Wicca lesson 20 (comments)

Paganism: it is not completely accurate to say that paganism refers to all non-Christian religions (you include Judaism and Islam in the list). Paganism refers generally to polytheistic and non-revealed indigenous religions. Judaism and Islam, while non-Christian, would never be referred to as pagan as these religions are monotheistic. I would also hesitate to called Buddhism pagan, because, while in some variants it is polytheistic (in appearance at least), it is nonetheless a revealed religion with a specific founder. On the other hand, Shinto, Hinduism, animism and Native American religions can all be classed as pagan. Satan: The confusion of Satan with certain pagan deities is not a coincidence. There is no Biblical description of Satan having horns, tail, wings, etc. The idea that Satan looks this way comes from medieval Christian artists who based Satan on Pan and other pagan deities -- which went along well with the Church's policy of demonizing paganism. J.P.A.