The Pagan Next Door

[technomage]

Or I can sit here and keep laughing as you're getting ridiculously worked up over a straw man of what you think I meant to say.

Darth, I'm not making a "straw man"--that's my honest, earnest assesment of your statement regarding MG. Take it or leave it, but to be perfectly blunt your actions strike me as those of a bratty, offensive idiot, who only cares about his own likes and dislikes.

What racial joke? It was a reference to Batman's butler...

My apologies--I've not seen Batman, but I've lived in the South, and been accused of racism far too many times to accept such a statement with any good grace.

Justin

[Darth Executor]

Darth, I'm not making a "straw man"--that's my honest, earnest assesment of your statement regarding MG.

No, you've been getting worked up over nothing and don't even realise it. I commented on an annoyance and you're getting yourself so worked up that it now appears as if I am dictating divine justice and threatening to drop Mjolnir on the rodent's head. Chill.

Take it or leave it, but to be perfectly blunt your actions strike me as those of a bratty, offensive idiot, who only cares about his own likes and dislikes.

Thank you for making the previous psychoanalysis even easier.

My apologies--I've not seen Batman, but I've lived in the South, and been accused of racism far too many times to accept such a statement with any good grace.

Justin

Fair enough.

[technomage]

No, you've been getting worked up over nothing and don't even realise it. I commented on an annoyance and you're getting yourself so worked up that it now appears as if I am dictating divine justice and threatening to drop Mjolnir on the rodent's head. Chill.

Nice example of "mindreader's fallacy." Try reading this.

[Darth Executor]

Nice example of "mindreader's fallacy." Try reading this.

[tmancour]

Most Christians would simply tell you the gods are satan. Would you prefer that?

That's why I said it was only a "little" disrespectful!

There is more to strength and weakness than having a mortal physical body.

My point exactly. Just ask Odin.

Arion

[tmancour]

I'm glad you two made up -- but this "dueling scriptures" kind of thing is one of the reasons I feel closed canon text-based religions are not a very good idea. Sure, it's there in black and white -- but that just means it's one more thing to argue about.

Yeah, yeah, paganboy shoots his mouth off again. Let me get back to my bonfire and fertility rites . . .

Speaking of which, Happy Solstice to everyone! May your Summer be cool and mild, your mosquitos infertile, and your annoying neighbors visiting their in-laws for a month!

Blessed be,

Arion the Blue

[Cu Mhorrigan]

MG since you are honestly asking for advice, here is my two cents.

1) as hard as it may be fore you, dont turn it into "Which religion is the Cooler one". Hands down the parents religion will always be the loser in that battle because in most cases Parents are NEVER EVER cool.
No matter how hard you try to the child's mind the parent is LAME, GEEKY, NERDY, and down right embarrassing.

2) I would Humbly suggest, that perhaps you introduce your daughter to pagans you can trust Like Justin or tmancour and let THEM explain paganism to your child. SInce We who are older know beter than an 11 year old about our beliefs, some of us can explain it in such away that it does not sound like we are prosletysing your child. Then when your child asks about your religion talk to her and be as frank as you have been. Just keep in mind that you need to keep things in terms of "What I believe and What they believe" and do your best to keep Hostility out of it. If it ticks daddy off, then most likely little suzy is going to running right to it.

3) Check out witchvox.com, and locate some of the More family friendly pagan groups to check out with your daughter. Go to a few festivals and Maybe even a public ritual or two. (You can opt to stand outside of the circle with your daughter and let her see what goes on.) If your daughter likes it then make sure you are there to keep your eye on her. This way she doesnt sneak around and you are able to supervise.

4) If your daughter's friend's parents are pagans ask them if they would not mind you observing a ritual with them. again Let your daughter see what they are doing and let her ask the questions BEFORE you give the answers.

I guess the point is get involved as much as you can. and if your daughter is serious about becomming a wiccan, be there to make sure she doesnt run into any lecherous boneheads like me.

[Darth Executor]

That's why I said it was only a "little" disrespectful!

Hey, that's the best I can do and still be faithful to my scriptures.

My point exactly. Just ask Odin.

Arion

*sigh*

My point was that I think pagan gods are weaker in terms of who can do more push-ups and blast stuff into oblivion faster There are some pagan gods that seem noble as well as some real jerks. The Jesus comparison was bad because unlike Baldr, when you kill Jesus He doesn't stay dead and when He dies He dies because God wills it, not because Loki tricked the gods into killing him..

[Darth Executor]

I'm glad you two made up -- but this "dueling scriptures" kind of thing is one of the reasons I feel closed canon text-based religions are not a very good idea. Sure, it's there in black and white -- but that just means it's one more thing to argue about.

Well, I never had a problem with Justin to begin with despite his liberal use of the word "idiot". I do wish he'd stop getting so worked up over what people say on the internet though.

[tmancour]

*sigh*

My point was that I think pagan gods are weaker in terms of who can do more push-ups and blast stuff into oblivion faster There are some pagan gods that seem noble as well as some real jerks. The Jesus comparison was bad because unlike Baldr, when you kill Jesus He doesn't stay dead and when He dies He dies because God wills it, not because Loki tricked the gods into killing him..

Point taken. As far as Unlimited Cosmic Power, the conception of Jehovah has got most of the Pagan gods beat. But that's one of the reasons Paganism has become attractive to people: it's really hard to relate to a deity that is just so freakin' potent that your entire life, in comparison, is negligable.

Arion

[Meh_Gerbil]

CU:

You actually have some decent advice in there.
Thanx.

[technomage]

I'm glad you two made up...

Ah, don't mind me ... I'm fairly short of temper anyway with my teeth having recently been yanked (got 29 teeth pulled on the 10th). Usually I'm at least a bit more patient.

Sorry, Darth ... chalk it up to sore gums.

[Meh_Gerbil]

Ah, don't mind me ... I'm fairly short of temper anyway with my teeth having recently been yanked (got 29 teeth pulled on the 10th). Usually I'm at least a bit more patient.

Sorry, Darth ... chalk it up to sore gums.

Out of respect for Darth I'm going to spell G_d in the future as _o_.
Hey, I'm willing to compromise.

[Darth Executor]

Out of respect for Darth I'm going to spell G_d in the future as _o_.
Hey, I'm willing to compromise.

[Darth Executor]

Sorry, Darth ... chalk it up to sore gums.

No need, I don't get upset about the internet unless I'm sick and run into an LGM post.