Why do the Abrahamic religions demonize Pagans?

[Rainbow Mage]

Their books do it too, I realize this, but can anyone seriously be that ignorant in today's world? Now we have sources available for people to become informed about ancient religion and culture besides the Bible one. How can people still continue to say ancient Pagans were godless and without morals?

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

It makes the Abrahamic religions feel better about their beliefs if they think everyone else is an immoral savage. It also helps to justify the mass slaughters that took place in the Bible as "eradication of evil". I don't think as many people believe this as did before (I hope not), but as long as there is organized religion this type of ignorance will always exist.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

ISLAM it's quite funny though, Pagans never demonized the Abrahamics, unless you want to count the Romans, but they demonized everybody except the Romans, even other Pagan cultures like Egypt. The Bible may say the Babylonians and Egyptians treated the Jews badly, but history shows differently. History shows the Egyptians had good dealings with the Canaanites, and later with Israel. The Babylonians treated the Jews better then slaves, as the book of Daniel says, many of them were servants in the royal courts and scribes and scholars. That much of what the Bible says is true.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

My opinion is that these "pagan" cultures did not see Abrahamic religions as a threat, so they weren't concerned enough with them to demonize them. Most of these pagan religions don't claim to be the only true religion of the world. The Abrahamic religions, on the other hand, are all about being the only religion that is right for the world, which makes them resort to scare tactics and demonization of other beliefs. Of course I'm speaking collectively, not all believers in the Abrahamic god act this way.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Of course

 

[painted wolf]

Because they take the "thou shalt have no other gods" rule to be for everyone not just themselves. Further they seem to believe that the only way to worship that one god is their way.
Add the evangelical desire to "save" everyone else by making them just like themselves and you can see that there must be some demonization.

You can't save someone unless they need saving.
.
wa:do

 

[Thesavorofpan]

Because Abrahamic faiths think that their the only one religion so anything else isn't real. So we say don't mess with that kind of stuff because you don't know what kind of spirits can behind that kind of stuff.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

Because Abrahamic faiths think that their the only one religion so anything else isn't real. So we say don't mess with that kind of stuff because you don't know what kind of spirits can behind that kind of stuff.

What do you mean by spirits? Do you think pagan gods are evil spirits?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Yes I sometimes wonder that myself ISLAM. What exactly is the official Christian position on other gods? Btw, welcome back thesavor.

 

[Thesavorofpan]

What do you mean by spirits? Do you think pagan gods are evil spirits?

Since I don't believe their isn't any other God except Jesus, Yes or there nothing there.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

Since I don't believe their isn't any other God except Jesus, Yes or there nothing there.

The same could be said by other religions about your god though. What makes either your or their religion any more or less good or evil? I don't see the need to demonize other's beliefs, shouldn't affirming your own beliefs to yourself be enough?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Yes I find it interesting that the belief seems to be that other gods are evil spirits, especially since other gods are not much unlike the Abrahamic god, they answer prayers, they lead people to do good and avoid evil, they teach people about purity of both body and soul. I suppose some would argue this is because they're trying to immitate the real god though.

 

[Thesavorofpan]

The same could be said by other religions about your god though. What makes either your or their religion any more or less good or evil? I don't see the need to demonize other's beliefs, shouldn't affirming your own beliefs to yourself be enough?

No, I would go further into this, but I think it would be breaking one of the rules on here.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I still have a fairly Monist view, I don't think there's a difference between the many gods and the one God, they're both aspects of the same thing. A duck by any other name is still a duck.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

No, I would go further into this, but I think it would be breaking one of the rules on here.

The worst that'll happen is that they delete the post, please give your full opinion so we can better understand it.

 

[Thesavorofpan]

The worst that'll happen is that they delete the post, please give your full opinion so we can better understand it.

Eh okay. I don't think that knowing yourself that this is the one true god is enough. Thats not what Jesus told his disciples to do. Jesus said and I'm paraphrasing here "Go out into all the nations and preach repentance and Baptism in my name" As a Christian we have a great commission to teach this great Gospel. So in this work we have to try to disprove other religions. Does this help you understand or should I go in more deep.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

Eh okay. I don't think that knowing yourself that this is the one true god is enough. Thats not what Jesus told his disciples to do. Jesus said and I'm paraphrasing here "Go out into all the nations and preach repentance and Baptism in my name" As a Christian we have a great commission to teach this great Gospel. So in this work we have to try to disprove other religions. Does this help you understand or should I go in more deep.

I understand that you have an obligation to spread your religion, but you can do it without demonizing other beliefs. Don't you think you should be pro-Christianity instead of anti-Paganism? You can disprove another belief without labeling it as evil.

 

[Thesavorofpan]

I understand that you have an obligation to spread your religion, but you can do it without demonizing other beliefs. Don't you think you should be pro-Christianity instead of anti-Paganism? You can disprove another belief without labeling it as evil.

Pro-Christianity what do you mean by this?

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

Pro-Christianity what do you mean by this?

I mean telling people how good your religion is, not how bad theirs is.

 

[Thesavorofpan]

I mean telling people how good your religion is, not how bad theirs is.

hmmm normally I compare the two gods, But I understand what you mean and your view point. Myself I usually tell them to be careful when messing with evil spirits you never know their true agenda.