Fluffy Question

[A Bandit Queen]

First off, I'm not a Pagan. For a while I thought I was Christian. Then I grew up and started thinking for myself. I started reading about a lot of different religions to see if maybe something would work better for me. Nothing did. I haven't found anything that defines what I think of life so far or what I think about the after life.

So, I just gave up. I believe there is some higher power, but I've given up on the idea that I know anything about it. Still, I celebrate as many religious holidays as I can and pray with people whenever I have the chance. I like to feel connected. That's what I think religion is for. No need to get caught up in the details.

My question is, why do you believe whatever it is you believe and do whatever rituals you do?  

[CuAnnan]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

First off, I'm not a Pagan. For a while I thought I was Christian. Then I grew up and started thinking for myself.

That attitude is ignorant, demeaning to all Christians and innappropriate for a place like this.
I have two friends who are devoutly Christian and both think for themselves and I resent the implication that my family are mindless automotons.

Elitist Pretzel Eater

My question is, why do you believe whatever it is you believe and do whatever rituals you do?

Because my Gods ask me to.  

[Kuroiban]

reagun ban

Elitist Pretzel Eater

First off, I'm not a Pagan. For a while I thought I was Christian. Then I grew up and started thinking for myself.

That attitude is ignorant, demeaning to all Christians and innappropriate for a place like this.
I have two friends who are devoutly Christian and both think for themselves and I resent the implication that my family are mindless automotons.

In all fairness, she only stated that she no longer considered herself Christian when she started thinking for herself. While I woudn't call you suspiscion unfounded, it might be better to clarify.

I as well have met many understanding, intelligent, free-thinking men and women of Christian faith. I've also met a bunch of pompous jerks, who will shove it down the ear hole of any moving object within 10 feet. It is quite possiable she was speaking of the later group's influence upon her life, and not the entire religion.

Welcome to the PFRC, Eater. A word of adivce; be very specific about how you word things here. People here will take you very literaly and very specifically, and with good reason; religious discussion and debates tend to come down to fine details at a rather epic rate.

On that note, you might want to explain how you meant that particular comment; it is rather easy to take it either way.  

[Pelta]

Kuroiban

reagun ban

Elitist Pretzel Eater

First off, I'm not a Pagan. For a while I thought I was Christian. Then I grew up and started thinking for myself.

That attitude is ignorant, demeaning to all Christians and innappropriate for a place like this.
I have two friends who are devoutly Christian and both think for themselves and I resent the implication that my family are mindless automotons.

In all fairness, she only stated that she no longer considered herself Christian when she started thinking for herself. While I woudn't call you suspiscion unfounded, it might be better to clarify.

It was implied in her wording that Christians don't think for themselves. It is possible to read tone of voice in text. However we also don't have to get bogged down in semantics.

Elitist Pretzel Eater

My question is, why do you believe whatever it is you believe and do whatever rituals you do?

I spent a long time looking for what would work for me. When I found it, it stuck.  

[A Bandit Queen]

Actually, I was only talking about me. And, that really wasn't the point of the thread.  

[Kuroiban]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

Actually, I was only talking about me. And, that really wasn't the point of the thread.

Perhaps not the thread, but religious tolerance as a whole isn't a casual concept here; more the order of the day.

More on topic, my beliefs are still very much undefined. I have not done ritual work in years, for a variety of reasons.  

[A Bandit Queen]

Why do you even want beliefs in the first place? What do they do for you?  

[CuAnnan]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

Why do you even want beliefs in the first place?

I don't. My life would be far simpler if I didn't believe.
You seem to be fairly ignorant of what faith is. Most people do not choose to believe or what they believe.

Elitist Pretzel Eater

What do they do for you?

Complicate my life, make it even harder for me to relate to joe bloggs, etc.

Stop looking at "what can I gain from my faith", it doesn't work that way for the most part. There are Gods with whom you can enter non-faith based pacts, wherein you agree to be their whipping boy in exchange for the right to use their Names, but I'm a little dubious of any God who does so and even more so of any person who would enter such an agreement without thinking it through thoroughly.  

[A Bandit Queen]

reagun ban

Elitist Pretzel Eater

Why do you even want beliefs in the first place?

I don't. My life would be far simpler if I didn't believe.
You seem to be fairly ignorant of what faith is. Most people do not choose to believe or what they believe.

Elitist Pretzel Eater

What do they do for you?

Complicate my life, make it even harder for me to relate to joe bloggs, etc.

Stop looking at "what can I gain from my faith", it doesn't work that way for the most part. There are Gods with whom you can enter non-faith based pacts, wherein you agree to be their whipping boy in exchange for the right to use their Names, but I'm a little dubious of any God who does so and even more so of any person who would enter such an agreement without thinking it through thoroughly.

I don't understand. You don't choose to believe in what you believe in?  

[CuAnnan]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

I don't understand. You don't choose to believe in what you believe in?

If I could choose what to believe in, I'd be Christian. I would rather believe that merely by following one simple rule, I would be gauranteed a place in Heaven and not have to come back to this planet ever again. Christianity is a beatiful religion.

But I don't believe it. The Christian God has never spoken to me. He has never affected my life. The Celtic Gods do. I don't, so much, believe in them as acknowledge they exist and work with them. I don't see the point in believing in them it would be like believing in the post man and it just encourages them  

[A Bandit Queen]

How do the Celtic gods affect your life in a way that the Christian god doesn't?  

[CuAnnan]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

How do the Celtic gods affect your life in a way that the Christian god doesn't?

At all, would be a good start.
I feel Their presence, I hear (and sometimes even obey) Their commands, They guide me.  

[A Bandit Queen]

reagun ban

Elitist Pretzel Eater

How do the Celtic gods affect your life in a way that the Christian god doesn't?

At all, would be a good start.
I feel Their presence, I hear (and sometimes even obey) Their commands, They guide me.

Does it make you happy?  

[CuAnnan]

Elitist Pretzel Eater

Does it make you happy?

At times it is a strain, at times it is a joy, at times it is a pain in the ******** a**. All in all, it balances out. Of the friends and family who are devoutly Christian, I would say I have a more demanding faith than all but one (who is devoutly Roman Catholic) but I wouldn't state that it's more fulfilling (except for me)  

[TeaDidikai]

Everything that Reagun has said up to this point, double it to include me as well.

My gods are a pain in the... well, head.