Atheists, what is your opinion of Pagans?

Question

I'm already pretty sure how you feel about Christians, that they are brainwashed by the church and the bible, etc. How about Pagans? We're worshippers of the earth and our religious laws are based on the laws of nature such as karma. Your thoughts?

For the record, I have lots of respect for Atheists. Most of the ones I've met are very intelligent and logical, and I admire the way they value validated knowledge. Blessed be.

Answer 1

Generally, I find Pagans to be about 1,000 times more tolerable than Christians. I've never heard of Pagans knocking on anyone's door, trying to convert them... or threatening anyone with eternal damnation.

However, there's still that 'belief' thing. I see value in any 'paradigm' (useful way of looking at things) that has the potential for providing experiential insights into nature and reality... but when those paradigms achieve the status of 'belief', they lose their value, and function as a detriment rather than a benefit. Beliefs close the mind to consideration of alternative possibilities.

Answer 2

It is hard to comment on Pagan practices or Paganism because those terms cover such a large number of varying religions.

Lack of exposure to the public and seemingly reserved nature of Pagan practitioners may have shielded Paganism from confronting reactions of atheists as enjoyed by Christianity or Muslims.

I want to point out that Buddhism also entertains the notion of "Hell", yet Buddhism is not so openly opposed by atheists. The reason seems to due to passive and less vocal nature of Buddhist practices.

No doubt religion is a very personal matter and should be left for the individual to explore and participate according to ones' own choice. You just cannot save someone against his / her own will.

Answer 3

Uh.... first, that is not what I think about Christians.
Paganism sounds pretty ok to me, but I think of it the same way as Christianity - if you find it useful spiritually, go ahead and believe it. I only really get a problem with sects when they start excluding people, or try to get their beliefs put into law or science for others to follow.

For the record, I have a lot of respect for pagans. Most of the ones I have met care deeply about the world, making them steadfast to a number of good causes, and don't dislike people who do not believe as they do.

Ok there was this one guy but he was not exactly representative.

Peace to you. Though this is the first time I have heard the idea that Christians are brainwashed - I have had a number of long discussions and many have good reason to choose their faith.

Answer 4

Generally speaking, I find Pagans to be tolerant, respectful of nature, and unlikely to tell me that I'm going to hell. For that, I give Pagans a gold star.

Aside: "Pagan" is sorta an umbrella term, so if I misrepresent some of your beliefs, don't hold it against me.

However, personifying nature as a "goddess" is frankly just as silly as imagining that there's a god above who cares whether or not I play scratch-off lottery tickets. The belief that there is any sort of deity just doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Now if you want to look at "mother Earth" as a metaphor, I'm all for that, but asking her for favors isn't going to get you anything. Prayer simply does not work, no matter whether you do it kneeling in a church, or naked on a mountain at night. Karma is another belief that has no actual basis in fact. It's a nice idea, but if it were true, I don't think we'd see people getting away with the heinous things they do. I know, I know, some people think that the punishment happens in the next life, but I find that about as easy to believe in as heaven.

All in all, I think that Pagans are decent folks, even if some of their beliefs seem awfully silly to me. It it turns out that the Christians are right, drinks are on me in Hell.

Answer 5

In my opinion, pagans are just as convinced that "something" must exist, so they grasp on to something local, something known, namely nature.

In short, I feel their passions are just as misplaced as theists, Christians included. I think there energy and lives could be better spent improving the known world, instead of delving into speculation and belief systems about what is ultimately unknown.

That being said, my general impression of pagans is better than that of Christians. They are less judgemental, more open, and less dictorial as it pertains to perceived "morality". As a result, I would prefer a pagan over a Christian anyday. Since I hold their beliefs equally invalid, I judge by fruits. And sorry my neighborhood Christians, your fruits are quite rotten by comparison.

Answer 6

I don't feel that way about Christians, I am married to one. I don't have a problem with anyones beliefs. One of my good friends is Pagan, she is extremely intelligent and I like the way she sees the world.

Answer 7

Calling someone a heathen (dweller of the heath) or a pagan (dwellers of the countryside) was just a way to insult their religion. These insults were used by believers of Urban (citydwelling - ie. sophisticated) formal religions. Sort of the equivalent of calling someone a country bumpkin.

Pagan doesn't imply any specific religion or specific system of beliefs. Country people had a wide variety of superstitions and practices.

Hope this sheds some light.

Answer 8

Paganism is cool. They worship nature and all about her. No problems with Paganism.

No problems with Christians either. It is the ones that keep poking their nose into my business telling me I will go to hell if I don't believe like them or constantly drumming and thumping their bible which I feel they have never even opened .

Answer 9

I don't really know anything about your religion. But it doesn't really sound like a religion. It's a religion in the same way Bouddhism is, right? It's more of a way of life, isn't it?

Actually, I should look on the Internet.

PS: I don't think we have a lot of Pagans in France.

Answer 10

Religious ideas are alright, even christian ones, as long as they''re not rigid, that they're not ... hm, formalized or institutionalized. The so called pagan rites, or traditional beliefs, varying from region to region, are valuable and respectable... as long as they doesn't conform a rigid institution, with strong rites that clash with other people's beliefs (not necessarily in the theological aspect).