When Paganism Ends...

[kevyn]

My deep philosophical question for the season:

Is it possible to be an Atheist (or Agnostic), and be a Pagan at the same time?

I don't have an answer, I'm just mulling it over in my mind. I used to think "yes," and identified as such, but since then I've had Pagan friends I trust and respect tell me I can't be both at the same time.

Sorting out belief...

-Hagrid

Comments

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

> ...unless you mean to say people are so ignorant as to remake the term to fit their own realities.

I'm sorry, I need clarification please - do you mean ignorant people remaking the term "atheist?"

> Atheist means, etymologically, "godless" -- anything else is talking about something else. I understand that words and meanings change, but this broader definition has a word attached to it that is not coming to me right now. But it *isn't* atheist.

Rationalist? Materialist? I'm not sure.

Your point about the etymology of the word is well-taken, and on the surface, an excellent point. However, "Atheist" -- which is one of the self-labels I am toying with - has grown to also encompass the idea that "supernatural forces" do not exist. (Which may be what I wasn't understanding about the first sentence I quoted in this point.)

> It all starts with belief, I guess. Either you believe or know or you don't.

I definitely don't KNOW. Believe... there's the rub... what is it I believe and disbelieve? I think a post on this topic alone is needed (an I will make it shortly).

> Perhaps we should continue to dismiss the idea that all things are equal. There are things you can perceive that I cannot and things I can perceive that you cannot and it's all good and doesn't really mean that either is less than the other.
I agree with you wholeheartedly on this point - I do think my perceptions are limited. All human perceptions are both limited -- because we are human -- and different -- because we are diverse.

However, I don't necessarily think all beliefs are equal. For instance, I do think that not believeing in the Christian God is superior to believing in the Cristian God. That's my prejudice, and I own it, because I do think that monotheism is maladaptice for our species.

[kyooverse.livejournal.com]

Let's just throw away equal. Because really... it isn't about "equal," but what we will and will not allow in our circle.

There was an article in The Atlantic that spoke of the idea of a "G-d" as being some rift-raff of debris lingering in our brains, something evolution would eventually take care of -- they put it much better. But I was endlessly tickled over the idea of "G-d" being a sign of dementia. (... well... in a far-flung sense!)

I don't know if I completely agree with the idea that all human perceptions are limited because I cannot know all humans. I would imagine there are humans out there who have evolved perceptions. Perhaps that is because of my own ability to boundary dissolve and understand other people that most cannot. Where I agree with you is where I consider the fact that most people are so married to their ego that they cannot walk away from it, trusting it will be intact when they return after wading in the ego of another.

However, even that is cultural, you know?