Why the word “pagan” when “temple” would have sufficed? If it means non-Christian why isn’t Islam considered a pagan religion?
“If it means non-Christian why isn’t Islam considered a pagan religion?”
I think ‘pagan’ has traditionally been applied to polytheistic religions. Islam claims to be monotheistic and can be viewed as some kind of deviation from Christianity / Judaism. Belloc described Islam as one of the “Great Heresies” in his book of the same name - a good book