From: Edgar M. Krentz (emkrentz@mcs.com)
Date: Tue Apr 28 1998 - 12:16:41 EDT
>I used to think the term "pagan" carried a derogatory connotation, but
>later came to realilze its use does not necessarily mean that at all.
>This
>was the way I was using it recently, but it seems others are seeing a
>derogatory sense in it. Perhaps "secular" is a better way to describe
>non-sacred or non-canonical literature.
Paul, I think the best term is "non-biblical."
Much Greek literature is very religious in the ancient Greek world. All of
the great Greek drama, both tragic and comic was produced in honor of
Dionysos. Pindar's Odes were filled with religious motifs. There are Hymns
to Homer, etc.
Fred Danker taught me to avoid the term pagan for non-Christian literature.
It originally mean "of the courntryside" as opposed to the city, id est,
rude, uncultured. Christians applied it to non-Christians after
Christianity became the dominant religion. At that time the cities became
primarily Christian, while the conservative country folk kept their ancient
religion, or transferred many of their non-Christian folk religion habits,
practices, and (to Christians) superstitious or magical rites into their
Christian religion. The term is, as you suggest above, derogatory. Some
religious scholars use the term profane for that, from the Latin pro fano,
meaning outside of, i.e. in front of the temple, that is non-religious.
The problem with non-Christian Greek literature was not that it was pagan
(in that derogatory sense), but TOO religious! "Secular" won't do because
that implies, at least to me, non-religious.
Hence I use either "non-Christian" or "non-biblical" to describe the
literature--if a descriptive adjective is needed.
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Edgar Krentz
Professor of New Testament
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Telephone: (773) 256-0752
Office: ekrentz@lstc.edu
Home access is functioning well again; go back to using it.
Home: emkrentz@mcs.com [Tel: 773-947-8105]
GHRASKW AEI MAQWN. I grow older, learning all the time.
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