22 Dec
2012
22 Dec
'12
10:36 a.m.
I am not sure that this discussion belongs on this list at all. However
I might point out that the term 'pagan' was originally applied to Xtians
since they did not believe in the Roman gods.
C: Actually the early (early 4th century) Christians were designated atheists.
The early Xtians were guilty of genocide, slavery and rape.
And let's not mention the barbaic practices of today's Xtians. That would be
a tu quoque after all. Let me know when Xtians stop killing doctors,
stop screwing little boys, stop encouraging genocide in Africa ok?
C: I'm not looking to belabor any of these points here. I was merely differentiating
between creeds. There is no part of the Apostolic creed that calls for any of those things
you mentioned. Many pagans though *were* called upon to commit numerous atrocities. That
"Christians" fail to commit to their creed is owing to their humanity, not the
creed itself.
I would suggest this is a bad way to claim any sort of moral superiority
due to your religion.
C: I claim to aspire to moral superiority, because I think Christianity is superior to all
of the primitive religions. That is all.
Exactly.
C: Of course I separate myself from those of any stripe that commit atrocities. Is that a
bad thing? Should I join in???
?The point is contained in the tenets of Christianity are those yucky things like
brotherly love, even loving your enemies, but I suggest anyone should exercise a little
discernment w/that.
Yes talking to snakes is completely and utterly normal. Gotcha.
Kettle pot.
?C: I've never talked to a snake. I do very often talk to my cat though. I've had
a few birds attempt to engage me in conversation though.
I could take
the time to allude to the barbaric practices of most of
the early forms of paganism,
Indeed, you did. stuff which
modern pagans take pains to separate themselves from
(hence the neo-).? It's awful nice when you can alter your beliefs to
suit the times, and dispense with all that nastier stuff.
Christianity and Abrahamic religions in general don't have particularly
clean hands themselves.? Nor are they immune to altering their beliefs
(or at least their dogma, their professed beliefs) to suit the times. ?I know a pagan
lady.? Bat crap crazy she is.
Indeed.? So are some Christians.? And Jews.? And Moslems.? And
atheists.? And...
She said Thor was one of her favorites deities
(along w/"Squat", who
is alleged to be something of a patron saint of automobile financing.
You ask her).
Eh.? If I had a way to contact her, I might be curious enough to
bother, or I might not.? Whether Squat is real for her has no
particular bearing on whether Squat is real for me. I do, however, wonder why you're citing the
opinions and perceptions of
someone "bat crap crazy" as if they were relevant to the discussion.
So I asked her does she really believe Thor was a
real *god*.? She
stated to the effect that all those old world gods were
manifestations/representations of "the Divine".
Not a terribly uncommon point of view, and not too far from my own: the
various deities that have reality for me are what the Divine looks like
when looked at from my point of view.? This has little-to-nothing to do
with what it looks like when looked at from some other point of view. From my point of view, there are no such entities as I
am an atheist.
There are also neopagans who also happen to be atheist. Yes this is
possible.
C: And words tend to lose every bit of their meaning in this modern culture.
?? Not even atheists are atheists anymore. Unless they're a perfect "10".
Know any? I don't.
?Ok I'm done. I just want the opportunity to respond to what's left in my inbox as
of 1:35 pm EST.