Guybrush

Why would you be interested in ressurrecting belief in ancient gods? Seems we get by just fine without believing in them.

__________________
Something Completely Different

Frownland

Most of them are rejecting the Jewish basis of Christianity via Odinism.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

gandhara

yeah I get that question A LOT actually.... I totally get it...

I've always been fascinated in ancient mythology, cultures and the stories and beliefs in gods and goddesses since I was very young... I might believe in them in much the same way a Christian believe in God and Jesus, but I definitely don't believe out of fear or because there's a book that tells me to believe this and that or else! It's more out of fascination but I'd never go around saying anything I believe is truth and evreyone else is wrong lol.

jwb

Honestly there was this pagan dude in the program I assumed was a Nazi but it turned out he's not.

jwb

what God(s) is it you believe in specifically and why?

A lot of the new age and pagan and mystic type **** might not be as judgmental as the abrahamic faiths but it just feels a lot like a choose your own adventure type approach to religion lol. Just pick your favorite God the same way you would pick your favorite super hero and go with that.

Lisnaholic

OOPS! Getting old means making dumb mistakes more often than you would like! I must have confused your join date with your posting date. Sorry about any confusion I've caused in your thread, gandhara.


Yep, keeping a good sense of proportion as always, Guybrush. I would "times two" your sentiment.

__________________
"Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

music_collector

I just posted a Dragnet reference in another thread. It's only fair that I visit a thread about pagans.

Guybrush

Same here. As a kid, I was borrowing books about the greek myths, gods and heroes, and of course as a Norwegian you're easily exposed to stories about the norse gods, Odin, Thor and Loki in particular.

However, just because you read a story about Orpheus bargaining with Hades for the life of Eurydike doesn't mean you have to believe it actually happened or that Hades is real.

There is actually a big difference. A big predictor for what religion you belong to is simply your location. If you are from Saudi Arabia, chances are you're a Muslim. If you're from the US, particularly some areas more than others, chances are you're a Christian. Obviously culture / environment and indoctrination plays a huge role. You can blame other people.

In this case, you may not have other people to force these falsehoods on you. Instead, have to fool yourself. This is especially true if you get into the sometimes witchcraft beliefs of paganism which require dedicated efforts of self-delusion.

When I read your post, I don't get the feeling you actually believe. I get the impression you kinda think its cool and you have a pagan phase. But why would you wanna live with all that cognitive dissonance?

If you've broken off from a major religion, good on you. Instead of then stumbling into a minor one, why not getting into skepticism and critical thinking? It's infinitely more powerful and will help you out more than religious beliefs will.

__________________
Something Completely Different

Ayn Marx

Many biblical scholars {the academic kind, not ’true believers'} assert the origins of much found in the Old Testament was transmitted to one of the Tribes of Israel while exiled in Mesopotamia.

I’m intrigued you have an interest in reconstructionism. How does one chose which path to follow amongst so many ?
PS: Spellcheck on my Mac wants to change ‘reconstructionism’ into 'deconstructionism'


'

Ayn Marx

The majority of our species have had no freedom in choosing their religion. As that nasty Jesuit saying has it “Give us the child till they’re six and we’ve got them for life.” There are other evil traditions many religious bodies adhere to. Stray from the so called one true path and we’ll stone you to death, burn you alive, torture you till you confess your evil ways etc. Today’s ‘enlightened' Christians claim to have left all that behind. However give them enough political power, as in the US today, and watch what happens to so called sinners.

Underneath all of this human nature is at work. That is, our species is prone to ‘groupthink’ even outside of religious dogma. For instance, followers of Ayn Rand and Marx can act and groupthink like true believers of the religious kind. Until and unless this aspect of group behaviour is confronted and eliminated our species time on planet earth will soon be over. Some of you here may be sick of me recommending this tome but I’m going to do it again. A reading of Arthur Koestler’s ’The Ghost in The Machine’ focuses on this problem. I’ve yet to encounter an honest refutation of his central thesis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ghost_in_the_Machine