It's no big secret that I am Native American. Well with that comes my NATURAL RELIGION. Deal with it. Don't judge what you can't begin to understand
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'Pagan' has negative connotations stemming from some of its definitions [not the one you apparently espouse in your post here], partly due to the fact that hedonism is frowned upon. If you ARE a hedonist, don't go to all the work of divesting a word of its implicit meanings and ethos just because you feel like you're being discriminated against. If not, may I suggest an alternate, more specific term for your particular brand of polytheism?
It's a semantical war you're setting up to wage, and I think you're going to find it not unlike fighting a land war in Asia.
I didn't know you were Native American. For a while I thought you were Black.
and the definitions arehevnsfalinangelMarch 10 2005, 06:09:28 UTC
One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion. One who has no religion. A non-Christian. A hedonist. A Neo-Pagan the one i am refering to is "A non-christian" It only has negative conotation because people are by nature ignorant, and have no idea what they are talking about. And for clarity Hal, polytheism doesn't begin to cover it. I'm pagan and I am not afraid to say it. And, how am I divesting the word of it's meaning? I am stating what I am. If people want to go about not understanding the meaning of a word I should not make roomofor their ignorance. I don't have to think about implicit meanings, they could be anything. Maybe they learned wrong. THat's not my fault. Also, I am not practicing hedonism. That's not what my faith is about. Give me a break Hal. Please. I know what I am talking about.
How can I be a hedonist when pleasure is not my main goal?? My faith is about the journey, about the trials and problems we encounter. It's about nature and respect for that which is greater than myself. How then does that make me a hedonist?
Re: and another thinghalnewcomeMarch 10 2005, 16:17:07 UTC
I didn't think for a moment you were a hedonist. I was pointing out that it is a possible definition for "pagan" and you have to be ready to deal with some people thinking that.
How many people practice religion based on family? If your born into a Catholic family chances are you are going to be Catholic. I chose the faith of my ancestry and you find that bunk? Why? Genetics have to do with me being Native American in etnicity and my ethnicity has had the influence in my faith. Not BUNK Hal. Don't judge me, my ethnic background, or my faith.
Re: because they dohalnewcomeMarch 10 2005, 16:07:23 UTC
Man, I am not judging you. People change religions all the time. How many people do you know who were born into Catholic families that are now NOT-Catholic? I know bunches, since I went to Catholic school. I also know people who converted into Catholicism
I did not say your faith is bunk. We can get into that another time. But if you're gonna practice a faith, do it because you chose it. Don't offer to legitimize it based on what blood is running in your veins. "I'm animistic because my parents were Arapaho" is. total. bunk.
Heeheehee.. I spent a chunk of time on Saturday fucking with the Latter-Day Saint people over the very same issue .. I'm Wiccan, neo-Pagan, and they wre trying so hard to equate it to terms they could understand :) It was a ton of fun!
pagan. noun. 2 : one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person http://www.webster.com/
Your problem is that motherfuckers HAVE GOT dictionaries, they are reading them, and YOU are ignoring the shit they are reading in there.
Also, I love conversations that contain the phrase "your problem is..."
www.dictionary.com 1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion. 2. One who has no religion. 3. A non-Christian. 4. A hedonist. 5. A Neo-Pagan
Now what?? There is more than one definitioin people. Your problem is that your not reading all the options. And, if your not that's not my fault. (not directed directly at hal but everyone who has been deleated)
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It's a semantical war you're setting up to wage, and I think you're going to find it not unlike fighting a land war in Asia.
I didn't know you were Native American. For a while I thought you were Black.
Anyway, I'll pray for your immortal soul ;)
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One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.
A Neo-Pagan
the one i am refering to is "A non-christian"
It only has negative conotation because people are by nature ignorant, and have no idea what they are talking about.
And for clarity Hal, polytheism doesn't begin to cover it. I'm pagan and I am not afraid to say it.
And, how am I divesting the word of it's meaning? I am stating what I am. If people want to go about not understanding the meaning of a word I should not make roomofor their ignorance. I don't have to think about implicit meanings, they could be anything. Maybe they learned wrong. THat's not my fault.
Also, I am not practicing hedonism. That's not what my faith is about.
Give me a break Hal. Please. I know what I am talking about.
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My faith is about the journey, about the trials and problems we encounter. It's about nature and respect for that which is greater than myself.
How then does that make me a hedonist?
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Not BUNK Hal.
Don't judge me, my ethnic background, or my faith.
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I did not say your faith is bunk. We can get into that another time. But if you're gonna practice a faith, do it because you chose it. Don't offer to legitimize it based on what blood is running in your veins. "I'm animistic because my parents were Arapaho" is. total. bunk.
What sort of Indian are you?
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I did pick to practice my Native faith, however I was severly influenced by my culture. I love my culture and I love the faith of that culture.
"We can get into that another time."
What is there to get in too?
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http://www.webster.com/
Your problem is that motherfuckers HAVE GOT dictionaries, they are reading them, and YOU are ignoring the shit they are reading in there.
Also, I love conversations that contain the phrase "your problem is..."
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1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
2. One who has no religion.
3. A non-Christian.
4. A hedonist.
5. A Neo-Pagan
Now what?? There is more than one definitioin people.
Your problem is that your not reading all the options. And, if your not that's not my fault. (not directed directly at hal but everyone who has been deleated)
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