Both pagan and heathen seems to have similar origin. Heathen is the German-goth version, whereas pagan is a similar word in the Latin-Greek understanding.
The word heathen has got its meaning defined from the bible. The original word "goyim" could perhaps just as well have been translated into "foreigner". But heathen was a suitable word in the German - Goth - Norse languages
Urban Dictionary defines it as hardcore polytheist
Marthin Luther may have chosen to take a word existing in German or gothic languages rather than chosing a word less understood by his audience.
Online Etymology Dictionary defines the word as coming from old Norse/Grman Heiden (Uncultivated land)
The fastest growing religions right now are naturalistic religions, something which connects us to our roots. Atheism, Paganism, Heathenism or Wicca are among such. It is not as much to search for alternative religions as it is yearn for something arch-natural. A belonging to history and life and also in science. It is not so much for praying as it is for receiving some clarification and purification.
The old Norse word for this phenomenon to find comfort in ones roots, the soul. Find ones place in life, the inner originality is "wyrð".
The word encompass the meaning of several modern similar sounding words which probably is derived from "wyrð", like birth, worth, wear, yearn
Imposing Christianity on northern Europe in many cases meant a violent and forced conversion from polytheism and making of fables and stories about natural phenomenons. The new religion brought rituals and understanding which were less flexible for adapting twists and change when suitable for the situation.
White Christ was less than satisfactory at that time, and seems to lack credibility for modern man. Atheism can easily go with polytheism because it does not claim to hold any truth, nor does it demand the followers to believe any theology, or live in a certain way. It is a fable based storytelling tradition.
The challenge translators of scripts have is the choice of words giving sense and recognition in the new language as well as convey as much as posible from the original meaning. This becomes more serious when the intent is also a mission to convey the understanding of a whole new theology.
They sometimes had to literally merge words from the Christian cult into words from the heathen cult without having control over the impact the chosen words may have in the new language. Words are learned emotionally, usually not lexically.
The most common emotional understanding of the word pagan/heathen vs the lexical definition
The change in the implication of the word came with the appearance of Christianity to Northern Europe
The translators did probably not know that cults and religion is born in the human heart more than it is born in God's heart. Humans have a connection to the nature around, to the history they are born from.
Heathen in early beginning of Christian- ending of the Viking era.
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