Must all be proven?

[Violet]

True, pagan is sometimes used to refer to 'Neopagnism' (IE wicca). Anyway, we were more concerned with the other definition (Non-belief in Christian god).

Atheism doesn't believe in gods. Not a single one of them.

Pagans don't believe in the Christian God. Therefore an atheist is pagan ('God' is a god )... but a pagan is not necessarily an atheist The pagan only has to not believe in the Christian God... all the other ones are fair game


Pagan was a word (also see

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pagan
noun
pagans worshiped the sun heathen, infidel, idolater, idolatress; archaic paynim.
adjective
the pagan festival heathen, ungodly, irreligious, infidel, idolatrous.

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) coined by Christians during and after the Christian religious revolution. I assure you, groups such as Sol Invictus most certainly did not call themselves 'Pagan'

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Fisrt.. note the sig. Second, yes there were many atrocities committed in the name of Christianity, especially during that period. If paganism pre-dated Christianity as you've highlighted then Saerules' statement that 'paganism means non christian' has to be false.

The beliefs and people were there before Christianity. Pagan is a word only after it has become mainstream.

[fr0d0]

a pagan is not necessarily an atheist

And that's the best you can say.

The beliefs and people were there before Christianity. Pagan is a word only after it has become mainstream.

Indeed. Pagan wasn't a faith but a descriptor of faiths.

[theblindferrengi]

I am saying that all athiests are pagans, but I am not saying all pagans are athiests.

[leo-rcc]

I disagree with that statement to. Paganism is a religion other than the Abrahamic religions, and atheism is no religion at all.

[Violet]

That's how I usually interpreted Paganism, leo

I actually think that my dictionary's description of the word is incorrectly defined... but it should definitely be realized that Christians coined the term derogatorily aimed at people who did not believe in their 'God'. So my dictionary is defining the word from the historical context within which it was coined, whereas most of us imagine the term to meaning a polytheistic religion based on elements (Like Wicca, and if you are really stretching it: Hinduism). So it is yet another one of those subjective definitions

[Retorth]

I wouldn't include Hinduism. That's a whole other ball park lol

[Violet]

That's why I said it would be a great stretch

But really, Wicca and whatnot are usually referred to as 'Neopagan'. It's a distinction now being drawn

[Retorth]

Yeah that would certainly be more accurate.

[Donna99]

First off - atheism isn't "chosen".

You appear to have no understanding whatsoever about evolution - do you not think it would be wise to learn something about the subject before you attempt to criticise it?

The theory does not, and never has, suggest we come from "ape men". We share a common ancestor with every living thing on the planet - turnips, flu viruses, oak trees and zebras. Everything. Our closest relatives are chimps and apes.

Evolution is a fact. A FACT. Aspects of the theory may be open to debate, but the fact of it is not. To try and suggest that it "hasn't been proven" is exceptionally ignorant - and you are simply buying into propaganda without examining the evidence for yourself.

Read a book. Any book - but perhaps not fantasy tales written by bronze age cave dwellers.

[fr0d0]

Read a book. Any book - but perhaps not fantasy tales written by bronze age cave dwellers.

Well don't read that book written by bronze age cave dwellers with an ignorant 21st C head.

Welcome Donna - please go introduce yourself