Yeah? Care to elaborate on what my "pagan" rituals are, exactly?
That said, I'm hardly Christian obsessed and wouldn't besmirch any religion except Islam. Live and let live. Also, I'd take Christianity over any other religion.
I used to be a part of an atheist group that had a winter solstice celebration complete with pagan imagery. But no Christmas party, because, you know, atheists. They didn’t like it when I pointed that they’re not actually being atheist so much as anti Christian. Dismissing one belief system as silly and magical then embracing a different silly magical culture isn’t rational. They got all pissy and said I wasn’t being tolerant and brought up how the Christians oppressed wiccans or whatever.
I’m not with that group anymore. I’m still atheist, it I’m of the opinion that most atheists are retarded. And for some reason, yeah, a lot of theme seem to embrace paganism.
And yes. I recognize this is anecdotal evidence and thus worthless.
Most people who are even marginally self-aware need SOME sort of world-view, some explanation for why we're here and where we're supposed to be going, what happens after we die, etc.
A lot of people who become disillusioned with religion become resentful of it for some reason--probably they resent being duped.
I totally agree--some of the most inflexible and dogmatic people I have met are atheists.
I don't engage in "winter solstice celebrations," and I have zero issues with Christmas or Easter. What was the pagan imagery in your case?
As you know, the winter solstice is a calculation, the one day per year, for each hemisphere, where the respective pole is furthest from the Sun. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but is acknowledging the shortest day of the year (in terms of sunlight) a pagan practice to you or others here? If so, it's not "pagan," it's practical. There are limitless tangible benefits to planning around such an event.
If that's pagan, so is acknowledging the tides, or that leaves fall in autumn, or that temperatures fluctuate depending on time of year, or that planets have moons or other orbiting satellites. Is taking advantage of understanding time and cyclical patterns "pagan?"
My issues with religion overlap significantly with my issues with feminists, LGBTwhatever, BLM, etc., it's just often a matter of degree. Outsiders and non-believers are looked down on (case in point), transgressions by insiders are rationalized away or ignored or celebrated, explanations or claims of natural and social phenomena lack even the slightest pieces of convincing evidence, the tiniest worldview challenges result in zealous tribalism and denial, and censorship and silencing dissent are commonplace.
I also think religion is basically arbitrary and almost always a product of geography first, but people have a problem with admitting to themselves that it may mean they're susceptible to suggestion, so they get defensive. Just like every ideologue on the planet. Wait, it is a planet we're on, right? Or is that "pagan?"
As you know, the winter solstice is a calculation, the one day per year, for each hemisphere, where the respective pole is furthest from the Sun. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but is acknowledging the shortest day of the year (in terms of sunlight) a pagan practice to you or others here? If so, it's not "pagan," it's practical. There are limitless tangible benefits to planning around such an event.
I'm not sure if I'd call it a "pagan ritual", but the fart-sniffing here needs some sort of name.
Oh no, “atheists” who are so Christian obsessed they don’t even realize their worldview is just revamped paganism 😂
My worldview isn't paganism.
That being said, if your an atheist, you really don't have to worry about Christians and their attitudes.
Muslims on the other hand... oh jeez.
If I live in a place where I hear a call to prayer 5 times a day, I need to make sure I have a gun and an escape plan.
Yeah? Care to elaborate on what my "pagan" rituals are, exactly?
That said, I'm hardly Christian obsessed and wouldn't besmirch any religion except Islam. Live and let live. Also, I'd take Christianity over any other religion.
I used to be a part of an atheist group that had a winter solstice celebration complete with pagan imagery. But no Christmas party, because, you know, atheists. They didn’t like it when I pointed that they’re not actually being atheist so much as anti Christian. Dismissing one belief system as silly and magical then embracing a different silly magical culture isn’t rational. They got all pissy and said I wasn’t being tolerant and brought up how the Christians oppressed wiccans or whatever. I’m not with that group anymore. I’m still atheist, it I’m of the opinion that most atheists are retarded. And for some reason, yeah, a lot of theme seem to embrace paganism. And yes. I recognize this is anecdotal evidence and thus worthless.
Most people who are even marginally self-aware need SOME sort of world-view, some explanation for why we're here and where we're supposed to be going, what happens after we die, etc.
A lot of people who become disillusioned with religion become resentful of it for some reason--probably they resent being duped.
I totally agree--some of the most inflexible and dogmatic people I have met are atheists.
Atheism is just anti-Christianity. It's all about rejecting morality.
I bet they went on at length about "The Burning Times"...
I don't engage in "winter solstice celebrations," and I have zero issues with Christmas or Easter. What was the pagan imagery in your case?
As you know, the winter solstice is a calculation, the one day per year, for each hemisphere, where the respective pole is furthest from the Sun. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but is acknowledging the shortest day of the year (in terms of sunlight) a pagan practice to you or others here? If so, it's not "pagan," it's practical. There are limitless tangible benefits to planning around such an event.
If that's pagan, so is acknowledging the tides, or that leaves fall in autumn, or that temperatures fluctuate depending on time of year, or that planets have moons or other orbiting satellites. Is taking advantage of understanding time and cyclical patterns "pagan?"
My issues with religion overlap significantly with my issues with feminists, LGBTwhatever, BLM, etc., it's just often a matter of degree. Outsiders and non-believers are looked down on (case in point), transgressions by insiders are rationalized away or ignored or celebrated, explanations or claims of natural and social phenomena lack even the slightest pieces of convincing evidence, the tiniest worldview challenges result in zealous tribalism and denial, and censorship and silencing dissent are commonplace.
I also think religion is basically arbitrary and almost always a product of geography first, but people have a problem with admitting to themselves that it may mean they're susceptible to suggestion, so they get defensive. Just like every ideologue on the planet. Wait, it is a planet we're on, right? Or is that "pagan?"
I'm not sure if I'd call it a "pagan ritual", but the fart-sniffing here needs some sort of name.