Do You Believe In Dragons?

[jarofthoughts]

This is a question for the theists of the forum.

Do you believe in dragons?
And I do mean actual spiritual or physical dragons like those mentioned in Chinese legends or fairytales.

Now, before you go all "this is a silly question" on me, consider this:
Legends of dragons exist in most of the major cultures in some form or other, just like the concept of gods.
Stories telling of dragons far out-date all of the worlds major religions by several thousand years and thus have more history behind them.
Also, there is no lack of books about dragons.

Still, assuming that your answer will nonetheless be "no"...

If you believe in a god/gods, why do you not believe in dragons?

 

[Midnight Pete]

Biblically, the sevil is sometimes referred to as a serpent or dragon-- the epitome of evil.. And I do believe in the devil. But in Asian culture, dragons are thought to be divine. Interesting how so many cultures have the same tropes or symbols. The serpent is usually a symbol of evil, and the eagle is usually good or noble. Animal imagery is pretty universal.

 

[Riverwolf]

Where do ideas about dragons come from?

 

[Storm]

I believe in the sidhe. Some interpretations of these beings led to legends of dragons.

 

[jarofthoughts]

Where do ideas about dragons come from?

Hard to say, but they crop up all over the place. From the Norse myths about the serpent that encircled Midgard to Mayan feathered serpent-gods and Chinese spiritual dragons the earliest myths I've come across date to at least 2000 BC and maybe as far back as 5000 BC.

Interesting to note though that with three replies none answered my question... :sarcastic

 

[Storm]

Interesting to note though that with three replies none answered my question... :sarcastic

Yes, I did. Just not the way you expected me to.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Where do ideas about dragons come from?

The collective unconscious?

 

[Willamena]

This is a question for the theists of the forum.

Do you believe in dragons?
And I do mean actual spiritual or physical dragons like those mentioned in Chinese legends or fairytales.

Now, before you go all "this is a silly question" on me, consider this:
Legends of dragons exist in most of the major cultures in some form or other, just like the concept of gods.
Stories telling of dragons far out-date all of the worlds major religions by several thousand years and thus have more history behind them.
Also, there is no lack of books about dragons.

Still, assuming that your answer will nonetheless be "no"...

If you believe in a god/gods, why do you not believe in dragons?

*raises hand* What does "actual spiritual" mean? How are we to take that?

 

[jarofthoughts]

Yes, I did. Just not the way you expected me to.

So, how should I interpret your answer?
As a 'yes, I believe in dragons'?

 

[Storm]

So, how should I interpret your answer?
As a 'yes, I believe in dragons'?

That's the simple version.

 

[jarofthoughts]

*raises hand* What does "actual spiritual" mean? How are we to take that?

As in beings or entities that really exist and not just a wishywashy 'I'm sure they are real for some people' interpretation. You know, how theists consider god.

 

[jarofthoughts]

That's the simple version.

Fair enough.

 

[Willamena]

As in beings or entities that really exist and not just a wishywashy 'I'm sure they are real for some people' interpretation. You know, how theists consider god.

Yeah... that doesn't help.

Are you a being or entity that really exists?

 

[jarofthoughts]

Yeah... that doesn't help.

Are you a being or entity that really exists?

Unless reality is a figment of my imagination, then I would claim as much.

 

[Riverwolf]

Hard to say, but they crop up all over the place. From the Norse myths about the serpent that encircled Midgard to Mayan feathered serpent-gods and Chinese spiritual dragons the earliest myths I've come across date to at least 2000 BC and maybe as far back as 5000 BC.

Interesting to note though that with three replies none answered my question... :sarcastic

Because I don't think giant-reptile concepts evolved the same way as god-concepts. (Though if you're talking 7000 years ago, I think it's a fair guess that there were god-concepts back then, as well.)

By the way, my answer is yes, I do believe in dragons. They live on the island of Komodo, and belong to the monitor lizard family.

 

[Storm]

Fair enough.

Aw... I was hoping for some sort of follow up.

 

[Willamena]

Unless reality is a figment of my imagination, then I would claim as much.

So, actually spiritual like you... okay.

If you believe in a god/gods, why do you not believe in dragons?

I'd say that the image of "God" that refers to the creator of reality isn't comparable to any part of that reality that's created, be it real or imagined.

 

[Renji]

Well, the "dragon" and "serpent" are symbols representing Satan, the "ancient enemy". But I don't think it's literal that Satan is a dragon or a serpent.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Well, the "dragon" and "serpent" are symbols representing Satan, the "ancient enemy". But I don't think it's literal that Satan is a dragon or a serpent.

Symbolically, not literally.

 

[Renji]

Symbolically, not literally.

Exactly my point.