Question about atheists, Christians, and Pagans?

Question

I don't want to seem disrespectful in this question, or insult the Wicca/Pagan beliefs at all. With that said, why is it that the atheists, when arguing from a logical/rational standpoint, always attack the Christian faith but for the large part never say anything about Wicca/Pagan which believes when its concepts are just as supernatural (if not more) than Christians? Is it because the Christians are usually more judgmental and spiteful?

Once again, no disrespect intended, I am just wondering because a lot of the atheists arguments stemming from logic could be leved at the Pagans as well as the Christians, but they hardly are.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Because the Wiccans and Pagans are well-behaved. They're just as wrong as the Christians, of course, but we're all wrong about something. It seems to be only the Christians and Muslims who make a practice of attacking others. I was attacked once here by a Pagan, and was shocked to see it happen. No Wiccan or Jew or Hindu or Buddhist has ever attacked me. Plenty of Christians and a fair number of Muslims have (though there are plenty of decent folks among those groups as well).

It should have been obvious that the problem is the Christians' behavior. Yet your wording (atheists "always attack the Christian faith") suggests that you didn't want to accept the role of Christians' behavior in this problem. Now, you did (in the very next sentence) recognize that "Christians are usually more judgmental and spiteful". I respectfully suggest that you look at that as the core problem.

I do appreciate your obviously sincere effort to be respectful with your question.

Answer 2

I'm accepting of people, no matter the belief. There's no clause in my system of living that says anyone has to agree with me. Makes it easier to just BE. Plus, this leaves me more open to learning different aspects of other beliefs. Melting pot variety person, here. I'm no longer loyal to any certain structure. They can all be built up, or torn down

Now, I've been Christian and I guess you would say am now Pagan. Personally, I know exactly what kind of response an Atheist would have recieved from me from that standpoint verses the one that I have now.

Far more fear of the unknown, as this is what I was taught. I didn't want anyone going to hell. Now, I'm happy because I know that they are not. Experience it, as thou wilt.

This just solved my problem. The people who say that they are wormfood, are wormfood. If that's logic to some Atheists, then so it is. There isn't a very strong argument energy to be had in someone who just accepts that others believe as they will.

Answer 3

Excellent question and a very good observation. I've never actually given this much thought before but you are actually right on point. Pagans seem like a very peaceful and understanding group of people. I have never met a Pagan who was judgemental towards me and a Pagan has never tried to convert me or anyone else I know to their religion or way of thinking. I have never seen a Pagan post a question on Yahoo Answers attempting to convert someone to their religion. Pagans receive a good bit of ridicule for their beliefs as well so this may be why we [atheists] tend to 'side' with them, if you will. While we may think that their beliefs are a tad strange or absurd, most don't flaunt their beliefs and most are completely open to hearing other ideas. While they are strong in their beliefs, they do not accuse all others of being wrong. Most believe that we all are taking different paths but that there is no "right" or "wrong" path necessarily. They don't tell people that their souls are eternally condemned to Hell if we don't believe as they do. The most important part and perhaps the whole point is that most Pagans I have ever personally encountered RESPECT other people beliefs and for that I personally, atheist or not, respect theirs.

Answer 4

We probably would if Wiccans or Pagans posted questions asking us why we don't believe in their beliefs (especially in that incredulous way)

Or made comments about atheists being evil and insisted we were going to be tortured for all eternity unless we signed up to their beliefs

Or posted very silly questions about something they clearly have no actual understand of - like evolution, atheism and the big bang.

Also wiccans and pagans are also insulted, abused and ostricised which we can sympathise with.

Answer 5

I think it is probably a matter of an "equal and opposite reaction" if you will. The more voraciously your opponent contests your argument, the more aggressive your counter-argument tends to be come.

It has been my experience that practitioners of Wiccan, Pagan on other "non-traditional" (society's term, not that I subscribe to it) nature-centric religions are more inclined to "live and let live" as it were. Whereas practitioners of "the Big 3" seem to be more inclined to try to point out to you the "error of your ways", whether you are interested in their opinion or not.

Consider this, when was the last time a Wicca showed up on your door wanting to sell you a magazine, talk to you about your religion, or in any other way intruded into your life?

Answer 6

I don't attack anyone. Logic did help me decide to be Buddhist rather than Wiccan, but pagans and Wiccans have a lot more in common with Buddhism than they do modern Christianity. Note I said "modern". There are some sects of Christianity in the early days that were very different than what we see now.

_()_

Answer 7

I don't get attacked much as a Buddhist either. I think that Pagan's have some very rational texts about honoring the earth and nature. I also think the texts are level-headed regarding how you treat others and the implicit oneness of everything. I really think it has to do with the intention and moreover the reputation. I don't attack atheists, that's just wrong and I'm also married to one.

Answer 8

Atheists and Christian fundies on here are mortal enemies who enjoy arguing with each other.

Pagans generally seem less inclined to get into big religious arguments so I suppose we're less fun for Atheists to pick on.

Answer 9

I'm a pagan AND an atheist (and a Taoist).

The big reason is probably that I consider my beliefs to be my own business and don't try to insert them into other people's lives because they're the only right answer so everybody should follow them. I don't presume to tell others what to believe or what their afterlife, if any, will be like. I respect their right to decide for themselves.

I also freely admit all my spiritual notions may just be in my own head, my own imagination. It doesn't matter, I don't care, my beliefs are what they are and don't apply to anyone but me, so you see it's all fun and quite benign.

Answer 10

Drake, normally I ignore you because I do find you highly offensive, but this is a good question that merits an honest answer and you asked in a non-offensive way. So before I answer, let me commend you for the effort you put forth to not offend people. I, for one, appreciate it.

Okay, to answer your question, I personally find Paganism and Wicca to be rather inconsequential, because for the most part they are not trying to legislate their beliefs into law and are not trying to force me and my children to validate their belief system by forcing our participation in acknowledging their version of spirituality in public affairs.

I tend to believe that not all, but just about all religions divide the world into believers and non-believers, and that this practice of separatism is bad for all in that it guides people to look at each other along sectarian lines that hinders people from progressing as a whole. Religion locks people into a way of thinking that causes them to deny the reality of the world around them in favor of a particular concept of god's favor and the reward of the afterlife. Because of this, people can be manipulated into performing the worst acts that man is capable of, such as wholesale genocide, degradation of women into second class citizens, and general apathy to the plight of others, all of which are still happening today.

You are correct that the same logical arguments could be leveled against Pagans, Animists, Wiccans, etc., and actual Atheists reject ALL concepts of god, not just the Jewish variety. But by and large the reason you see so many arguments against the Jewish version of god is simply because of it's popularity and huge number of believers in the country we share. If the majority here were Wiccans, then that would probably be the common target, same with Animalism, Deism, Islam, Hinduism or any other religion that claims a specific version of god(s) that have specific requirements as dictated by god that must be forced on everyone. It's simply a numbers game for now.

I would personally live and let live if I believed certain religions to be inconsequential to the everyday lives of non-believers, but some religions don't allow that, and sometimes even work AGAINST human progress and cause division in their quest to unify everyone under their particular moniker.

Just so that you can have an idea of my perspective, imagine that you are one of the few Christians in a United States that by and large worshiped the gods of the Mayans. Even though you know that you don't need to sacrifice any living thing to appease god, and your laws say murder is a crime, there are those in society that feel the reason 9/11 and Katrina happened was because we haven't sacrificed any virgins and non-believers as the gods dictated, and they believe that the only way to protect our nation is to get back in line with the demands those gods and they're organizing to put people in office so that the laws can be changed to make this possible. You would do your best to show those people the folly of their ways, and show them a better way to do things, wouldn't you? Would you concern yourself with the Animists, who by and large are a relatively minuscule part of society, or would you focus your attention on the larger threat against your safety and the safety of all?

Yes, this is an extreme example, but please remember that the Holocaust, 9/11, the Inquisition, and Crusades all actually happened. All are caused directly by disagreeing religious beliefs. All were thought to be what was right by god and perpetuated exclusively by Christians and/or Muslims against non-believers. All are universally condemned in our society today.