Pagan Prattle policy statement
by Feòrag
Some people seem to have some very strange ideas about the Prattle and the person behind it. Let's clarify things a little and answer some of those questions and strange comments. Think of this as a policy statement which explains where the Prattle is coming from.
- "what kind of a pagan are you?"
- An atheist one. All gods and religions were invented by human beings for our own purposes, traditionally for explaining the stuff we hadn't worked out yet. Magic(k) is all headology. The changing seasons make a fine basis for celebration--the Oak and Holly Kings are made-up, but the Winter Solstice does happen, at a time when we could do with cheering up because it's dark and cold. Using it as an excuse for a party or eight is sensible. Different religious groups arguing over which made-up God we ought to be worshipping then is just silly.
- "you're a satanist and you think the media--heck, the whole world--is biased against you."
- I was brought up in a non-religious household. I didn't have God shoved down my throat at every conceivable opportuity. Hence I've felt no need to make some people's imaginary enemy into my imaginary friend. If I appear sympathetic to Satanism, it's because the likes of the Church of Satan are pretty much harmless. I've read Anton LaVey's books and it's just a form of non-theist libertarianism with psychodramatic rituals. Whenever we get a 'Satanist' who is dangerous, they turn out to be either in need of treatment in a secure psychiatric institution (like the Rudas) or a bunch of juvenile delinquents using it as an excuse to do something they'd do anyway.
- "They're endearingly anti-Catholic (part of their URL is "AntiPope.org") and they get my jokes, at least when they're directed at Papists"
- I have nothing particular against Catholics in general. If the leaders of their organisation say really silly and hateful things then I'm going to pick up on that. Same applies to any other religious group. If Cardinal Winning were still alive, I expect I'd look even more anti-Catholic as I reported his daily hate speech. As for the URL, I direct you to my partner's explanation as to why this site is named Antipope.
- So what's your problem with religion. Can't you just live and let live?
- Even if I think believing in God(s) is daft, I'm not interested in the vast majority of religious people who do live and let live. If you don't eat cauliflower because your imaginary friend told you not to, then that's none of my business. It becomes my business the moment you suggest other people should not eat cauliflower because your imaginary friend said so. If you campaign in favour of the death penalty for cauliflower consumption, then you shouldn't be surprised if I think you are a dangerous lunatic. If you have a web site full of poorly faked statistics proving that eating cauliflower leads to an early grave and claiming that you want to ban cauliflower eating because you really care about those people who like cauliflower (and your imaginary friend can help others get over cauliflower-related cravings), then I will take the piss out of it. If you are subsequently spotted heartily tucking into a plate of cauliflower cheese, I will draw attention to your hypocrisy.
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at 15:01. Last modified on September 28 2006 at 23:43.
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