Care and Feeding of Your Atheist Pagan
http://rhett.weatherlight.com/2013/02/care-and-feeding-of-your-athe...
I thought this was a whimsical way of addressing a differing philosophical view within the pagan community. The discussion title is merely the subject of the article and placed there to strike your attention, is all.
There's such a wide range of diversity in paganism - monotheists, polytheists, pantheists. What of atheist? Is an atheist Pagan yet another one of those "oxymoron's"? Is there a better way of 'putting it'; so to speak, for those pagans who are not seeking a spiritual belief system or work with deities or pantheons; who don't see 'the gods' to worship and reverence as 'being God' (or Goddess)?
Albeit, I personally can see how the fusion is a bit perplexing. However, there may be those in the Pagan community whose path follow along these lines.
What do you think? Does this answer any questions that you may have? Or does it bring up more curiosity? Feel free to comment.
Blessings....
- Flammeous
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kevin dunn on -
This brings up more curiosity in me. Perhaps you could explain more how this might work?
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Permalink Reply by Flammeous {De Empress} on
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It is a philosophy that concludes there is a natural drive within all individuals to Seek the mysteries of life, and that personal truths are subjective based on what motivates the Seeker to seek and on his/her experiences or non-experiences thereafter. Personal experiences shape individual perceptions. All are valid.
Some will Seek and have a spiritual experience in relation to deity, deities or pantheon and pledge their devotion.
Other's will Seek and never have that 'spiritual' experience in relation to deity, deities or pantheon.
Yet others will Seek not for deity, spirituality or religion.
An atheist pagan falls into the latter two. However, they can relate to many other beliefs/topics within the pagan community - ex. ancestor veneration, animism, totemism, pantheism, shamanism, paranormal, psychicism, astrology, magick, the elements ect..etc, however they just do not share the spiritual concept of deity that other pagans may have.Blessings...
- Flammeous
Kevin dunn said:This brings up more curiosity in me. Perhaps you could explain more how this might work?
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Permalink Reply by Kevin dunn on
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That's actually a great explaination, thanks! And dispute the name atheist pagan I can totally see this being a common practice. :)
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Permalink Reply by gwenny on -
Lol. Thats me in a nutshell. I do not follow any dieties or gods. It just doesnt feel right to me. I think being raised Catholic turned me off from that. I believe in energy is driven from nature and all living beings and that we are all interconnected. I do not however associate to any gods in my workings. If that makes sense.
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Permalink Reply by the horned mod, crununos on -
... another to add to the link regarding "atheistic mindsets" ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_and_explicit_atheism
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Permalink Reply by gwenny on
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Lol,Cru so according to that article im subconciously an Athiest? Lol. I just prefer to call my 'God' nature :D
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Permalink Reply by Stormwise Raven on -
Since I don't usually limit my definition of religion to having a relationship with deities, this concept doesn't stir any questions from me, but rather a nod of approval for some well-written and well-explained writings (I also read the wiki article linked to in another reply). My personal sense of religion is based upon the fundamental questions of existence (where do we come from, why are we here, and what happens to us after). Some involve gods in their explanations to these questions (I am one who follows gods ... a sort of panlytheist, to use the only word that comes to mind for someone who is at the same time pan- and polytheist). Others don't involve gods in their answers to these fundamental questions; but it does not change the religious nature of their pursuit of answering them. This is also why I have no issue whatsoever considering science as a religious pursuit, as it attempts to answer these same fundamental questions.
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Permalink Reply by Flammeous {De Empress} on
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Stormwise,
I really like what you wrote here:
"This is also why I have no issue whatsoever considering science as a religious pursuit, as it attempts to answer these same fundamental questions."
Blessings...
- Flammeous
Stormwise Raven said:Since I don't usually limit my definition of religion to having a relationship with deities, this concept doesn't stir any questions from me, but rather a nod of approval for some well-written and well-explained writings (I also read the wiki article linked to in another reply). My personal sense of religion is based upon the fundamental questions of existence (where do we come from, why are we here, and what happens to us after). Some involve gods in their explanations to these questions (I am one who follows gods ... a sort of panlytheist, to use the only word that comes to mind for someone who is at the same time pan- and polytheist). Others don't involve gods in their answers to these fundamental questions; but it does not change the religious nature of their pursuit of answering them. This is also why I have no issue whatsoever considering science as a religious pursuit, as it attempts to answer these same fundamental questions.
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Permalink Reply by Flammeous {De Empress} on
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Gwenny,
I can relate very much to this as well, and like you I do not call myself an atheist or atheist pagan. I, personally find the two labels mashed together a bit perplexing, that I couldn't use it in good conscience as the most effective way in communicating a, or my, personal beliefs.
As far as me, deity isn't much a part of my practice at this point in time - kinda like I've been there done that, sorta thing, but with anything, it's subject to change over time. It's just that right now I'm not looking to have a 'higher conscious' religious or spiritual experience that sometimes comes with territory. Nor do I want to be under obligation to deity; failing to live up to certain expectations.
My personal truth is a complex one. Which borders deity/deities to the likes of a collective thought-form, one in which attempts to explain the mysterious of life in a personified way, but at the same time respectfully know "it is what is, based on what has been put into it"; Deity, Supreme Being. Creator. Creatrix. Gods and Goddesses. On the scale of hierarchy, they are at the top of the top line construction. Therefore, I keep my hands off deity for that very reason. If I have an issue with my plumbing I call a plumber, not the President. And I wouldn't want the President nosing around in my business, any more than I want deity to. To break an obligation to a King has more dire circumstances than that of a friend or companion. This is how my mind works.
But I wouldn't deny someone's expression of deity, as they are as real to me as they are to someone else. Or in other words their personal truth is just as real to them, as my personal truth is just as real to me. I may even join in with this expression, however it's just not my personal choice, belief or practice.
Probably TMI....
Blessings...
- Flammeous
gwenny said:
I should add, i do no consider myself an athiest by any means :-)
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Permalink Reply by Stormwise Raven on
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I'm glad you liked that :-) What many forget is that the 'divide' between science and religion is mostly a phenomenon found in Western culture - and a fairly recent one, at that. The Muslims traditionally considered science to be an understanding of the way their god works, as an example. Our Pagan forebears (coming back to Western culture) also had little difficulty accepting science as a religious pursuit ... the metaphysicists are an obvious example, and the Druids are another.
Weaving the notion of science and religion back together with the original topic of Atheism in Paganism, I would be neglectful if I didn't bring up Lucretius, a man who believed very strongly in the existence of the atom, who in my opinion may have been a closet Atheist, who wrote to the extent that the gods may very well exist; but if they did, they would likely be far too busy running the cosmos to be as concerned with all of us as many might want to believe. The Epicureans, whose tenets Lucretius was describing, were famously opposed to concepts like superstition and the action of the gods in our world. They were also opposed to Stoicism, my personal philosophy of choice - but I don't think this opposition precludes them from having some pretty profound ideas about things. So, if someone says there is no room for Atheism in Paganism, and that there is no way to resolve the two religious perspectives, they should have a look at the Epicureans ... Pagan, and Atheist, and successful and wide-spread enough to rival the Stoics long before Jesus came along.
Flammeous {De Empress} said:Stormwise,
I really like what you wrote here:
"This is also why I have no issue whatsoever considering science as a religious pursuit, as it attempts to answer these same fundamental questions."
Blessings...
- Flammeous
Stormwise Raven said:Since I don't usually limit my definition of religion to having a relationship with deities, this concept doesn't stir any questions from me, but rather a nod of approval for some well-written and well-explained writings (I also read the wiki article linked to in another reply). My personal sense of religion is based upon the fundamental questions of existence (where do we come from, why are we here, and what happens to us after). Some involve gods in their explanations to these questions (I am one who follows gods ... a sort of panlytheist, to use the only word that comes to mind for someone who is at the same time pan- and polytheist). Others don't involve gods in their answers to these fundamental questions; but it does not change the religious nature of their pursuit of answering them. This is also why I have no issue whatsoever considering science as a religious pursuit, as it attempts to answer these same fundamental questions.
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Permalink Reply by Flammeous {De Empress} on
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Crununos,
Thanks for share! A very insightful way of breaking it down. ;)
Blessings...
- Flammeous
the horned mod, crununos said:... another to add to the link regarding "atheistic mindsets" ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_and_explicit_atheism
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