in such passages as Deuteronomy 23:17,17 "No Israelite, whether man or woman, may become a temple prostitute.

Amos 2:7-8 7 They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way.Both father and son sleep with the same woman,corrupting my holy name.8 At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security. In the house of their gods,they drink wine bought with unjust fines., and Isaiah 57:7-87 You have committed adultery on every high mountain.

There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me. 8 You have put pagan symbols on your doorposts and behind your doors. You have left me and climbed into bed with these detestable gods. You have committed yourselves to them. You love to look at their naked bodies.

…Though they are numerous and varied in their practices and beliefs, pagans do hold to some similar beliefs. For example:……├ö├ç├│ The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.…├ö├ç├│ Everyone is considered to be part of this Mother Earth.…├ö├ç├│ Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.…├ö├ç├│ Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such all are gods and goddess.…├ö├ç├│ Most pagan religions do not have gurus or messiahs.…├ö├ç├│ Doctrine is superseded by one's own responsibility.…├ö├ç├│ Solar and lunar cycles are significant in pagan worship.……Any form of paganism is false doctrine. Paul addressed this perversion of the truth in his letter to the believers in Rome

(Romans 1:22-27)22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

. These people were worldly and materialistic, worshipping created things rather than the Creator. They worshipped trees, animals, and rocks, going so far as to abuse their bodies in deviant sexual practices to revel in their passions. Paul then goes on to tell us why they did this and the end result:……"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done" (Romans 1:28)28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done..……In spite of common assumptions, most pagan worshippers claim they don't believe in Satan. However, there's no question that Satan is their chief source of influence and control. Though they will deny it, they deify him in their worldly and sensual practices. Paul tells us plainly how Satan works in the lives of people without God, through his power, his signs, his deceit, his lies: ……"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness"

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.. ……That Satan is alive and well is powerfully evidenced in these pagan practices. This was not only clear in the times of the 1st century church, but also in today's post-modern world. To the faithful believers who know the Lord, pagan worship is what it appears to be-the power and deceit of the prince of this world, Satan (1 John 5:19)19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. who "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8)8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.. As such, it should be avoided.