Ask a Pagan

[Dennis Moore]

What is more original expressions other then the words of GOD,

Well, unless you're Allah ... they're not original in that they're not your thoughts. Krysia asked for your thoughts, in your words. That you respond to her request by parroting your holy book spoke volumes.

 

[Krysia]

Well, unless you're Allah ... they're not original in that they're not your thoughts. Krysia asked for your thoughts, in your words. That you respond to her request by parroting your holy book spoke volumes.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

It's an understanding of the many, many paths the Divine has for people. An understanding that the Divine has presented to you in a manner that differs from ours, but is no less valid. This understanding comes as respect to others, which in turn honors the Divine.



Nothing is wrong with them. Why is there something wrong with somebody if they don't scream from the top of their lungs "I'm right and you're not?" I would think that people would welcome somebody saying "Your path is a proud path, an honorable path, a valid path. I welcome you for following it, and I know it'll lead you to the Divine." Would it be better if we told you that you were wrong?

Jerusha

This is my thought – if this is what you guys were looking forward to hear, Do some research about those who claimed and those who stick to their own beliefs and did not mend their ways – those who belief and not follow are listed as hypocrites and they were also punished in history.

The ruins of the dead still exist on earth;

It may sound very easy for you to acknowledge all paths are divine but there is nothing common in-between the path you following and what you’re claiming.

109:1
Say: O unbelievers!

109:2
I worship not that you worship,

109:3
nor will you worship that which I worship.

109:4
I shall never worship those gods whom you worship,

109:5
nor it appears will you ever worship Allah, whom I worship.

109:6
to you be your religion, and to me mine.

 

[morningstar2651]

But, Bookofknowledge, we have clearly stated that we do not worship Allah. How, then, can we be hypocrites after having stated that which is true?

 

[corvus_corax]

Hey, Bookofknowledge, Muslims believe that Allah is the One True God, correct?
One more question, does Al-Islam profess to be the only "way" (if you will)?
I think Im seeing the conflict in this ongoing discussion, but I need clarification on these two questions before I can add anything of value.

Thanks

 

[morningstar2651]

109:6
to you be your religion, and to me mine.

This is a good verse...I would interpret this as "Suum cuique pulchrum est" - To each his own is beautiful.
To each his own...who you believe in and worship is none of my concern...nor is it any concern of yours who I believe in.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

Hey, Bookofknowledge, Muslims believe that Allah is the One True God, correct?
One more question, does Al-Islam profess to be the only "way" (if you will)?
I think Im seeing the conflict in this ongoing discussion, but I need clarification on these two questions before I can add anything of value.

Thanks

Ok here is the information your looking for.

3:18
Allah Himself has testified to the fact that there is no god but Him and so do the angels and those who are well grounded in knowledge standing firm on justice. There is no Ilah (God) except Him, the Mighty, the Wise.

3:19
Surely the only Deen (true religion and the Right Way of life) in the sight of Allah is Al-Islam: Those to whom the Book was given did not adopt ways different than this except out of envy among themselves, and after the true knowledge had come to them. They should know that Allah is swift in calling to account those who deny His revelations.

3:20
So if they argue with you (O Muhammad), tell them: "I have submitted myself entirely to Allah and so have those who follow me." Then ask those who are given the Book and those who are illiterates: "Will you also submit yourselves to Allah?" If they become Muslims they shall be rightly guided but if they turn back, you need not worry, because your sole responsibility is to convey the Message. Allah is watching all His servants very closely.

 

[Krysia]

This is my thought – if this is what you guys were looking forward to hear, Do some research about those who claimed and those who stick to their own beliefs and did not mend their ways – those who belief and not follow are listed as hypocrites and they were also punished in history.

Yes, humans label others (who do not believe and follow as they do) hypocrites, evil etc. and punished and persecuted them throughout history. That doesn't mean the namecallers and persecutors were the only ones with truth.

The ruins of the dead still exist on earth;

Not sure what you're alluding to here...

It may sound very easy for you to acknowledge all paths are divine but there is nothing common in-between the path you following and what you’re claiming.

Again, all Gods and Goddesses are aspects of the Divine. Religious systems formed to worship these Divine aspects were created by men. Various religious systems speak to various people because of many reasons: culture, environment, upbringing, politics, personal spiritual experiences (which occur in all religious systems), etc. None are more valid or "right" than the others. All are valid paths.

109:2
I worship not that you worship,

I know.

109:3
nor will you worship that which I worship.

True, as I acknowledge Allah's existence, but don't personally worship him. He is one of the Gods who isn't included in my pantheon.

109:4
I shall never worship those gods whom you worship,

I don't ask you to, as you have already found your path

109:5
nor it appears will you ever worship Allah, whom I worship.

Nope, because that is not my path.

109:6
to you be your religion, and to me mine.

At the end, I see we are in agreement:

To you be your religion, and to me mine.

Blessings,
Krysia

 

[corvus_corax]

Ok, so the answers to my questions are "Yes" (if Im reading your scriptures correctly)

Here's the problem with this ongoing debate (as I see it)
You appear to believe (again, if Im reading your scriptures correctly) that there is one and only one Allah, or God. Additionally, according to your scriptures, there is only one true faith, that being Islam.
Am I correct so far?
Assuming I am, I'll dive in headfirst here.
Pagans* (of which I used to be one) believe that all of these gods exist (in one form or another). However, they believe that any claims of a One True God are either
1- The claims made by the deity (and, by pagan belief, false)
or
2- The perception of the deity (thus a fallible human perception)
In other words, you hold to the faith that there is one God, and he is Allah. They believe that Allah is one of many.
Therefore they do not believe in the same concept of Allah that you do.

If I have stepped on any one's toes, or offended anyone by appearing to put words in their mouth, I apologize in advance. That was not my intent. If my assumptions are incorrect, please correct me or re-clarify my statements.


*Im speaking generally here, not just of the pagans in this discussion

 

[Dennis Moore]

Okay, let's cut to the question everyone's dying to ask ...

... have you ever actually worshipped "skyclad"?

 

[corvus_corax]

Okay, let's cut to the question everyone's dying to ask ...

... have you ever actually worshipped "skyclad"?

Yes

 

[Krysia]

Okay, let's cut to the question everyone's dying to ask ...

... have you ever actually worshipped "skyclad"?

LOL.

Yes -> in private when my central airconditioning needed to be fixed Then again, I've been known to vacuum "skyclad."

Blessings,
Krysia

 

[pensive]

Okay, let's cut to the question everyone's dying to ask ...

... have you ever actually worshipped "skyclad"?

Not in a coven or group setting. (That won't happen until I join a coven.) However, I have done some solitary workings in the nude.

 

[Kaonashi]

What kind of ice cream do Pagans like?Green Tea Ice cream rocks!

 

[morningstar2651]

have you ever actually worshipped "skyclad"

Of course -- but only either alone or with my signifigant other.

..and definitely not in winter!

What kind of ice cream do Pagans like?

I have a preference for chocolate peanutbutter ice cream.

 

[Krysia]

What kind of ice cream do Pagans like?Green Tea Ice cream rocks!

I'm partial to anything with chocolate in it, or coffee flavored, but it has to be Haagen Dazs or Edy's Grand

 

[Rae]

What kind of ice cream do Pagans like?

--All True Pagans like Spumoni, a true blending of all the good flavors of ice cream. False Pagans will claim they are Pagans, but beware! They buy Neapolitan. They taste the Vanilla of lies rather than the Fruit of Truth.

 

[Kris_J]

You've got questions, we've got answers.

I have been wondering, is Hinduism classified as Pagan? Why?

 

[pensive]

I have been wondering, is Hinduism classified as Pagan? Why?

Some people say yes, some people say no. Truth be told, Hinduism is one of those groups that's on the "edges" where definitions get fuzzy. If you use one definition of Paganism (polytheistic religion that is based on and/or inspired by the pre-Christian religious and cultural practices of Europe and India), Hinduism falls into the definition. If you use a slightly different definition, it doesn't.

In the end, I don't really think it matters a great deal one way or the other. The term "Paganism" is a label used for classification and categorization, not a litmus test for "okay vs. not okay." I'm perfectly content to acknowledge that my classification system is a bit "flaky" and therefore leaves some religions (like Hinduism) that might or might not fall into a particular category. In the long run, I can step outside of such a simple classification system and take a closer, more indepth look at how Hinduism compares and contrasts to any particular "definitely Pagan" religion, anyway.

 

[Kris_J]

Thanks Pensive,

Can you give me another definition of Paganism that does not classify Hinduism as a Pagan Religion?