Does it really bother other pagans that Asatru, Theodist, Odinist, ect claim the term

Most pagans I know have no issue with it, they understand why. Still I meet a few who are down right adamant that Heathens have no claim to the word and it refers to ALL pagans....
I hate to clue people in, that ain't gonna change the Heathens minds but does it really bother people that much? Or do they just not know?
*sigh
Ok TECHNICALLY and in the dictionary they mean the same thing. With in "pagan culture", not they do not.
Road: Which "real" religion do you think I should follow? I'll stick with my fake one. It makes me happy.
So was "pagan" handsome.
*blinks innocently at Hestia* You mean they AREN'T the same goddess??

I thought heathen is anyone who's not a monotheist. Including atheists and agnostics.

why not

It gets my magic underwear in a bunch.

Why don't you just say "I'm not cool enough to follow a real religion"?

I think they just dint know.

Its a term that is strictly related to us of Germanic and Scandanavian descent. (I Consider all of us one big family personally)

So they are the ones with no claim to it.

It sounds possible and likely that these "Pagans" are nothing more then "Pop-Er's" just in paganism because its "Contrary", "Different", and "Misunderstood."

Im not sure if I have a"Problem" with it or not.

But it just isn't accurate.

Not in the least..

Honestly, HP, the *only* problem I have with Heathens in general is a tendency amongst many of them to label anything they dislike as Wiccan, when it usually isn't.

When Heathens don't claim to be experts on my religion, I leave them be.

I don't mind the word Heathen.

Heathen originally referred pejoratively to anyone who wasn't a monotheist, later including other polytheists like Hindus and atheists. So, I don't see why anyone has a right to have a problem with anyone else embracing the term.

Edit: Um, I don't usually react to thumbs downs, but is there a problem with what I said that I'm not aware of? My ancestors were called heathens all the time by Imperialists, I don't know what anyone is talking about saying an OE word only ever referred to people of Scandanavian descent.

Nope - should it bother me?

I have no problems with the terms people use for themselves, unless or until they use them to indicate that they are better than others.

it doesn't matter to me. I'm a pagan, not a vicuna, not an Odin's, in fact those terms i find silly, but that is just me. i don't worship one god or goddess, i worship all gods, because they are the same. if a group wants to call themselves heathens, then let them. i just hope that they don't think that the word is supposed to be a faltering one, because it is meant as a slur in most cases.

I like the term. Anyone that knows the history of Northern Europe and Anglo-Saxon England understand why we don't mind the term "heathen" - our religion comes from the Germanic tribes and Vikings that terrified Europe and spread trade from north Africa to Russia.

We just keep at and explain that modern Vikings/Asatru/Odinist/ Theodist.... etc don't mind being lumped together under the term Heathen.

Cheers! Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the folk!

# # #

Road W - come say that at a Heathen gathering. Our religion has roots in ancient traditions - "real" religions are a rip off of paganism (except Judaism). Where are those golden tablets?

Well, technically it shouldn't, because Heathenism means following one of the Teutonic (pan-Germanic) pagan paths, and Heathen (Heithni, Heiden) is a Germanic word. I don't see how would someone who follows let's say, Hellenic folkway, identify with this word.

I have no problem with it at all as it serves to differentiate the Northern European-based Reconstructionists from other Pagan groups.

Absolutely, the DICTIONARY definition includes other Pagans, but if the definition of Lesbian can be not just a woman who is sexually interested in other women, but also a native of the Greek island of Lesbos, the Heathens can certainly use the term as an exclusive designation the way the Greeks do.

I do not practice Heathenry, but Hellenismos. This IS a different religion and although we both fall under the overall "Pagan" umbrella that does not mean we should use the same name. The Westboro Baptists and the Greek Orthodox fall under the same general "Christian" umbrella, but doctrinally are almost 180? apart.......

I have been aware for a long time. I don't see why it would bother me more than people who have no idea about our Gods telling me that Hestia and Aphrodite are simply "aspects of one goddess"

knock yourselves out most pagans I know could care less what label people choose to put on themselves

"pagan" comes from Greek and means the peasants who live out in the country and follow the old ways.
"heathen" comes from Germanic and refers to the peasants who live out 'on the heath' (IE. in the country) and follow the old ways.
Using 'heathen' instead of 'pagan' lets one know that the 'old way' that they follow is one of Northern European flavor.