Paganism was originally a pejorative and derogatory term for polytheism, implying its inferiority.[3] Paganism has broadly connoted the "religion of the peasantry".[3][5] During and after the Middle Ages, the term paganism was applied to any unfamiliar religion, and the term presumed a belief in false god(s).[6][7] Most modern pagan religions existing today—Modern Paganism, or Neopaganism[8][9]—express a world view that is pantheistic, polytheistic or animistic; but some are monotheistic.[10]