| ☦️ Christianity | 🎭 Paganism |
A religion (thrēscī́a) is a covenant with a god (theós), made by a sacrifice (thysía) upon an altar-table (thysiastḗrion), where then an altar (naós) is made, as the dwelling of the god. This sacrifice is called service (latría). Around the altar, a temple (hierón) is made, where things sacred (hierós) are consecrated, & whoever serves the sacrifice is a priest (hiereús). Further, an elder (presbýteros) is ordained to maintain the religion, who may serve as the priest. If any word—spoken or written—is inspired by the god, it is an oracle (lógion).
Among the gentiles, an idol—i.e. an image within which the spirit of a god resides—is erected in the altar.
According to Christians, the name god is derived from to perceive (theō̂, cf. theōría). According to the gentiles, the name god is derived from to run (théō, cf. tréchō).
A spirit which is clean Christians call an angel, but the unclean is called a dæmon. Gentiles call any spirit sent by a god a dæmon.
The spirit of a man which has become like the Angels Christians call a saint. Gentiles call the spirit of a man which has become like the dæmons a hero & demigod, but is by Christians called a giant.