Serious responses only - how many of these atheists & pagans really want to be alive?

Question

They have no sense of humour other than cruelty; they are loveless things; they are obviously prone to alcoholism and drug abuse. Admittedly,most are just poorly raised adolescents,perhaps sexually frustrated - but many show every clinical sign of being in love with death - s&m,etc. Isn't there anything we can do to help them?

Answer 1

Hi there!

You ask a good question, and I feel you should get a good answer. I should start by saying that I assume you mean the pagans & atheists on the Yahoo Answers page. I should also say that I can only answer from the pagan point of view (though not all pagans; that would be presumptuous of me), as I don't understand atheism.

Your perception of most the people who claim to be pagan is, unfortunately, accurate. Most of them lost their love for life and humor when they lost their faith. They are pagan because they are mad at Jehova, or because it gives their parents the "Willies", or to try to fit in or be "Cool". Having been a practicing pagan for over 20 years, I find these people to be just as lost and irritating as you do. These types of people are becoming more prevalent, and I feel it is very bad for my Faith. They learned their path from books rather than from teachers, and don't understand what it really is they've gotten into.

When a person first joins a "new Faith", they are full of wonder and love and happiness for what it is they are feeling. In Christianity it is often called being "on fire for God". After the newness wears off, though, they are just as lost as they were in their former path. We lose quite a few "converts" (thank the gods!) when they reach that point. The imbittered ones, however, get that way further along. In my Faith, there must be balance. After the newness (the Love and Light phase) wears off, then comes the balancing force (Darkness [which really is a different thing from evil]). It is in the Dark that we lose still more (again, for this I am thankful). Those few who come out of the other side of the Time of Trial have found a balance, those are the pagans worthy of the title, and those have a great love for life (and all living things).

I am sorry that you haven't been exposed to many of these pagans. I'm sure would find them just as loving as anyone in your home church, maybe a bit "querky" for your tastes. Please forgive my Faith for the actions of it's supposed members; we are not all like that.

Be well in all things,
Rave

Answer 2

How very sad for you, being a Christian and yet having so much hate inside. though what you say may have a modicum of truth to it, you must realize that the attributes which you describe span all cultures. I am a former Christian of over 40 years, in church nearly every day, 2 years Bible College. Now I am Pagan, yet I have a sense of humor, am not cruel, have much love for all beings, including you, not an addict or alcoholic, was raised by wonderful parents who taught me the value of love over the value of a dollar, am not sexually frustrated, and most of all wish to live until I am at least 135. what you could do to help those you speak of is learn that the most important lesson in life really is the Golden Rule:
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
even though it isn't in the Bible, this is the basis of all of Jesus' teachings.

Answer 3

Yeah, you can help me by not slandering my religion. S&M actually has nothing to do with death, it is about satisfying certain psychological needs that some people are born with. One could argue that Christianity is a form of masochism, as the Christian feels a psychological need to be debased and/or humiliated by their god and their preacher. I have a very well-developed sense of humor, I even enjoy jokes at my expense, what I don't enjoy is seeing a Christian who knows nothing about my religion making accusations which have no foundation in reality. I am neither an adolescent, nor am I sexually frustrated, and the way you keep using that particular idea makes me think that you are projecting your own fears and insecurities on Pagans and Atheists. It's a very common defense mechanism, well known and oft-documented by psychologists, look it up. The comment you make about us all being alcoholics/drug abusers is simply ridiculous. There are alcoholics and drug abusers in every walk of life, some of them even rail against the "evils" of such behaviors while abusing drugs or alcohol themselves, look at Rush Limbaugh.

Answer 4

Okay, I have never been obsessed with death. I was never the poser goth or any type of goth. I was the perky cheerleader and yet here I am as a pagan. Yes, I am a sexual deviant but that is just who I am. It doesn't mean I want to die. It means I like a little more fun than most ;) I never did any drugs or alcohol. I don't like it.

Also, my christian stepfather is an mental and physical alcholic, pill popping abuser. What do you have to say about that?

Answer 5

Wow... atheists and pagans are poorly raised, sexually frustrated, in love with death... wow. I've seen some doozies here but this one takes the cake.

I, for one, love life. I love watching the sun rise. I love seeing the giggles on my son's face. I love seeing his tears so I can take them away. I love watching my cat wash himself, such a perfect creature as a result of evolution.

Why must I believe in your god to prove that I love being alive? That's nonsense. I might also say that you can't wait to die so you can be with your god. Is that true? Probably not... but that's the same type of sweeping generalization that you've just made about me... without ever knowing me.

Answer 6

Well, it's obvious you were brough up in an free-thinking, open-minded environment with plenty of intellectual stimulation. Not a single one of those generalizations applies to me. So get a life.

The best thing you could do for me is stop asking such stupid questions. And how is it, a good, christian, bible-raised girl like yourself wasn't (isn't) sexually frustrated... Doesn't the bible have some fairly specific things to say about pre-marital relations?

Answer 7

I don't think that's an accurate description. I have an atheist friend and she's not down on life at all. In fact, she is one of the most shining, happiest, friends I know. She willingly practices abstinence and does not drink or do drugs. Her atheism just means she cannot take sides on certain things. For example, we were in orchestra together, and when we worked on a patriotic song, she was not allowed to play it. Everyone respected her beliefs and no one had a word against it.

Answer 8

What an ignorant statement-obviously you have met no people other than your mirror and have heard not one single word of Sunday school. In fact Jesus would be very disappointed in your not paying a bit of attention to anything he says-be forgiving-do not judge others-you have violated many commandments as well as the words of Jesus with your comments-I am Catholic and I have atheist friends because I leave Judgement Day to God. It isn't my job to cut myself off from good intelligent people with hate=mongering and I don't think God minds a bit that I choose to leave the finer points of life to him and enjoy ALL of humanity in the meantime-

Answer 9

No sense of humor? This question is hilarious!

It would seem christianity would promote sexual frustration. Pagans see sex as a blessing and a gift. Many chirstians see it as a sin.

Answer 10

Atheists are intelligent people with a concept of science. If we wanted to kill ourselves, we would have done so a looooong time ago. The fact that there are people cheerfully living without any belief in God suggests that faith in a higher power is not a necessary condition to happiness.