[Fowlman]

I think you will find many pagans don't actually believe in any gods as such, they honour the seasons and nature in general, we cant change nature so we embrace it's wonders and challenges it throws at us. Working with the land and the seasons is something man has been doing long before organised religions came along, being a pagan for me is just a way of life. Ok so i got long hair and a beard 

[ellied]

Good answer by Ellied, I live with with a Pagan White Witch who liked you answer and often informs me of the errors of my ways, me been a big hammered tractor driving black hand slug slayeing say what I like northener   .

Delighted to have my reply liked and of course my pagan (small p) soul would believe and do what I need to in any case I also say what I like - is there any other kind of northerner?

Rustyme, yes you are - small p - in my opinion anyway.  Whether you choose to subscribe to the big P Paganism is a matter of personal choice and of little concern given that the presence or absence, names, natures and requirements of the many many potential deities (or lack thereof) is so flexible as to give infinite options.  Call yourself a farmer or smallholder or landworker or lightworker, all the same to me, it's what you do and why you do it that counts

Fowlman, I've got long hair too, but no beard I do have some handmade Peruvian sandals tho, does that count?

Sallyintnorth - there are no chosen people in paganism, only people that choose to be themselves - of course some still make up what they believe about themselves (and their deities), others go in search of themself which they believe can best be done through others telling them their truth , many embark on a lifelong pilgrimage and some hard work - and a few found out exactly who they are and get on with it, let the others be who they think they are or want to be, and don't have to prove themselves right or others wrong to continue being pagan..

OK, I've not spoken to a real person in a few days - can you tell?     

[jaykay]

One of the things I find hardest to take about some religions is the "chosen people" bit.  Those ones are trying to be in a place I don't wanna be.  (Or maybe I only think that cos I'm not chosen

Chosen people as in leaders? So you can pick one that doesn't do this, if you want to. Some folk like there to be 'knowledgeable people in charge' and some of us don't. If you like 'organised religion' then I suppose someone has to organise it. There are enough different ways to suit everyone all I think.

Of course, 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' but then that's the case for any sort of leader, not just religious (ask me how I know  )

If chosen people as in 'I've got it ('it' being a direct line to God, speaking in tongues, superior spiritual understanding or whatever nonsense) and you peasants haven't', well if only they could see themselves from outside their pious bubble  An endless source of amusement 

[RUSTYME]

Yeah cheers ellied , been called a little p many times , so you must be right ! ;-)
These days i am content to be me and live off the land as best as possible and cause no harm to others . My gob has a different idea at times though but sticks and stones etc.
Got the beard , but cropped balding grey hair . The waist length black hair went 25 years ago .  Apart from that though i think i am more p than anything else , going by what i have read here anyway .

[Fowlman]

Fowlman, I've got long hair too, but no beard I do have some handmade Peruvian sandals tho, does that count?

 





   Ye that will do 

[SallyintNorth]

jaykay - I meant "chosen" as in "we are the chosen ones and you, who do not follow - or be born into - our religion are not." 

My favourite religious joke is the one about someone dying, going to heaven and being given the guided tour.  Throughout the tour, he can see in the distance a very high wall with some writing on it.  As the tour takes him nearer, he begins to see that the writing is mainly admonitions to be quiet.  "KEEP QUIET", "UTTER SILENCE", "NO NOISE" and the like.  He turns a quizzical eyebrow to his guide, who puts his finger to his lips and gestures that he'll talk when they're out of earshot of the wall.

By the time the tour is clear of the wall, he is bursting to know what it's all about.  "Oh," says the guide, "behind the wall are the <Catholics | Muslims | Jews > (you can insert the religion of your choice) - they think they're the only ones here."

 

[jaykay]

jaykay - I meant "chosen" as in "we are the chosen ones and you, who do not follow - or be born into - our religion are not." 

Oh well, they're going to find out (as per your joke) that they're wrong aren't they. Anyone who can think that is doing 'trappings of religion and missing the point' so completely that I just don't bother engaging with it/them on that issue - arguing with closed, rigid minds - neither fun nor productive 

[ellied]

Yeah cheers ellied , been called a little p many times , so you must be right ! ;-)

OK, I read that last night and have to add to my IT support thread that there is now red wine sprayed all over the keyboard   Well very very nearly anyway..

[Gordon M]

The movie "Zeitgeist" explains a lot about the bible and it's origins, worth a look if you can get a copy. After I watched it, I realised that I've always been more pagan than christian. The only times I go to church are the fesivals (maybe it's because I like to party)

[Victorian Farmer]

every bode should have some think to look up to.