The Atheist Druid

[Ice]

I can still remember hearing the deep rumble of CSM Bill Virrill the first responder "It's gonna be all right soldier, listen to my voice and just hang on".

Very noble and honourable of you soldiers to take such great care for each other in the line of duty. I can think of few other occupations that would do the same. You often discuss your experiences delivering aid and assisting in areas of conflict.It must have had a great impact. Of course, there is another side to army life: to kill or be killed and of course earn a substantial pay packet for doing so.

How does the reality of accepting money for taking a life sit within the ethos of paganism or druidry?

If you have any evidence for your findings, could you contact me via PM re:this.

[cursuswalker]

I work in the "alternative" health field although I prefer "complementary" we work within guidelines and alongside orthodox medicine. I can agree with the placebo effect to a certain extent. The undivided attention of another human being, a listening ear, warmth, touch, preconceived ideas can go a long way to helping someone heal. However all of these are lost on animals who respond very well to healing. I have worked with animals with fresh wounds, hands hovering above such, no touch involved, and the animals have been relaxed and seem to enjoy the session, as though they know you are trying to help them.
I have also worked with autistic children who cannot communicate verbally or through the written word, therefore they have no preconcieved ideas and they seem to respond exceptionally well to complementary therapies. How would you explain that?

The Placebo Effect is measurable, specific, extensive and is also known to work on animals and children, so long as the owner/parent thinks an effective treatment is being given.

In adults, capsules work better than pills And specific colours are more effective.

As for how I explain it.....it can't be yet.

[Arth Frown]

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How does the reality of accepting money for taking a life sit within the ethos of paganism or druidry?

Look up warrior cults. The Celts and Germanic tribes had one.

[cursuswalker]

.

How does the reality of accepting money for taking a life sit within the ethos of paganism or druidry?

Look up warrior cults. The Celts and Germanic tribes had one.

Quite. Is it right to assume that paganism is automatically pacifist in nature? When was that memo issued?

[DaRC]

How does the reality of accepting money for taking a life sit within the ethos of paganism or druidry?

Look up warrior cults. The Celts and Germanic tribes had one.

More importantly check out the early legal systems (Brehon Laws, Ing's Laws and Icelandic saga's, particularly Njal's Saga, to understand the role of weregild. Njal's saga is particularly fascinating as the main protagonists are 2 women who use their workers to conduct their feud directly against their husband's wishes. Needless to say it all ends in tears...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weregild

[DJ Droood]

How does the reality of accepting money for taking a life sit within the ethos of paganism or druidry?

Look up warrior cults. The Celts and Germanic tribes had one.

More importantly check out the early legal systems (Brehon Laws, Ing's Laws and Icelandic saga's, particularly Njal's Saga, to understand the role of weregild. Njal's saga is particularly fascinating as the main protagonists are 2 women who use their workers to conduct their feud directly against their husband's wishes. Needless to say it all ends in tears...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weregild

And even more important than that, look at all the present day, living and breathing pagans and druids who are serving under arms (or have served)....."peace" isn't always (or ever) achieved through apathy and neutrality.

[Morgana2010]

or when I admittedly was "saved" in an american church as a teen. Not that that lasted.

Thank the Goddess for THAT!

[DJ Droood]

or when I admittedly was "saved" in an american church as a teen. Not that that lasted.

Thank the Goddess for THAT!

She is imaginary too....not that there is anything wrong with that....("The Goddess" that is, not Lily....although she may be imaginary too, as far as I know....perhaps a U.N. committe in Geneva posts under her name.)

[Arth Frown]

or when I admittedly was "saved" in an american church as a teen. Not that that lasted.

Thank the Goddess for THAT!

She is imaginary too....not that there is anything wrong with that....("The Goddess" that is, not Lily....although she may be imaginary too, as far as I know....perhaps a U.N. committe in Geneva posts under her name.)

And so is Atheism imaginary too.

[DJ Droood]

And so is Atheism imaginary too.

real enough to get you to post in a thread dedicated to it!

But you may be right...I am feeling a bit faithy.

[cursuswalker]

And so is Atheism imaginary too.

Ummmm.......not really (????)

[treegod]

Theism is the opinion that God/Goddess/gods exist. Atheism is the opinion that It/He/She/They do not. Opinions are the products of the human mind, generated by the imagination.

Now before the human mind created these opinions there was (is and will always be) Reality, separate from human perception or opinion. This Reality, I presume, is incapable of opinion (at least from an Atheist's point of view, like mine) unless the human mind, or something similar, emerges within it in order to have an opinion. This being the case, Reality simultaneously believes and disbelieves in gods of any shape or form, albeit usually localised within distinct bio-neurological structures (dats bwains too yoo an' mee).

And because words are important for communication (I hope we are actually communicating here ) a little lesson from a dictionary:
Theism
1. the belief in one god as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation ( distinguished from deism).
2. belief in the existence of a god or gods ( opposed to atheism).

Atheism
1. the doctrine or belief that there is no god.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.

These two both falling under beliefs, disbeliefs and doctrines, which could be thought of as imaginary, or abstract, as they are only found in the human mind. Surely, then, a pre-human (and its opinions/perceptions) reality couldn't be described as theistic or atheistic?

[cursuswalker]

These two both falling under beliefs, disbeliefs and doctrines, which could be thought of as imaginary, or abstract, as they are only found in the human mind. Surely, then, a pre-human (and its opinions/perceptions) reality couldn't be described as theistic or atheistic?

While strictly spealking we are all born atheists, I agree that it is not helpful to press that point. The fact is that most people come to be theists and those who become atheists, and call themselves that, are those who come to doubt the "evidence" for gods.

[treegod]

While strictly spealking we are all born atheists

Are you saying that we all come into this world disbelieving in the existence of gods? Weird, and there was I assuming that we came into this world without any beliefs/disbeliefs/opinions whatsoever.

The fact is that most people come to be theists and those who become atheists, and call themselves that, are those who come to doubt the "evidence" for gods.

True. I'm discovering that any theism within me is a well-developed artistic sentiment, not my intellectual opinion on what reality actually is

[Arth Frown]

And so is Atheism imaginary too.

real enough to get you to post in a thread dedicated to it!

I like look over the neighbours fence and see what they doing.

[DJ Droood]

I like look over the neighbours fence and see what they doing.

That won't stop me from sunbathing nude, you know.

[cursuswalker]

While strictly spealking we are all born atheists

Are you saying that we all come into this world disbelieving in the existence of gods? Weird, and there was I assuming that we came into this world without any beliefs/disbeliefs/opinions whatsoever.

I'm not sure what DISbelieving actually means. It is a word that attempts to turn a passive into an active. When we are born we do not have belief in any god. We learn about them and are told they exist. As a result most children become theists. But it is beyond reasonable doubt that we a born a-theist (without theism).

[Mountainheart]

If you've never heard of the concept of 'God' you can't have an opinion either way. You can only be a-theist if you understand what theism is. Disbelief is a positive decision so pedantically a baby cannot be atheist any more than it can be theist. It's just a blank slate.

[DJ Droood]

I'm not sure what DISbelieving actually means. It is a word that attempts to turn a passive into an active. When we are born we do not have belief in any god. We learn about them and are told they exist. As a result most children become theists. But it is beyond reasonable doubt that we a born a-theist (without theism).

I think children are the most sincere theists, after they have been "taught". I can recall staring out the window on Xmas eve, not knowing for sure if Santa would come, but having not even a shred of doubt that He existed. I remember lying on my bed at night telling the Devil I wasn't afraid of him...but I sincerly believed. Children are literalists. That is why it always makes me sad when I see adults cheerfully talking about how they indoctrinate their children at Sunday school or "children's moots" or whatever. Religion should be an adult choice after the rational part of the brain has matured and you can make an informed decision.

[Mountainheart]

Children are literalists. .

That's true. I made a decision when my children were born always to tell them the truth when asked. I told them that Father Christmas was a game; and I thought they believed me until one day my daughter asked me who was Father Christmas really. I told her that it was me who brought her her presents. I found out a couple of years later that she thought I meant that I was Father Christmas and that I flew round the world delivering all the presents to all the children!