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| | Ex-pagans?Page 5 of 5 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | Like I said RDtoo you just have to have the last word so it works every time... but it helps that what I say about you and your reasons for posting here prove themselves every time also... So tell me again why you dragged up this old thread if it was not to bait Pagans for no reason???
Cat | |
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| Ex-pagans?
Posted: 10/25/2005 10:46:39 AM | Cat:
I have agreed with your informative position on today's subject. However.in order to have a Free Thinking Pagan (by definition Pagans are Free Thinking, as their Dogma can come from any direction they choose), decide he or she no longer wished to be Free Thinking is to have an oxymoron.That they truly exist is an urban myth.
Can you imagine such a thing? It just does not happen voluntarily. No way. Once a Pagan always a Pagan whether they call themselves one or not. People die for their freedom regularly. They never willingly surrender it, so if a Pagan says he wishes to be a Christian, that does not mean that his Paganism has been erased. He's as much a Pagan as ever, just as long as his mind is free and open for truth.
I strongly feel that this boils down to a name game. Some Christians are threatened by members of their faith that question things. I think all are benefitted, and these are the Pagan Christians if you like. Let's face it, much of the Christian ethic is attractive and makes good sense. The mystic aspects are really wild however. A person could hardly be blamed if he went into agreement with certain aspects of the philosophy of Christianity, but to say that he would have to stop thinking by so doing is ridiculous.
So there you have my opinion on the matter.
Ed.. | |
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| Ex-pagans?
Posted: 10/25/2005 11:20:52 AM | Hmm Ed I am not sure if you think I am advocating that people give up free thinking for Christianity... Certainly NOT! Also I do not think that all forms of Christianity are restrictive or so driven to force others to conform to the narrow literal view as Fundamentalist Christianity. My thoughts thought are that IF there are Pagans who turn to Fundie Christianity they do so out of fear or pressure of some kind and that the change is not long lasting once they come back to their senses and realize that they cannot give up free thinking for some set of antiquated rules and regulations that are impossible for even the most devout to follow.
Now there are things as you say in Christian ideals and principals that do make good sense and these things are deeply engrained in our society. As for the literalist Christian view... it not only makes no sense but is based in fear and most who go into it for whatever reason only do so for a short time.
Still not sure what RDtoo's point was in this thread anyway... There are disgruntled folks who will change faiths like they change underwear... But my experience has been that there are more leaving Christianity for Paganism and other more free thinking paths than there are there are Pagans and other free thinkers entering it. RDtoo can beg to differ but I am sure more people are seeking freedom to think and be themselves rather than restriction and forced conformity to impossible moral laws.
Cat | |
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| Ex-pagans?
Posted: 10/25/2005 12:05:41 PM | Dear Cat:
I wrote it poorly. What I was attempting to say was that Christians who question their faith in order to achieve a more perfect understanding of life and spirit have a desireable characteristic, which they share with free thinking beings, or Pagans. I tried to suggest that if a Pagan converted to Christianity, they would not surrender their free thinking inclinations. I was attempting to say that free thinking Christians were possibly posing a threat to those who doggedly adhere to a viewpoint that they don't investigate.
I have consistently challenged literal interpretation of the Bible, and have wanted only that people look at what they tell me they believe. Coming as I did in the midst of a complex dialogue between you and RDtoo, was awkward as I was not entering into your discussion so much as just putting in my two cents worth on the topic. I got impatient waiting for a break inthe conversion.
It's obvious to me that the intention of RDtoo's posting of the Thread is a "Divide and Conquer" technique designed to chip away at what he perceives the enemy to be. If he only knew. People such as yourself, who encourage others to look and think about their existence are the real saviours in this universe. Those that advocate blindly and thoughtlessly believing books of self agrandisement written by ignorant shepherds 3000 years ago, are man's true enslavers.
Have I cleared this up for you? I apologise for that interruption.
Ed.. | |
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| Ex-pagans?
Posted: 10/25/2005 12:17:44 PM | Thanks Ed that is where I figured that is where you were coming from and I have to say I agree with you...
Never wait for a break in the discussion between RDtoo and myself... If you do you likely will never get a chance to post... I just like to keep RDtoo busy and most others just post regardless of what he is prattling on about... LOL As such, I find more people I agree with than disagree with on this forum... In spite of the divide and conquer attitude of some…
Cat | |
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