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 Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:21 pm
Good, and soon that will all be behind you. smile
It's nice that you were able to get out of it, at least.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:38 pm
sweatdrop more or less. Now for the frantic scramble to get ready for Yule.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:54 pm
Yeah, just over a week until the day arrives. Time sure flies... *is really looking forward to getting some time off between Christmas and the New Year*
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:10 pm
sad I think I lost a friend . . . He and I had known one another for years, but on my Facebook, I've been sharing Viking and Pagan posts as such is my faith. I like them a great deal, and they represent me. He made a comment a few days ago about how he is tired of being attacked for his faith and such, and I posted that it may be aimed at me- but I certainly hoped not. It was never meant to attack the faith or a person . . . only to express my own theological beliefs and some points (such as the renaming of many pagan celebrations to approrpriate them into Christianity once upon a time).
Today I found a post from him saying
Quote: Sure, but if the Vikings had done it, you'd be masturbating about it instead of weeping. God envy, I guess.
That stung quite a bit, but rather than have a war in public I took it to PMs and privately apologized for any direct insult . . . and promised he would not have to see it anymore. I unfriended him there. Just seems like a very snide attack of what I post. In my head, the point of having a social media page is to post and share what you like. If others do not care for it either the posts can be ignored, or the person disconnected. Nobody has the right to tell you what you should or should not post on your page (within reason).
just stings losing an old friend over faith.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:35 pm
As an outside to the situation, my guess is that he was probably already on edge due to other matters IRL and thus was in a poor mood for handling differing belief systems.
I am truly sorrowful for the conflict between you 2, b/c there is really no reason you should not be able to get along. You were doing nothing to him intentionally, so he should be tolerant (the correct definition, not religious pluralism, which is seems to be a synonym for nowadays) of you for your belief system (accepting a person even if he disagrees with their beliefs [aka: love the sinner, hate the sin] is very important in Christianity).
{The below paragraph is not intended to be an argument or disagreement with you. I am just stating my own opinion on the matter at hand.}
As a Christian, I can understand why that bothers him to an extent. I fully recognize that many Christian holidays are related to older pagan holidays, but I do not understand why many (not you) seem to push/brag it as if it undermines or devalues the Christian holiday. Just because 2 holidays coincide or 1 was made to replace or reform the previous 1 historically, I don't see how either is ultimately affected from a current-day perspective. Both can sill retain their original purpose and coexist. In fact, one of the best ways for a missionary to be considered in a culture is to accept the culture (only what aspects of it are not against one's beliefs, of course, but the vast majority of most cultures is neutral). Thus, that a pagan holiday was swapped out for a Christian holiday by Christian missionaries long ago (since, culturally, the people would still want a holiday at that time, and the missionary is just refocusing the aspects that conflict with Christianity by "re-branding" it) is no big surprise and not at all a problem.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:33 pm
when I posted things, it was not to supplant Christianity, but to support that my belief system has value as well. The idea that if you aren't Christian, you can't celebrate Christmas is not unknown to me. Also, the cries of "war on Christmas" often get to me because of the earlier incarnations of the holidays. I don't decry others for saying Christmas, Easter, and the like. I just want to say that I enjoy Yule, and Ostara, and Beltane, Samhain, etc without having to hide my faith. I don't seek to topple Christianity over . . . just point out that it wasn't always popular to say it was a Christian season.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:55 pm
o3o
I'm not Atheist, but I can't say I follow any particular religion. I have a foundation from one in particular, but try to borrow the best lessons from any I can learn. I guess what I'm trying to say is I have a disconnect when it comes to arguing what something should be called or how something can be done; Considering that many faiths share the same beliefs and traditions. Not trying to be offensive and I apologize to anyone I have slighted by saying this.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:11 pm
Yes, I understand what your intention was, Magni. Please don't misunderstand me; I was supporting your side of the discussion while trying to provide insight as to the reasoning for his position.
No worries, Chaos, we're all free to discuss in the RPR. I will say that conservative Christianity actively seeks to ignore and separate itself from connections with other belief systems, as ecumenicalism (to say nothing of a broader religious pluralism) is viewed negatively for a variety of valid reasons, but the Christian concept of separation is sometimes taken to the extreme of isolation, which is where it goes too far. After all, how can any religion seek to influence the world for their cause if they do not engage it?
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:47 pm
If nothing else, you are the most open-minded individual I know, Snowman. You are a kind man more than willing to have conversations of sensitive natures without being argumentative. I cannot stress enough how much that makes me respect you. Seriously.
And I was not worried, just saying what I was trying to do.
And Chaos? *tacklenuzzluffs* It's fine. You are awesome and non-threatening there. Snowman and I have had some serious conversations . . . and that turned out fine. Just like you, your comment was mighty fine. wink
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:14 pm
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:24 pm
I'm not an Atheist but I do not follow any religion, just like Chaos.
I was raised Pentecostal, later went to Baptist Church, went to Catholic School and learned their ways, and then was tried Christianity on me against my will.
Due to learning different beliefs all my life, I do believe something is out there.
That's just me though.
I also disconnect when there's an argument with religion. My being demisexual has gotten many religion people against me and being from the South, it's not easy.
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 8:22 am
IRL I usually bow out of conversations of this nature w/ others not of my belief system, as they tend to not go very well. Then again, in general, I hold some more unusual views in a variety of opinionated areas, so I often keep quiet just to not bother rocking the boat. This is b/c in most IRL scenarios, the other party(ies) are not willing to actually consider others' opinions; they just want validation of their own standpoint or the opportunity to bash other stances.
Obviously in here I am not necessarily expecting others to acquiesce to my worldview (unless they are seriously interested in conversion, but that would go to PM anyway), but you are all at least open enough to allow me to share mine in a neutral atmosphere. On the whole, I feel that one of the best ways to showcase your life philosophies is through action (indirect witnessing), not words (direct witnessing). Directing witnessing, of course, has its place, but I seriously doubt it could ever work on the internet as it is now. Indirect witnessing actually shows you living what you believe, which will draw people to it if they really want it.
Okay, I figured, but I was just making sure.
That's quite a menagerie of denominations, Bliss.
Sadly many Christians, nominal or actual, put too much focus on decrying sin. Obviously sin is, by definition within Christianity, a bad thing, but, unless somebody wants to participate in the religion, condemning them for their sin (and, to be fair, many people misunderstand when their sin is being condemned but they are not, as it isn't always clear in the moment), it does little good.
I am glad that none of you consider yourselves actual atheists, b/c full-on atheism is quite an extreme view that requires a lot of faith and is, in many respects, a religion in and of itself (I know many atheists distance themselves from that sort and call them anti-theists, so the terminology is confusing). The lighter view of agnosticism (varying degrees of "we don't know if there is or isn't"), however, is much more rational.
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:30 pm
I was agnostic once upon a time . . . it just made sense to say "I don't know." instead of attacking other's beliefs just because I hadn't found one of my own. I also agree that Atheism is a form of belief. In fact, that was a conversation shared in my workplace where there is an actual atheist- and he really gets on other's nerves.
I am quite proud of the open discourse we can have here. A place where we can discuss things of a sensitive nature without condemnation. Makes me feel like I continue to do a good job here.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:48 pm
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:01 pm
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Reply
