The Pagan/Atheist Alliance

[rug]

March 14, 2012
By Jason Mankey

I’m a Facebooker, it’s a problem, and I know this. I probably check it ten times a day, usually for just a couple of minutes, but sometimes my sessions run a little longer. I try hard not to be obscene about it, I’m not a “friend collector” randomly friending people just because they happen to be Pagan, but I am up to about 850 “friends.” It’s hard to keep up with all of them, but that number does guarantee that I’ll get to see every important political and religious news story of the day (or last week depending on how often people check their Facebook accounts), along with a very large number of pictures. In addition to the over whelming number of photos from the account of George Takei I also seem to get a lot of photos from atheist sources. Most surprisingly, those atheist photos tend to get posted by people who call themselves Pagans.

I’ve always found the alliance between Pagans and atheists an odd one. Atheists don’t believe in “God” or gods, I believe in millions of gods and goddesses. Yes, it’s true that my political beliefs are generally in agreement with those of many atheists, but they are also in agreement with many Christians, Jews, and Muslims. While Pagans seem to be happily joining atheist groups online (or at least spreading some of their material), there aren’t a whole lot of us posting pictures and articles from Proud Liberal Christian. In many ways, I feel as if I have more in common with liberal Christians than I do atheists, which sometimes seems to bother many of my friends.

I’m a Pagan not because I want to practice spell-work, but because I feel as if it offers me the most direct way to bring deity into my life. Belief in a Goddess and a God (or goddesses and gods) is the foundation of my spirituality, and my spirituality is the guiding force in my life. Take away my Pan and Aphrodite and I’m like a boat without a rudder or a captain, lost and adrift, they are the most important thing in my life. That’s not really all that different from my Christian friends who have made Jesus the most important thing in their lives, and there are often similarities between their faith journeys and my own.

I’m a firm believer in religious tolerance and that (generally) “all paths lead to the center.” While we might not particularly like where some adherents take a particular path (cough, cough, Tea Party, cough, cough), that’s not necessarily the fault of the path. Jesus never preached about capitalism or said a word about abortion for example. So I see Christianity (and Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and several other faiths) as a valid and real form of religious expression. When someone tells me they’ve been “touched by the Holy Spirit” I believe them. If my High Priestess can Draw Down the Goddess, than I also have to believe that Yahweh has the power to make his followers speak in tongues. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with those people speaking in tongues about everything, it just means that I find their religious experience a valid one.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2012/03/the-paganatheist-alliance/

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Author more or less figures it out.

We should certainly stay vigilant as to what the Christian Right is up to, and in that regard we have a lot of common ground with atheists and atheist groups, just think about what you are posting and laughing about.

But yes we use your "pagan" plethora of deities to poke fun at the intolerant christians all smarmy about their one true god, or is that one true gods?

[rug]

2. He has.

While Pagans seem to be happily joining atheist groups online (or at least spreading some of their material), there aren’t a whole lot of us posting pictures and articles from Proud Liberal Christian. In many ways, I feel as if I have more in common with liberal Christians than I do atheists

Few people have mastered mockery as a tool of polemics. It is painful to watch those who haven't.

[Leontius]

3. You seem to be making a point to someone, I wonder if they get it.

I guess we'll see a little later.

[mr blur]

4. Almost as painful as watching the apologists

twisting themselves into knots.

[rug]

5. QED

[edhopper]

6. Hmm

We should certainly stay vigilant as to what the Christian Right is up to, and in that regard we have a lot of common ground with atheists and atheist groups, just think about what you are posting and laughing about. I’m fine with making jokes about the close-mindedness of others, or how certain individuals want to take us back to the Middle Ages when it comes to women’s rights, but be careful about sharing things that ridicule the essence of someone’s spirituality. Also be careful about where the things you share are coming from, it could come from someone who sees your faith as an object of ridicule too.

In other words; 'I am fine with atheist ridiculing those wacky believers, but I have come to realize that atheist think ALL religions are wacky, even the liberal ones."

No clue Sherlock.

[mr blur]

9. It's true, we do.

I have come to realize that atheist think ALL religions are wacky, even the liberal ones.

especially the liberal ones, actually.

[Silent3]

7. "I believe Pan runs through the woods chasing nymphs and having sex with sheep"

When I see some of that stuff I do chuckle, but that laugh tends to end with me remembering that I believe Pan runs through the woods chasing nymphs and having sex with sheep. While my religious convictions are near and dear to me, they can be made fun of just as easily as those of a Christian.

If this guy really believes this, not merely as a metaphor or legend but as factual reality, then yes, I'm one of those atheists who finds this amusing, at least in part. The other part is sad.

[deacon_sephiroth]

8. Well it's hard NOT to hang out with the pagans, they're just so much fun.

I don't share any of their beliefs, and if the topic comes up I'll gladbly say so, the differences are.

1. Unlike many followers of mainstream religions they don't instantly judge / hate / alienate you after hearing that.
2. When they talk about love and tolerance it ACTUALY comes from the heart and not personal threats bearing down on their subconcious.
3. None of my Chrstian friends on Facebook are ever going to post up. "Summer solstice is coming, who's going to come to stone henge and run around all day and night with us and get naked?!" .... well twist my arm...