What are atheists' objections, if any, to pagan religions and its followers? (Anyone can reply)

[Subduction Zone]

It's silly, but pagans are few in number, &
therefore can't impose anything upon others.
This is a wonderful quality.

Being in a religious minority forces one to only pass on the good things that one's religion advocates. It is not until one gets serious numbers that the religious threaten others for not following their beliefs. I like religious minorities too as a result. If we had just a whole slew of religious minorities and no clear leader we would get rid of quite a few of the various god threats. Nothing takes the wind out of the sails of the overly religious than honest hearty laughter.

 

[Secret Chief]

I could be a pagan and not know it
I'll bet there's an online quiz you can take...

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

There are some Pagan believer for whom it is very much a religious belief with worship, rituals, traditions and ethical code of conduct. For some it is more like the Abrahamic religions than you might think.

No doubt that's true. Wicca comes to mind, although even here there seem a fascination with the occult.

And for others is a cultural identity, but basically secular.

One might certainly identify with a culture that is pagan, but that is not quite the same thing as adopting paganism as a cultural identity.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Since this subject is kind of branching out into practices I think (which I'm perfectly okay with), I thought I'd contribute by saying....

I believe in a many-gods interpretation. My main deities are the Goddess and the Horned God of Wicca, but I don't consider myself affiliated with a coven. I also see merit in the practices of other pagan followers who aren't really into Wicca.

There is a challenge for me. It's, when an atheist and Abrahamic follower get in an argument/debate, I often don't know who to side with. So I don't really consistently pick a side for one or the other. I guess it more depends on what the subject is, and what sides people took. I'd say it's just about been 50-50 for me, so far.

 

[JDMS]

Some subsets of paganism support white separatism and white supremecy. Some appropriate other religions gods, or symbols, or otherwise. A minority though.

My worst experience is with pagans (specifically self proclaimed witches) adding Shinto kami to their roster along with all their other gods, totally neglecting to do any research on how kami are supposed to be enshrined. Also a fundamental misunderstanding of what kami are. Oftentimes people say they are "working with Inari Okami" when Inari Okami isn't even a single kami, its a collective name for several others.

Also those who are anti-science, anti-vaccine, etc.

But most I come across are relatively harmless.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Some subsets of paganism support white separatism and white supremecy. Some appropriate other religions gods, or symbols, or otherwise. A minority though.

My worst experience is with pagans (specifically self proclaimed witches) adding Shinto kami to their roster along with all their other gods, totally neglecting to do any research on how kami are supposed to be enshrined. Also a fundamental misunderstanding of what kami are. Oftentimes people say they are "working with Inari Okami" when Inari Okami isn't even a single kami, its a collective name for several others.

Also those who are anti-science, anti-vaccine, etc.

But most I come across are relatively harmless.

I support science myself, but I don't quite follow it to the degree of some whom I've met.

I also don't consider myself an anti-vaxxer.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

If you look back through the last 10, 20, or 30 pages of Debates, you'll probably read enough posts to get an idea of what atheists might think of people of Abrahamic faith, their objections to the ideas and certain involvements of its followers, etc.

But it makes me wonder... what do atheists think of paganism and followers of pagan religion in general?

Paganism - Wikipedia

...

By the way, I posted this as a debate.

As with anything else, I think most atheists (though I can only speak for myself) would ask, "what evidence do you have that whatever you believe in might be true, and is worthy of committing yourself to in a religious sense?"

I think, probably, that the answer will generally not have anything to do with evidence, and that therefore it is just another whim to satisfy some itch that we atheists don't appear to suffer from.

 

[Orbit]

I find pagans harmless, and appreciate that they don't proselytize.

 

[rational experiences]

That religious history as a practice isn't science.

As science the practice was in science built machine temples first.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Imm unfamiliar with pagan stuff.
I'd probably think it's silly.

I'm unfamiliar with your conclusions.

I'd probably think they're silly.

 

[SalixIncendium]

My lack of belief in Pagan religions is essentially the same as my lack of belief in Abrahamic religions.

But generally Pagan religions do not proselytize in the same was as Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Islam more so than Judaism).

I don't see legislation being passed that denies human rights in the name of Thor. I don't see a frightening rise in Pagan nationalism that is threatening to end democracy.

And when you look back at those 10, 20, or 30 pages of debates, how many of those threads are started by adherents of Abrahamic faiths literally inviting criticism? (probably half or more)

In the name of Thor, I deny your right to contribute to this thread!

(Quill say's it's okay, though,...so I guess it depends on who you think leads the Guardians of the Galaxy.)

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm concerned with any belief system that pretends to know what it doesn't really know. That said, I'd rather have a pagan baby sit my kids than most Abrahamists.

If I pretend I don't know anything, may I sit your kids?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I could be a pagan and not know it
I'll bet there's an online quiz you can take...

I took it. I'm 14.324598457609935738% pagan.

Or maybe that was Jewish.

Now I need to retake the quiz.

 

[fantome profane]

In the name of Thor, I deny your right to contribute to this thread!

(Quill say's it's okay, though,...so I guess it depends on who you think leads the Guardians of the Galaxy.)

I am Groot.

 

[Polymath257]

I find many of the beliefs of paganism to be as woo as those in Abrahamic religions.

But I also find that I often agree with the morality of pagans more than I do that of Abrahamics.

I also find that pagans are willing to leave me alone more (an aspect of their morality). This is a good thing.

I've had good times at PSG.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I am Groot.

I am Steve Rogers.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

As with anything else, I think most atheists (though I can only speak for myself) would ask, "what evidence do you have that whatever you believe in might be true, and is worthy of committing yourself to in a religious sense?"

I think, probably, that the answer will generally not have anything to do with evidence, and that therefore it is just another whim to satisfy some itch that we atheists don't appear to suffer from.

My counter would be, "I do that which makes me happy", and "being correct according to some notion of it or some rigid structure, doesn't always lead to happiness. Especially when looking at individuals. So the individual also has to decide what's best for them."

So if I argued with atheists on this particular issue, it would probably end up being about whether atheism leads to greater happiness. Which is a subject I can explore some time if anyone suggests they wish to talk about it with me. But my current stance is that I view theists and atheists as experiencing about the same level of happiness in general and overall. Though I'd say that some individuals might be happier with atheism, some with theism.

 

[Nakosis]

If you look back through the last 10, 20, or 30 pages of Debates, you'll probably read enough posts to get an idea of what atheists might think of people of Abrahamic faith, their objections to the ideas and certain involvements of its followers, etc.

But it makes me wonder... what do atheists think of paganism and followers of pagan religion in general?

Paganism - Wikipedia

...

By the way, I posted this as a debate.

Not much difference IMO. Different God/Gods with different characteristics.
Maybe a bit less authoritarian. Perhaps that is why some are more attracted to it.
The beliefs are more flexible, less canonized.

Christianity has incorporated many pagan ideas so maybe the only reason they were called pagan was to make them seem less legitimate to Christians.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I tend to incline toward something like a form of 'animism,' and have identified that way before. In my general way of thinking, 'light forms' (as in the opposite of 'heavy theological' forms) of this form of spirituality, are closer to atheism than most other sorts of religions. That is because in the way I think of it, 'light paganism' or 'light animism' is merely nature + a sense of spirituality in nature. I think it is the easiest leap for me to have to make, as one who is often in a sort of agnostic / atheistic frame of mind.

As to the evidence of this, one would to point one's perception of nature as a unity. It's hard to go to any organized scene in nature, imho, and not feel something like this. Then again, maybe some people do feel very little, when they are out in nature. Presumably, our western culture does seem to distance us from it quite a bit, so that's probably why it's hard for me to really feel it sometimes.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

And I think I would argue that the 'Western distance' from nature plays a fair role, perhaps in the following way. And that has to do with our culture's love mechanization, industry, and efficiency. Money is a necessity. Computers, cars, concrete. People who never seen any of that, and have to build everything they need from scratch, and have to get skilled at hunting, and know where food comes from, all of that, all of that must translate to some kind of deeper connection with the planet that sustains us

But again, we don't see it that way, in the way that we live in industrialized America. And I think maybe atheism is probably somewhat emergent from that, from being knee deep in computerized, mechanized processes that seem to shield us from the planet. It's just the way it is, and it's why I can't really commit to a religion myself.