Christianity has made of death a terror which was unknown to the gay calmness of the Pagan.

In this quote, Ouida (the pen name of Marie Louise de la Ramée), a 19th-century English novelist, contrasts the views of death in Christianity with those of the Pagan world. She argues that Christianity has transformed death from a natural and somewhat accepted part of life into a terror, something to be feared and anguished over. In contrast, she suggests that the Pagan perspective was more calm and accepting, viewing death as a part of the cycle of life rather than something to be feared or avoided at all costs.

Ouida's words reflect a critique of the way Christian doctrine often emphasizes judgment, sin, and eternal consequences after death, which can instill a sense of fear and anxiety. In Pagan cultures, death was sometimes seen as a passage or an inevitable part of existence, not necessarily something to be terrified of. The gay calmness she refers to suggests an attitude of acceptance and peace, where death is integrated into life and not seen as a source of dread or a moral reckoning.

The quote highlights the cultural differences in how death is perceived and dealt with. While Christianity tends to emphasize the afterlife and the consequences of one’s actions, Paganism often saw death as a natural transition, without the same level of emotional weight or spiritual fear. Ouida suggests that Christianity's approach to death has altered the natural human experience of mortality, making it more fraught with fear and uncertainty.

Originating from Ouida, a writer known for her novels that often explored societal issues and human emotions, this quote reflects her broader skepticism toward organized religion and its influence on human emotions. Ouida's works frequently examined the tensions between tradition and modernity, and her criticism of Christianity's treatment of death is part of her larger exploration of the constraints and emotional turmoil imposed by religious beliefs.