Ask a pagan

[Rossiya]

Do I have to do this? Everyone can post any thread as long as it fits to the rules of the forum.

Previously the mods were getting quite annoyed with the relentless flood of "Ask a..." threads, so they enforced a rule where all those wanting to post one of these threads needed prior consent from a mod for the thread.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

the ultimate belief in ultimately everything available...

I always wondered though . . . New Age may be easy to mock, but I would want to hear what an actual follwer has to say. Although it depends; you can believe in crystals and whatnot to your heart's content, but try telling me that they really work, and should for me, and I will be skeptical.

 

[gangleri2001]

What was it specifically that led you to polytheism? Did it just seem to make more sense than any of the alternatives?

Yes, it makes more sense to me. When I look at the world (my inner world too), I see, feel, expirence and think lots of things, so my conclusion is: many gods.

Well, I think we can all understand that.

It's not so easy to understand, because it has set distrust in our religion. You can't join any group or create any new group without suspect that they are or will be a bunch of nazis. This creates some kind of anti-nazi (in the no-nazi groups) and anti-anti-nazi (in the nazi ones) pogrom in every single group. This distrust literally kills our faith.

What is New Age, more or less, as it relates to paganism?

See holy king's answer.

 

[gangleri2001]

Previously the mods were getting quite annoyed with the relentless flood of "Ask a..." threads, so they enforced a rule where all those wanting to post one of these threads needed prior consent from a mod for the thread.

Sorry, I didn't know.

 

[Lillefix]

I seem to remember from history lessons that Olav Trygvason was one of the kings who tried to force christianity on Norway. Not a very pagan person.

Christ is even mentioned in verse 33. I think it says Christ bless my two eyes(I think I should have payed a little bit more attention in the norse classes).

Edit: I think that Faroese not Norse by the way. I can't tell the difference because it's very similar, but it seems to Faroese be judging from the flags.

 

[gangleri2001]

Of course it was Olaf Tryggvason, but if you look for the translation, you'll realize that the song is about a DEFEAT suffered by Olaf.

 

[Perfection]

So why do you believe that your Gods really exist? Is it more then "just a feeling"?

 

[Lillefix]

So this is about celebrating, not mourning, over the death of our king? Now I'm suddenly a bit insulted.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

What are the most common questions you get about your religion?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

What are the most common questions you get about your religion?

Probably that one.

 

[GenMarshall]

Are some forms of Paganism Animistic?

 

[gangleri2001]

Are some forms of Paganism Animistic?

Yes. There're pantheistic forms too.

 

[gangleri2001]

I always wondered though . . . New Age may be easy to mock, but I would want to hear what an actual follwer has to say.

Then don't ask me, since I'm not a new ager.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Is Ásatrú (as a whole or your personal belief) animistic/pantheistic/wotcha?

How does Ásatrú regard monotheistic religions, as a whole and/or per your own stance?

 

[GenMarshall]

Would you consider Shinto a form of Paganism?

 

[gangleri2001]

Yes, of course.

 

[gangleri2001]

Is Ásatrú (as a whole or your personal belief) animistic/pantheistic/wotcha?

How does Ásatrú regard monotheistic religions, as a whole and/or per your own stance?

My personal belief is panentheistic with some elements that could be considered pure animism. Ásatrú as a whole tends to be panenteistic.

On the monothesitic religions, we just don't care. Our attitude is somewhere between "ah, ok" and "very interessting, now leave me alone"

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Are there multiple sects within Ásatrú?

 

[GenMarshall]

What separates Paganism apart from other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism?

(I didint include Confucianism since I see it more of a social philosophy)

 

[gangleri2001]

Are there multiple sects within Ásatrú?

In fact Ásatrú is the name of a sect. Odinism is also a sect. Nevertheless, both names are often used to call the whole germanic pagan beliefs.

What separates Paganism apart from other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism?

(I didint include Confucianism since I see it more of a social philosophy)

Let me guess... It's not a playable religion in civ iv, right?

Well, I think that what really make paganism really different of these religions is a total lack of unify belifs or trying to explain them in reasonable terms. Of course there are common ritual practices (blóts, symbels, etc..) and common beliefs brought from our common mythology. But the total lack of trying to explain or organize the beliefs themselves is what separates paganism from this religion. But don't forget, it's only my POV.