|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 1:38:59 GMT -5
Post by Dragon Zachski on Jan 21, 2011 1:38:59 GMT -5
There are atheist pagans out there - pagans who do not believe in any deities, anything supernatural, but draw their "power" (for lack of a better word) from rituals and symbolism.
And even without being a pagan, rituals are not a bad thing. If it helps you center yourself, then it's useful to you. Simple as that.
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 1:46:21 GMT -5
Post by Admiral Lithp on Jan 21, 2011 1:46:21 GMT -5
While I'm always quick to correct Fundies on the point that one is not automatically the other, most atheists are naturalists, because really, does it make sense to reject one supernatural concept & embrace another?
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 1:49:42 GMT -5
Post by gyeonghwa on Jan 21, 2011 1:49:42 GMT -5
Celebrate Chinese New Years. It's loaded with rituals participated by people of all faith except for the fundiest of fundies (and the people who drank too early.)
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 12:29:22 GMT -5
Post by DeadpanDoubter on Jan 21, 2011 12:29:22 GMT -5
No. There was an episode of...think it was Taboo...about nudity. It gave me a very skewed view of Wicca. And a very unwanted view of protestantism. What's with the ducks? If you've watched BWP:2, you'll know why there be ducks. Suffice it to say, naked ginger 'Wiccan' and naked black-haired 'goth', in a forest, ritualistically murdering people while under the influence of a clothed blonde chick and two ugly naked dudes. It was a terrible movie, but damned if it didn't have some hotness. There are atheist pagans out there - pagans who do not believe in any deities, anything supernatural, but draw their "power" (for lack of a better word) from rituals and symbolism. And even without being a pagan, rituals are not a bad thing. If it helps you center yourself, then it's useful to you. Simple as that. I have to say, this is rather cheering/reassuring...I just, you know, think that a lot of rituals are gorgeous in their own ways, on their own merits and intents, without having to think that there are unseen beings behind it all. For example, though I didn't have the opportunity to observe it, my roommate used burnt sage to ritually cleanse the apartment and to help keep negative energy out. I think she might've been wary about my reaction if I'd seen her do it (this was early on, right after she moved in and right after we'd discovered each other's positions on the supernatural) but I really do appreciate her doing it, even if it was solely for her own benefit. I don't know, it just kinda felt...right, like she'd christened (for lack of a better word) the apartment and had officially declared it her home.
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 14:57:28 GMT -5
Post by Sigmaleph on Jan 21, 2011 14:57:28 GMT -5
While I'm always quick to correct Fundies on the point that one is not automatically the other, most atheists are naturalists, because really, does it make sense to reject one supernatural concept & embrace another? Most people who embrace some supernatural concepts reject others. Almost all of them, probably. How many people believe in gods, angels, saints, Karma, astrology, crystal magic, psychic powers, Tarot, Voodoo, and ghosts, all at the same time? I wouldn't say it makes sense to reject a supernatural concept while embracing another, but that's only because I don't consider embracing supernatural concepts to make sense in the first place. Not because the supernatural is a package deal.
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 15:42:13 GMT -5
Post by Dragon Zachski on Jan 21, 2011 15:42:13 GMT -5
No. There was an episode of...think it was Taboo...about nudity. It gave me a very skewed view of Wicca. And a very unwanted view of protestantism. What's with the ducks? If you've watched BWP:2, you'll know why there be ducks. Suffice it to say, naked ginger 'Wiccan' and naked black-haired 'goth', in a forest, ritualistically murdering people while under the influence of a clothed blonde chick and two ugly naked dudes. It was a terrible movie, but damned if it didn't have some hotness. There are atheist pagans out there - pagans who do not believe in any deities, anything supernatural, but draw their "power" (for lack of a better word) from rituals and symbolism. And even without being a pagan, rituals are not a bad thing. If it helps you center yourself, then it's useful to you. Simple as that. I have to say, this is rather cheering/reassuring...I just, you know, think that a lot of rituals are gorgeous in their own ways, on their own merits and intents, without having to think that there are unseen beings behind it all. Exactly. I even know of one agnostic/atheist (a book writer known for his harsh and realistic view of Christian belief) who attends an Episcopal church because he enjoys the ritual. I can't remember his name right now, sadly.
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 17:56:47 GMT -5
Post by Amaranth on Jan 21, 2011 17:56:47 GMT -5
See, that's the kind of ritual that sounds very hard to control. What if they turn out to be very hungry and decide your soul looks like filet mignon? In my fiction series, something like 75% of the bad mojo in the world happens because some idiot thinks he can control things. I'm thinking of actually making the world's most dangerous words "trust me, I know what I'm doing!"
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 21, 2011 21:05:06 GMT -5
Post by Admiral Lithp on Jan 21, 2011 21:05:06 GMT -5
Fair enough. Maybe I should have said, "Most western atheists." Because they, at least, tend to go to atheism because they, at least, do see the supernatural as a package deal.
|
|
Dan
Full Member
Posts: 228
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 4:23:53 GMT -5
Post by Dan on Jan 22, 2011 4:23:53 GMT -5
Not too long ago I went and bought some crystals from a little store called "Healing Arts" They had all these neat-o looking Crystal balls, wands, and Dowsing rods. I felt weird going in there all the time given how I feel towards a lot of the philosophies, but it's really a fun place to go. I saw I flier that said something to the effect of "Beginning Herbal Alchemy Classes" a while back. I had thought about going, but chickened out. So if ordinary alchemy is about turning base metals into gold, is "herbal alchemy" about turning ordinary plants into saffron?
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 8:10:47 GMT -5
Post by Amaranth on Jan 22, 2011 8:10:47 GMT -5
Not too long ago I went and bought some crystals from a little store called "Healing Arts" They had all these neat-o looking Crystal balls, wands, and Dowsing rods. I felt weird going in there all the time given how I feel towards a lot of the philosophies, but it's really a fun place to go. I saw I flier that said something to the effect of "Beginning Herbal Alchemy Classes" a while back. I had thought about going, but chickened out. So if ordinary alchemy is about turning base metals into gold, is "herbal alchemy" about turning ordinary plants into saffron? Nope. Still Gold. just "herbal" gold. >.>
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 8:48:19 GMT -5
Post by Oriet on Jan 22, 2011 8:48:19 GMT -5
You mean pot?
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 14:34:11 GMT -5
Post by Sandafluffoid on Jan 22, 2011 14:34:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 21:23:32 GMT -5
Post by Radiation on Jan 22, 2011 21:23:32 GMT -5
Rituals usually have traditionally been meant to center oneself and to draw and center certain energies for a particular work that has to be done or for worship or celebration.
I am a Plural Spiritualist and I incorporate many ritualistic, spiritual knowledge in to my own belief system. I find rituals to be relaxing, spiritual, energizing and uplifting. Currently I practice ancestoral service as used in the Afro Diasporic religions of the Carribean area.
Even though you are a solid atheists, perhaps there is something deep inside of you that is nominally spiritual in nature and you are drawn to these rituals for some reason. I don't think you necessarily have to belief in some deity in order to study the different cultures and beliefs that these rituals come from and contain. In fact, your interests in rituals would broaden your mind and knowledge as to how humanity's faith in the supernatural works and you would understand the world a bit better.
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 22, 2011 22:27:18 GMT -5
Post by Admiral Lithp on Jan 22, 2011 22:27:18 GMT -5
...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
|
|
|
Rituals
Jan 23, 2011 1:14:34 GMT -5
Post by katz on Jan 23, 2011 1:14:34 GMT -5
People love habits. We like to think they help us control the world around us. Everyone's a little bit OCD.
Often, it's totally non-religious. I've got a work-out ritual of stretching before and after, having a shower, then drinking chocolate milk. It's relaxing.
|
|