Atheist Pagans?

[Uncouth Angel]

So what am I to make of so-called atheist pagans? Is it just me, or does this label make no sense whatsoever? I encounter a lot of people who identify themselves as such, and I must say, it boggles my mind.

I understand that there are many religions that are nontheistic, like Buddhism, Pantheism, etc., as well as some branches of paganism that certainly wouldn't recognize the Christian God, but I don't think it's at all accurate to call these beliefs atheistic. As for someone who identifies with a religion or was raised in its culture but is nonetheless an atheist, I think it's just appropriate for them to call themselves as such. A jewish atheist, for example, is still just atheist.

[technomage]

So what am I to make of so-called atheist pagans? Is it just me, or does this label make no sense whatsoever? I encounter a lot of people who identify themselves as such, and I must say, it boggles my mind.

I'll admit I don't understand it either, but I have met people who used one or another Pagan mythos as a symbolic representation not of Gods, but of their own internal mental concept of the Universe.

A jewish atheist, for example, is still just atheist.

"...just an atheist"? Are atheists somehow lesser people than theists?

[Freya]

Probably people who believe that there is magic in the world but don't believe in any gods or goddesses.

[technomage]

Freya! Welcome back!

Did you and your wife have fun on the cruise?

[Freya]

Sure did! Girls on their gap year can be very adventurous :)
And didn't get sea sick once. I want a jetski.

[Manwë Súlimo]

"...just an atheist"? Are atheists somehow lesser people than theists?

[technomage]

I could be mis-reading UA's post--that's why I asked for the clarification. But that's what it sounded like.

[Uncouth Angel]

Oh for the love of . . . .

C. S. Lewis entitled his book "Mere Christianity", so does that imply that he thought christians were somehow lesser people than nontheists?

By "just an atheist", I meant that that's all one should call themselves so as to avoid any confusion. If I were an atheist, I know I wouldn't call myself a secular humanist, free thinker, bright, or any other pretentious label. If I were of jewish descent, I wouldn't say I'm jewish if people ask me about my beliefs; I would just say I'm an atheist.

My original point is that it seems that "atheist" would be an inaccurate term to describe a practitioner of a belief system that is merely nontheistic, as atheism also implies the lack of belief in any sort of supernatural, transcendent reality.

[technomage]

Oh for the love of . . . .

C. S. Lewis entitled his book "Mere Christianity", so does that imply that he thought christians were somehow lesser people than nontheists?

Lewis used the phrase "mere Christianity" to indicate speaking of Christianity by itself, as opposed to speaking of differences within Christian sects, or speaking of Christianity and various worldly topics.

By "just an atheist", I meant that that's all one should call themselves so as to avoid any confusion. If I were an atheist, I know I wouldn't call myself a secular humanist, free thinker, bright, or any other pretentious label. If I were of jewish descent, I wouldn't say I'm jewish if people ask me about my beliefs; I would just say I'm an atheist.

OK, cool.

Part of the problem is that I try to be very precise in my phrasing. That's great in that it lets me communicate clearly (when I succeed in being precise, which I don't always do), but not so great in that I tend to over-analyze.

My original point is that it seems that "atheist" would be an inaccurate term to describe a practitioner of a belief system that is merely nontheistic, as atheism also implies the lack of belief in any sort of supernatural, transcendent reality.

That is the usual connotation, and it's an error that I have made, too. But technically it is an error: I know people who doubt (or outright disbelieve) in the existence of Gods, but who accept the reality of the supernatural.

[Freya]

Like all Wicca and Paganism a single answer won't include all people who describe themselves in a certain way.