Pagans.. does it bother you when atheists belittle your beliefs?

Question

or do you just accept it as part of the norm for R&S?

I personally don't let any of the remarks about my beliefs from anyone bother me.. I find it interesting that pagans seem to have this in common.

I normally don't get a lot of that from atheists, personally. They are usually quite respectful, even if they disagree.

((((((((((GANDALF!!!!!!)))))))))

SJ, you are my truthiness expert. I EXPECT you to come up with fun ;)
((((((samurai jack)))))))

Answer 1

Nope, doesn't bother me at all. I have my beliefs and they have thiers. As long as they allow me my area, I'm good and I can always go elsewhere...and if I get angry at either myself or someone else, there is always the computer "off" button. Blessings from a furry Pagan Otter.

Answer 2

I'm not bothered by anything the Athiests have to say, I consider Athiesm a spiritual point of view, and I understand that they just don't believe in an intelligence of some sort creating it all. To each his own, I am strong enough in my beliefs not to feel threatened about it. Not to mention that anyone willing to admit to being Pagan has to understand that it goes with the territory, in my experience, Athiests have been far less bothersome than some others who would like to call us devil worshippers etc. but it's pretty much part of being Pagan, at least for the time being. I do wish that people would get along better in general though...

Answer 3

No, I love Athiests.

Just the witch burner mentality gets me. The you are Satan logic loop.

Racists, sexists, ageists, bigots....I have to admit it ignorance is a fire starter.

However...it is better to deal with it here in a constructive way rather than producing more darkness in the world.

Dialogue is a very special thing. I do not get on here and attempt to convince other people to believe what I believe.
I come here to contribute and grow.

I have learned things on here and continue to every day.

So for that I thank everyone including the peolpe with the type of thinking that I find disheartening.


Peace.

PS I also agree with Beatlefan that Atheisim is a spiritual point of view. It must always be included in the conversation as with the Agnostic view as well.

My respect to you all.

Answer 4

I'm not a Pagan but I'm not an atheist either. I don't get offended that they don't believe in the same things as I do because we all have different beliefs that have yet to be proven so i can't argue that their belief is wrong or right. All beliefs should be respected.

Answer 5

As a secular humanist, I don't believe in magic, but I have great respect for my pagan friends and neighbors. I don't believe what they believe, but that's the way of the world. They also don't believe everything I believe. I don't take that personally, and I don't imagine too many of them take my absence of belief personally.

One very important fact: I've never known a pagan to try to legislate his or her beliefs or take away my right to believe or not believe as my conscience dictates, so I have never had any reason to feel threatened by paganism in America.

Answer 6

Naw. I'm a pagan AND an atheist (and a Taoist). I understand why they feel the way they do. It doesn't affect me at all. I am totally willing to admit all my spiritual philosophies are probably made-up fantasies in my head just to make me feel better about the harsh realities of life. But that's okay, because they do make me feel better about the harsh realities of life.

So maybe spiritualism is just a coping mechanism. Who cares? I enjoy it, don't force it on anyone, don't expect anyone to agree with me. So I'm nuts! Pass the beer.

Answer 7

I don't know, never had an Atheist do that. In fact I get more respect from them than I do even some Pagans...which is very odd.

I've only had Christians and to my great dismay some Wiccans attack me.

Answer 8

Well, honestly, it sometimes annoys me for a moment when I have to page through a lot of "You're making it all up", "You're just playing", etc. to get to the answers on questions directed to Pagans. But I get annoyed at all the "You're really Satanic, even if you don't know it" stuff, too.

Generally speaking, it doesn't bother me much. I just don't see the point to it.

Answer 9

As you know I'm Buddhist/atheist and I am disturbed by a lot of cruel replies to pagans/wiccans etc. as if all who believe in such things are out of their minds...

As an atheist studying more paganism I see a lot of spots where there's a HUGE amount of logic in what pagans believe, even if it reads as "hinky" to a lot of other people. One of the reasons why I didn't reply in detail to the questions yesterday about "deities" and my understanding of them. Asatru, I'm finding, shares a lot of the logical ideas I believe in as a Buddhist and so do other pagan beliefs from my previous studies.

Oh well... we deal with it to the best of our abilities, and some of us have to run off and whimper in a corner still... goes to show ya I'm no perfect Buddhist.

_()_

Answer 10

Interesting question?

Belittling pagans may be the only time that Christians and Atheists can get together.........Oh them and the Buddhists and Hindus.

I don't see too many anti Pagan remarks from Atheists though.

Am I wrong?