Recognition of Paganism

[exnihilo]

You harp on Scientology - when have I ever defended Scientology?

The fundamental difference, however, if it'll make you address some other point, is that those who put Scientology on the form are active members of that cult/religion they believe in it and it informs their way of life. Those who put Jedi were having a laugh, mocking the census process and just generally being tits. See the distinction?

[exnihilo]

Actually, that's a pretty fundamental point - religion should inform your daily life, it is not and should not be a pose.

That's what my problem is with most Wiccans, all Jedis and a great many other people who don't believe in anything but "have my own spirituality".

[Bitterandtwisted]

Quoting exnihilo from 15:35, 27th Jun 2006
You harp on Scientology - when have I ever defended Scientology?

The fundamental difference, however, if it'll make you address some other point, is that those who put Scientology on the form are active members of that cult/religion they believe in it and it informs their way of life. Those who put Jedi were having a laugh, mocking the census process and just generally being tits. See the distinction?

You defend religions that are taken seriously. I defend people's rights to take the piss. What's wrong with taking the piss? Why should religions be protected from all ridicule? They're ridiculous, dangerous things, afterall.

[hr]

Look at that. Look at that. "Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness. Throw yourself into the road, darling - you haven't got a chance.

[exnihilo]

Nothing's wrong with ridicule, if a religion can't stand up to ridicule then it's probably doomed.

That said, nobody has the 'right' to provide false or misleading information on the census. Take an example -the Executive makes certain provision for faith groups, suddenly as of the last census there are more Jedi living in Scotland than there are Sikhs and Jews combined. How many are genuine Jedi? None. But all it takes is for a few of these piss-takers to ask for that money and there's the census to back them up saying there are thousands of them. It's pathetic.

[Bitterandtwisted]

Quoting exnihilo from 15:46, 27th Jun 2006
Nothing's wrong with ridicule, if a religion can't stand up to ridicule then it's probably doomed.

That said, nobody has the 'right' to provide false or misleading information on the census. Take an example -the Executive makes certain provision for faith groups, suddenly as of the last census there are more Jedi living in Scotland than there are Sikhs and Jews combined. How many are genuine Jedi? None. But all it takes is for a few of these piss-takers to ask for that money and there's the census to back them up saying there are thousands of them. It's pathetic.

The Exec gives money to faith groups? If so, I'm far more angry with the exec than any opportunists trying to get a slice of the cake. Why should religions get state funding?

[hr]

Look at that. Look at that. "Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness. Throw yourself into the road, darling - you haven't got a chance.

[Pan]

Quoting exnihilo from 15:46, 27th Jun 2006
How many are genuine Jedi? None.

How do you know this? I'm sure some of them actually believe in the force.

[hr]

"Last time you gave me a pie, I cut into it, and birds flew out of it, hitting me in the face and chin. I was confused. It was a trick pie"

[Ragamuffin_artist]

Right. All you have to do is believe in the force and you become a real Jedi.

[Arashi]

Quoting Mr. Disgruntled from 08:01, 25th Jun 2006

I'm sorry. The article is unbiased. Yes, it doesn't heap praise on Wicca. That is, however, because your entire belief system is "complete bullshit." Face the facts: paganism is FALSE. 20th-century. FAKE.

Um, I won't even go there.

I recall a young lady popping into an SRC several years ago seeking to get affiliation (I think?) or to have the SRC petition the University to let the Pagan Soc into the Mansefield. They were soundly shot down, and rightfully so. We laughed at her then. However, with the support of David Bean, this year the psychotic gimp pagans got their way. They got their space and can now book a building that is normally used by societies that serve a purpose--- Christians, Moslems, LGBT, you name it. They do things to make the world a better place. Pagans? SELF-CENTRED. Hell, "Satanism" is part of "neo-paganism" and that crap is all about pleasing thyself. Which is why it's hardly a religion---

I refer you to our Earth Day celebration, at which time we arranged an outing to clean up the area along the Lade Braes, picking up at least 4 large bin bags of garbage. I also refer you to our charity fund-raising baked goods and homemade crafts sale at the Beltaine Fayre.

I understand that this poster is most likely a shit-stirring troll, but it still angers me that we're being cast in such an unflattering light.

In all honesty, Wicca/Satanism/Diabolism/whatever the hell you call it is nothing but a psychotic hippie religion created so that exceptionally unattractive people could go and get laid.

How exactly does PaganSoc endorse getting unfortunate people to have sex? Though, you were saying we needed to do more charity work...

What they practice today has absolutely no grounding in any sound religious tradition--- either that, or you mix the major traditions together and create something utterly comical. You people believe in crap like "Magick," raising the dead in seances or through Ouija boards, having which are far better explained with a psychosomatic explanation (e.g. a dentist tells you you have a cavity, your tooth hurts; a second opinion says, "actually no, you don't," your tooth stops hurting), and you dance around in fields.

Why don't you come to one of our meetings in the upcoming year, and find out what it is PaganSoc actually does, because you obviously have no idea, instead of regurgitating tired old stereotypes?

By and large, you're social outcasts (...insert drivel here...)

You're so sure of this... how?

Instead, you sit around on your fat, unattractive behinds, worshipping forest goddesses and believe in bullshit like four elements and You employ ancient mythologies which, created by ordinary men, were in large part pathetic, unscientific attempts to explain the workings of the universe or, alternately, were simply explanations of the human condition through storytelling.

I'm serious when I invite you to come one of our meetings. In fact, I invite anyone on this board who might be curious. Come to our booth at the Fresher's Fayre, and we'll give you information about our meeting times.

I'm pretty sure a Moderator won't approve this, but I hope one does. You know why? Because there are a lot of perfectly normal people in this world who like going about doing things just as they've always been done, making changes for GOOD rather than for the purpose of validating their own delusions. We go out and rather than casting a spell for god knows what, we work for a living and send some money to charity. We like raising our kids in the way we were raised, because the way we grew up turned us into the people we are--- good, honest, hardworking people who know the difference between right and wrong. However, we come home at the end of the day and we have to see your offensive, selfish, nonsense symbols and your generally negative influence on society which has influenced some people to go as far as shooting up schools (Harris & Klebold being prime examples). Your religion is not about humility, or self-sacrifice, or about doing good--- it's not even about being in harmony with nature (if it were, you'd live in a mud hut, not drive a car, and sure as shit not use the internet). It's about self-gratification. It's about selfishness. And the rest of the world is getting tired of you.

First of all, how is using the internet detrimental to nature??? Second of all, I will repeat that we do charity work. Do some research, buddy.

Our fellows and our children in the 21st century may question their upbringing, or even the nature of their existence, simply because your new age crap is everywhere.

Oh no, are pagans making your fellows and your children think for themselves? What a horrible bunch, we must be stopped!

Your consistent effort to establish your status as social outcasts means only that those people who do matter, who do fit in, and are normal exacerbate your ignorant isolation by shutting you out of civilized society, retreating behind closed, locked, and barricaded doors.

When has PaganSoc, as a society, ever made consistant efforts to be 'social outcasts'?

Now I'm an athiest--- so I won't say you'll rot in hell. However, I will say that I don't push Atheism on anybody else and I sure as shit don't round up other atheists and try to steal space in a Christian building. Your minds are warped and your religion is false. Your religion goes against the established order of modern society and the vast majority of us are sick of you. I was sick of hearing your BS at Uni and I remain sick of having you in society.

If Atheists wanted a meeting space in the Mansefield, I would hope and assume that they wouldn't be turned down. The biggest issue is that Atheists (at least those I know) really don't tend to want to sit around, talking about the nonexistance of god. Pagans don't push paganism onto non-pagans, and something which Christianity can't claim. Going against the 'established order of modern society'... what?? Who exactly is the 'us' you keep referring to, anyways?

My only consolation here is that you're all a bunch of gimps and, from my experience, are strange. I hope your lives after university are as miserable as your lives appeared to be while there, spending years on end in halls or at the arse-end of Lamond drive lighting candles to your false gods.

We quite enjoy life, thank you, for that's what our religion is about: the natural cycle of life. That's why we place such distinction on the turnings of the season. We do, however, celebrate death as well, simply because it's yet another stage of life.

One last time, I urge you all to come and meet with us, talk to us, and we will show you who we are, and what we do.

[LonelyPilgrim]

I think Arashi needs to be applauded, for a very thourough, civil, and enlightening response to an idiot.

Thank you, Arashi.

There is hope for civil discourse on The Sinner yet.

[hr]

I sing of arms, and the man...

[novium]

if people would just remember not to feed the trolls, threads would be a lot shorter. Although I suppose feeding trolls makes people happy. ah well.

Quoting LonelyPilgrim from 05:49, 28th Jun 2006
I think Arashi needs to be applauded, for a very thourough, civil, and enlightening response to an idiot.

Thank you, Arashi.

There is hope for civil discourse on The Sinner yet.

[hr]

I sing of arms, and the man...

[hr]

sed tamen ira procul absit, cum qua nihil recte fieri, nihil considerate potest.

[exnihilo]

It is the circle of life. And, yes, I also am awake at ten to six, though I suspect the last couple of posters are in another time zone. Sadly, I don't have that excuse.

[Rufus]

Who needs an excuse?

It's an internet message board, you lose your dignity at the door.

[Guest]

The scientologists are just as bad.

I say, have some mainstream religions or none at all. Get rid of the halfway house riffraff that fills in the gaps, and preferably keep a Christian majority.

And the pagans... you're awful. Go watch some anime and wear leather clothes.

[meep]

Quoting Pan from 16:50, 27th Jun 2006

Quoting exnihilo from 15:46, 27th Jun 2006
How many are genuine Jedi? None.

How do you know this? I'm sure some of them actually believe in the force.

[hr]

"Last time you gave me a pie, I cut into it, and birds flew out of it, hitting me in the face and chin. I was confused. It was a trick pie"

I certainly know of people who do actually live their life by the Jedi code. Surely we shouldn't let the piss takers rule what we think of people's beliefs? Anyone is entitled to believe what they believe, old religions are no more valid than new ones. As someone said, all religions were new once.

[Guest]

Quoting Arashi from 00:32, 28th Jun 2006


Um, I won't even go there.

Your religion is entirely false. It was made up in the fifties by a bunch of drug users and bummists.

I refer you to our Earth Day celebration, at which time we arranged an outing to clean up the area along the Lade Braes, picking up at least 4 large bin bags of garbage. I also refer you to our charity fund-raising baked goods and homemade crafts sale at the Beltaine Fayre. I understand that this poster is most likely a shit-stirring troll, but it still angers me that we're being cast in such an unflattering light.

Needless to say, the charity efforts of the predominantly christian, traditionalist KK go a lot further than selling your pentagram candy to unsuspecting children. And you picked up trash? Well, whoop dee doo, you also gave your Uni some bad press by trying to get your nonsense organisation into the Mansefield. Which did more damage? You decide.

How exactly does PaganSoc endorse getting unfortunate people to have sex? Though, you were saying we needed to do more charity work...

Why else would the University tell you to avoid raising dark forces or frolicking naked?

Why don't you come to one of our meetings in the upcoming year, and find out what it is PaganSoc actually does, because you obviously have no idea, instead of regurgitating tired old stereotypes?

Because I don't like leather trenchcoats and black make-up.

(regarding social outcasts) You're so sure of this... how?

Because goths who wear black hang out at the Whey Pat or the Union all the time, playing Magic: The Gathering before they go home to light candles and worship the forest goddess.

First of all, how is using the internet detrimental to nature??? Second of all, I will repeat that we do charity work. Do some research, buddy.

I never said using the internet was detrimental to nature, I said it was detrimental to society.

As for charity work, I've yet to see an Oxpagan or The Salvation Forest Goddess Pagan Charity Hut. All I see is that over-priced new age garbage in Psyche's Garden on south street.

Oh no, are pagans making your fellows and your children think for themselves? What a horrible bunch, we must be stopped!

Back in the day, you used to be burned at the stake. A similar solution today would not be entirely out of line.

We quite enjoy life, thank you, for that's what our religion is about: the natural cycle of life.

Then go watch the Lion King and stop giving our University a bad/liberal rep, hippies.

That's why we place such distinction on the turnings of the season. We do, however, celebrate death as well, simply because it's yet another stage of life.

I don't even know what to say, except when I'm dead, I'm going to stay dead... unless you guys cast a necromancer sword (+3 with saving throw) in my direction.

[quote[One last time, I urge you all to come and meet with us, talk to us, and we will show you who we are, and what we do.[/quote]

Do you guys play Dungeons and Dragons? If so, I'm SO there! That would be SO cool.

[shutup now please]

You know I just think everybody should calm down, calm down.
Its just an article, its just another religion/faith. There are christians, jews, etc all around us, of course everybody isnt going to agree.
And if some people dont like pagans or dont believe in the whatever it is, then dont comment.
And who gives a flying fuck anyway, much more important things to worry about than the teeny amount of pagans in st andrews.

[Mr Disgruntled]

Quoting exnihilo from 05:52, 28th Jun 2006
It is the circle of life. And, yes, I also am awake at ten to six, though I suspect the last couple of posters are in another time zone. Sadly, I don't have that excuse.

Yeah. Y'all like the circle of life so much, you should go watch the Lion King. But don't steal our space in the Mansefield.

[Al]

Your space in a chaplaincy? I thought you were an atheist.

[Al]

"Why else would the University tell you to avoid raising dark forces or frolicking naked?"

Because they know as little about it as you do?

"I never said using the internet was detrimental to nature, I said it was detrimental to society"

No. What you said was "it's not even about being in harmony with nature (if it were, you'd live in a mud hut, not drive a car, and sure as shit not use the internet)."

"Back in the day, you used to be burned at the stake. A similar solution today would not be entirely out of line."

No, they didn't. They may have burned heretics. And sometimes witches. But not pagans.

[exnihilo]

Quoting Mr Disgruntled from 17:27, 28th Jun 2006

Quoting exnihilo from 05:52, 28th Jun 2006
It is the circle of life. And, yes, I also am awake at ten to six, though I suspect the last couple of posters are in another time zone. Sadly, I don't have that excuse.

Yeah. Y'all like the circle of life so much, you should go watch the Lion King. But don't steal our space in the Mansefield.

I assume you're quoting the wrong person there, that or you're now going to ban Jews from Mansefield...