Paganism

[Antagonist]

I would like some first hand information about (modern) Paganism.

I have some questions:

- What is paganism about?
- What do you worship?
- How do friends/family or other non-Pagans react to your Religion?
- Do Pagans have some kind of Church or Holy Book?
- How where you converted/ What made you become a Pagan?

I'm just very interested. you don't hear much about Paganism and since there is no topic about it I decided to make one.

Non- Pagans feel free to reply. what do you think/know about Paganism?

[Grand Pbuh]

That is the Christian concept. However, anybody of the Jewish faith will understand that the 'accuser' is merely a servant of God, and not a 'default god' of this world

Yeah no one is saying God is out of control of Satan, God allows Satan for now.

But there is the yetzer hatov good inclination of God, or the yetzer hara bad inclination of Satan. If you reject God then you make Satan a god instead. So they are always doing battle with each other inside of each person.

We are taught in Berachoth (5a): Rebbe Levi bar Nachmani said in the name of Reish Lakish: A person should always provoke the yetzer hatov (good inclination) [to do battle] against the yetzer harah, as it is written “Tremble, and sin not�(Tehillim 4:5). (The word for “tremble� in the text is “rigzu,� which has a root similar to the word which means to provoke and make angry.)

-Rabbi Karlinsky

[Goat]

That is the Christian concept. However, anybody of the Jewish faith will understand that the 'accuser' is merely a servant of God, and not a 'default god' of this world

Yeah no one is saying God is out of control of Satan, God allows Satan for now.

But there is the yetzer hatov good inclination of God, or the yetzer hara bad inclination of Satan. If you reject God then you make Satan a god instead. So they are always doing battle with each other inside of each person.

We are taught in Berachoth (5a): Rebbe Levi bar Nachmani said in the name of Reish Lakish: A person should always provoke the yetzer hatov (good inclination) [to do battle] against the yetzer harah, as it is written “Tremble, and sin not�(Tehillim 4:5). (The word for “tremble� in the text is “rigzu,� which has a root similar to the word which means to provoke and make angry.)

-Rabbi Karlinsky

Well, that is a rather bizarre and strange interpretation of the words. Yes, a person should always invoke Yetzer Hatov. But.. all satan is only a messanger of God whose job it is to provide bad choices, so , that by choosing Good, a person can lead a more sanctified life.

Your interpretation is very Christian.

[Grand Pbuh]

Well, that is a rather bizarre and strange interpretation of the words. Yes, a person should always invoke Yetzer Hatov. But.. all satan is only a messanger of God whose job it is to provide bad choices, so , that by choosing Good, a person can lead a more sanctified life.

Your interpretation is very Christian.

Not really. The bad choice is following yourself instead of God, there is no boogeyman holding candy out to tempt you. That self-will without God is bad and thus Satan. As well as atheism and secularism.

[JoeyKnothead]

But there is the yetzer hatov good inclination of God, or the yetzer hara bad inclination of Satan. If you reject God then you make Satan a god instead. So they are always doing battle with each other inside of each person.

More demonizing of non-believers. Where the atheist 'rejects' God, he by default also rejects Satan.

Many theists make this claim because they are taught that only they are worthy, and anyone who disagrees becomes Satan himself, or a worshipper.

The claim that those who reject God make Satan a God is slanderous, libelous, and hideous.

Either prove your claim, or withdraw it.

[Furrowed Brow]

Satanism claims to be worship of self, not devil worship, so it is just another form of atheism as it appears.

Please identify the rituals, behaviours or practices that count as the worship of self of which you think atheists are guilty.

Though all atheism is devil worship according to the Bible, since if you don't have God, Satan is the default god of this world.

O I get it atheists are Satanists. Silly me. Okay I’m an atheist. Please list the icons, symbols, material things I’m guilty of worshipping that gets me the label Satanist. What is it I do that is satanic?

Not really. The bad choice is following yourself instead of God, there is no boogeyman holding candy out to tempt you. That self-will without God is bad and thus Satan. As well as atheism and secularism.

Why is it bad? What things do atheists do that are inherently bad? Examples might be helpful.

[JoeyKnothead]

Not really. The bad choice is following yourself instead of God, there is no boogeyman holding candy out to tempt you. That self-will without God is bad and thus Satan. As well as atheism and secularism.

Ok, you're starting to tick me off. Either prove those who reject god are Satan, or withdraw the claim.

Typical religious bigotry. Anyone who disagrees is deemed unfit, evil, and unworthy of respect. You have shown in two posts now that you are a bigot, you will demonize anyone who disagrees with you, and you have in no way provided any proof for your assertions.

I'm sick and tired of hearing non-believers being called Satan, when we don't even believe he exists. Your attempt at demeaning others is a sin itself, right?

You're a coward, you hide behind the internet to try to put others down, where they have no way of kicking you in the face. Grow a set and quit insulting others simply because they don't accept your fairy tales, and your interpretation of fairy tales.

[Grand Pbuh]

Not really. The bad choice is following yourself instead of God, there is no boogeyman holding candy out to tempt you. That self-will without God is bad and thus Satan. As well as atheism and secularism.

Ok, you're starting to tick me off. Either prove those who reject god are Satan, or withdraw the claim.

Typical religious bigotry. Anyone who disagrees is deemed unfit, evil, and unworthy of respect. You have shown in two posts now that you are a bigot, you will demonize anyone who disagrees with you, and you have in no way provided any proof for your assertions.

I'm sick and tired of hearing non-believers being called Satan, when we don't even believe he exists. Your attempt at demeaning others is a sin itself, right?

You're a coward, you hide behind the internet to try to put others down, where they have no way of kicking you in the face. Grow a set and quit insulting others simply because they don't accept your fairy tales, and your interpretation of fairy tales.

This is what the Bible says and it forms the basis of my belief, let's avoid taking it personally. For example, it says that rejecting Jesus is the same as rejecting God:

1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

It is implied here also:

John 8:42-44 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Now we also have a subset of atheism in the Church of Satan, which doesn't accept a deity but glorifies the carnal self and identifies that attribute as Satan.

So this idea of being Satan is also an argument between atheists, not just between atheists and theists.

[Grand Pbuh]

Please identify the rituals, behaviours or practices that count as the worship of self of which you think atheists are guilty.

As I just posted, here is the wiki on Church of Satan which also contains a link to their website that details their practices fully.

O I get it atheists are Satanists. Silly me. Okay I’m an atheist. Please list the icons, symbols, material things I’m guilty of worshipping that gets me the label Satanist. What is it I do that is satanic?

Following the message of the Serpent against God's commands in order be as a god yourself and not need God anymore is outlined in the Bible.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Why is it bad? What things do atheists do that are inherently bad? Examples might be helpful.

There is no evidence self-will can prevent death. Death is a bad thing for people who want to live.

[Grand Pbuh]

The claim that those who reject God make Satan a God is slanderous, libelous, and hideous.

How can a fairy tale hurt anyone?

[Goat]

The claim that those who reject God make Satan a God is slanderous, libelous, and hideous.

How can a fairy tale hurt anyone?

It isn't the fairy tale that does. It is the people that believe it, and act as if Satan really exists, and insults other people that do the hurting.