[BuffaloJack]

I've learned about the Pagan - Buddhist interrelationship from being married to a Buddhist for 35 years. In that time I've had countless discussions with various Buddhist Monks, Lamas and Abbots who are friends of my family. A simple Google search on Pagan and Buddhism will give you thousand of references, including several of the texts that I have read along the way.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Christians first gave them [the worshippers of Serapis, Artemis, Asclepius, Isis, Apollo] their name, "pagani." The word first appears in Christians inscriptions in the early fourth century and remained colloquial, never entering the Latin translations of the Bible. In everyday use, it meant simply a civilian or a rustic. Since tthe 16th century, the origin of the early Christians' usage has been disputed, but of the two meanings, the former is likelier. "Pagani" were civlians who had never enlisted through baptism as soldiers of Christ..."

That quote is from Pagans and Christians by Robin Lane Fox, University Lecturer in Ancient History at Oxford.

I don't dispute that there was a center of Buddhism in Burma called "Pagan." What I'm fairly sure of, is that 4th century Christians knew nothing of Buddhism, nor indeed of Burma. They were Latin- or Italian-speakers, and chose a bit of slang from their own language, referring, not to Buddhists, but to the polytheists among whom they lived.