LOL. You don't know the way the anti-Catholic mind works, do you? Yes, it was exactly on that "linguistic" argument that the claim was based.
If it were a sole claim it wouldn't be worth the time of day - would it. Added to the heap, it's just one more thing that makes ya go "hmmm".
In order to "add it to the heap," one would have to buy into the idea. And thus demonstrate that he didn't understand language or history. Just like you do here.
"Pagan" and "propaganda" share the same root. The Latin word for "country." To propagate the faith is to take it out of the cities and out to the boonies. And out in the boonies, people still clung to the "old" "pagan" beliefs.
SD
I'm sorry, that's just almost too funny to believe. I'm noteably skeptical based on what I know now about the Waldensians; but, if it were true, it'd be a nice one to point to for a good joke now and then. Can you provide a citation for that which doesnt' come from Catholic sources? Cause many of these I see are CYA's and in the case of the Waldensians, I know that whole episode has been a matter of false accusation and vendetta. Unfortunately for Rome, it appears some of their writings survived them as well as part of the sect..