Why do pagans get along better with Atheists than they do with anyone else?

Question

I think Atheists and pagans get along well because neither of them try to force beliefs or disbeliefs on the other. Why can't this be true of all religions? If you look at it technically, we shouldn't get along because of our belief of many gods and your belief that gods don't exist. Wouldn't it be easier if we all got along with each other, without the senseless bickering about whos religion is better?

How is it the nature of Christians to go around converting? It pretty much states in the Bible that Christians should keep to themselves.

I forgot to mention Buddhists, my bad.

Well Fireball, I'll continue to believe my "false" religion, and you can go believe your "true" religion. That's the attitude I'm talking about right there.

Is bringing about the truth a type of persecution?

Answer 1

false religions and kindness wont save anyone...what is there to push? Lies? JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION... its not bickering Just the facts.....only God saves ppl....we can only state facts and try to guide

Answer 2

While I tend to agree with you and am certainly not a devotee of a mainstream religion, I feel I should point out why this ISN'T going to be happening any time soon. And it has to do with memes.

If you've never heard of them, memes are the ideological equivalent of a gene. A wholly-contained concept. And though the comparison isn't perfectly apt, it's pretty obvious that some memes have characteristics that make them much more successful than other ones. Let's talk about two in particular:

One is the 'spread me' meme. Ideas that their users believe they have to share simply get shared a lot more (kind of like chain letters). Sure, most of that sharing falls on infertile ground, but through sheer numbers we might expect that most of the fertile ground WILL be covered by a meme that requires sharing. Or, in other words, religions that require proselyting are almost doomed to be more successful than ones that don't.

The other is the 'exclusivity' meme. If a meme doesn't permit other memes to share space with it, then it is going to be more successful by the reverse of the above process. It's not that it spreads faster... it just prevents other memes from spreading. So every religion that insists that it has the one and only grasp on the truth and that all others are wrong is going to hamper any more tolerant viewpoint.

Though this doesn't mean that everyone will eventually ascribe to a theology that is in what I like to call the 'exclusive missionary position', it does mean that other ideas have a significant obstacle to overcome just to hold their own. They'll have to have something else vastly attractive to make up for lacking those other advantageous traits...

It would be really nice if everyone could just get along, but I think the memes have something other than that in mind...

Answer 3

> Wouldn't it be easier if we all got along with each
> other, without the senseless bickering about whos
> religion is better?

It'd be a heck of a lot easier, and probably a whole lot friendlier too. Seems some people just can't remember their manners while disagreeing, which is rather a shame. The world could use a little bit more politeness.

Answer 4

Yup, the number of gods, or no gods, isn't even the issue...the root of the problem is about respect for the beliefs of others and not intruding on that personal space that beliefs are a part of. It's the main reason some of us don't much care for the dominant religions that seek to convert everyone and feel that they are best and right over all others and find it their place to tell us this. Minority groups tend to have an understanding of what each other has to put up with in all this.

Answer 5

I heavily isn't in attendance -- I have no flak jacket and characteristic already served in wrestle !! A word of advice right here -- have an fairly good SWAT group on word -- you're gonna prefer them !! And, there is going to be controversy from the very initiate, on such fairly some tiers that it defies description !! Even the refreshments are going to be a concern -- no crimson meat products for the Jews -- no crimson meat for the Hindi's -- no alcohol for multiple the human beings on an analogous time as, yet others prefer settle for a occasion without it !! The Muslims won't carry their better halves or daughters and could be quite indignant by using the gown and the habit of the Pagan women human beings !! And --- on and on and on and on and........... I supply you -- truthfully thirty minutes until now you would be wanting physique bags !!! i'm going to save the television on -- i'm beneficial CNN would have a stay chopper view of the malay !!!

Answer 6

"God" doesn't want his children to go to Hell, but most people feel condemnded from the start. Salvation, if there is such a thing, you would think be a birth rite. But Humans usually have to go looking for it, and if they thrive in a world where the "right" God isn't known, they are damnded.

Pagans and Atheists are very open-mindd people, in my opinion, but then they do have their beliefs (not so much Atheists ;]) which forge their thoughts. What I admire about them though is the neutrality they have. I strongly believe that religion is just about faith and hope, and whatever gets you through the day, whatever keeps you holding on, makes you stronger and happier inside, is alright with me. Not everyone has the same morals, even though there are some internationally implied, but we can't all live the same. You'd think if bears, foxes, Wolves, rabbits, birds, squirrels, everything basically, could live in harmony, intelligent human beings could pull it off two-fold.

Humans have such egos. xD

Answer 7

Well I'm a Satanist and I get along with Atheists, Pagans, Buddhists. I have a few friends that are Christians but they know not to try and push their God on me or I'll tear their little religion & God appart.

It could be like you said the Pagans, Atheists & Buddhists do not try and push their ideas on someone else. There is no you don't think like me so you're evil and deserve to be tortured forever.

Answer 8

I agree with you, and you can add Buddhists in there as well.

The only group of people that antagonizes me (on Y!A) are Christians, and the only group that constantly whines about being criticized by atheists are the Christians.

Atheists, pagans and Buddhists in this forumn get along just fine.

I don't see Christians changing their attitude towards all other religions when Protestants constantly claim that Catholics aren't even Christians. If they can't respect other sects within their own religion, it's unlikely they will ever gain respect for someone who doesn't even believe in the same things they do.

Answer 9

Also perhaps we've both got a history of persecution at religious hands as well as being minorities fighting for our voice. I think both sides would like to see a more eclectic and variety in the beleif systems that hold some sway, just to break up the choke hold christianity is starting to have. Pluralism is a great thing at dividing power, the writers of the US constitution thought it was a pretty good idea.

Answer 10

i am a spiritual atheist & a godless neo-pagan, so the two are not exclusive of each other, for one. but i also have problems with a few atheists who try to insult me & my beliefs because they cannot be proven, even though i admit they are merely my own beliefs, and they have also stated that i should stick with science, wrongly assuming that since i have spiritual beliefs i must not follow science. and i have a few problems with random people because they think an atheist believes in nothing, and a pagan is polytheistic, and they believe that i'm full of hogwash.

but, in general, i think you are correct. but it's human nature to think you're right & everyone else is wrong.

Answer 11

the Christians are just blind and do not have open minds to other religons they are trying to force everyone to be brain washed into believing in the bible which was written by men and the HUMAN race is twisted so you can't believe what most men say. Yes it would be easier if we all got along but alas we do not live in a perfect word. I wish we were in a perfect world