While I sympathize with you and I understand what you are saying, I feel I need to point out that you haven't even met most Christians, as their are millions and millions of them.
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This is my problem with Most Christians
- Thread starter Klaufi_Wodensson
- Start date
While I sympathize with you and I understand what you are saying, I feel I need to point out that you haven't even met most Christians, as their are millions and millions of them.
Midnight Pete
Well-Known Member
To be fair, where does your grievance really lie? With those long-dead folk who spread Christianity by the sword or with present-day folk who had nothing to do with spreading Christianity by the sword?
ButTheCatCameBack
Active Member
A lot of people don't know much about the history or details of their own religion, let alone another. I can sympathize with the frustration. But I would try to look at the situation as a teaching moment.
The Neo Nerd
Well-Known Member
I took the OP to mean people's attitude today.
The reason I say this is that we cannot change the ways of the past but you are in a position to change people's opinions today. I have thought more about Pagan religions since joining this forum than ever before. That is down to you guys.
I look to your DIR and posts for reason and explanations. I don't see you as victims, a minority doesn't mean less value.
Unless you can provide us with reasons to convert (or revert), then is it really more than playing with history?
The reason I say this is that we cannot change the ways of the past but you are in a position to change people's opinions today. I have thought more about Pagan religions since joining this forum than ever before. That is down to you guys.
I look to your DIR and posts for reason and explanations. I don't see you as victims, a minority doesn't mean less value.
Unless you can provide us with reasons to convert (or revert), then is it really more than playing with history?
Rainbow Mage
Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
That's just it Onkarah, Pagans don't really have a need to convince others to revert to our beliefs. Our beliefs are for us and theirs are for them, it all leads to God, like Hinduism says. As many religions, so many paths. For Pagans religion is deeply personal and something of the heart, even in ancient Pagan societies. Those people believed those things because that's what god within told them to worship and believe. That's what the Abrahamics like Christianity and Islam have always used to invalidate Paganism, or so they think. Especially Islam, Islam says Paganism is an invalid way to worship Allah because it's nothing but people leading themselves into error and vain fancies. Pagans actually value listening to the self to hear god within.
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Hi Senedjem
I can appreciate and do appreciate that Paganism isn't evangelistic. What I mean really is that not everyone is looking for Christianity, if there was some clear, easily accessible facts about pagan religions people might become more alert. I am playing devil's advocate when I ask you to provide those reasons, because I do not see you as Victims of Christianity, but rather makers of your own destiny.
I started to read about Kemetic religions on wikipedia yesterday after interacting with you and was interested to see it can be considered monistic. That wouldn't have happened if you weren't here my friend
My point is, yes it is annoying, people don't understand because they are too lazy to think about it, but why not take a proactive role to educate them through exposure to your theology
ButTheCatCameBack
Active Member
'Except I'm referring to "Hey I'm miffed someone hasn't heard of my religion!"
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Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Back to the original OP, why don't you try this, instead of getting so frustrated:
When a Christian asks if you are a Christian, rather than simply saying, "No," how 'bout if you say, "No - THIS is what I believe in" and then give a short summary of your beliefs. That way you don't get as frustrated by their assumptions, and you have the opportunity to enlighten them on some aspects of religion that they may be unfamiliar with.
When a Christian asks if you are a Christian, rather than simply saying, "No," how 'bout if you say, "No - THIS is what I believe in" and then give a short summary of your beliefs. That way you don't get as frustrated by their assumptions, and you have the opportunity to enlighten them on some aspects of religion that they may be unfamiliar with.
I like that idea. I think we could use a quick way to explain our religion to others without dazzling them with philosophy
Something just occurred to me.
Saying this might get me into trouble with those Pagans who believe that there's some sort of real continuity with the ancient beliefs that their religions draw from, but IMO, when it comes to the modern incarnations of most Pagan religions as they're practiced in Europe and North America, they're mainly responses to Christianity. IOW, without Christianity, neo-Paganism wouldn't be doing as well as it is... if it would even exist at all.
The Neo Nerd
Well-Known Member
I disagree.
People need to believe in something, if xtianity wasn't around people would still be looking towards paganism for that something.
-Q
People need to believe in something, if xtianity wasn't around people would still be looking towards paganism for that something.
-Q
Actual, traditional, historical Paganism maybe. Not the neo-Paganism we have today.
What is the difference between them?
For the most part, we're dealing with a patchwork of ancient sources that don't provide a reliable or complete picture of what the ancient beliefs and practices actually were. In particular, many of the works that attempt to describe ancient European beliefs that have been used as the basis for reconstructionist pagan movements have been called into serious question, if not outright rejected, by mainstream historians.
And that's only when we're talking about the Pagan denominations/religions that have made an honest attempt to have a historical grounding. A large part of the Pagan movement is the eclectics: people who pick and choose beliefs from various traditions, taking what they want and leaving the rest. Now, I don't think eclecticism is necessarily less valid a practice than the reconstructionist movements in terms of a person's individual religious beliefs, but it definitely yields religious systems that were nothing like pre-Christian religion anywhere.
I was thinking Kathryn's idea: Instead of saying what you are not (a Christian) instead say what you are, that your religion is______. That way no one will think you are an atheist.
It may not solve all your problems, but at least you could be educating people. And instead of getting POed, maybe you could try realizing that it is just ignorance on the other person's part about other religions not of the mainstream- and once again, you could educate them and they would be less ignorant of your faith.
It may not solve all your problems, but at least you could be educating people. And instead of getting POed, maybe you could try realizing that it is just ignorance on the other person's part about other religions not of the mainstream- and once again, you could educate them and they would be less ignorant of your faith.
Klaufi_Wodensson
Vinlandic Warrior
Yeah you're right. Maybe it should read, "This is my problem with most Christians that I have met"