paganism

OK, I've checked my sources, an I would like to quote from a book I'm reading on this subject:

"But one accusation cannot be levelled against Rome: that of racism. When the Romans talked of 'barbarians', the term simply denoted culural and social backwardness and brutishness. The inhabitants of previously barbaric provinces, such as Gaul (France), North Africa and Spain, could and did become Romans, some eventually entering the Roman Senate - to the disgust of conservate senators. Several such 'provincials' became emperors later in the empire.

Racial background had no effect on a person's career. The emperor who perdided over Rome's millennial jubilee in AD248 was called Philip of Arab because he came from Arabia Nabataea, now Jordan.

Whole dynasties of emperors came from Libia, Spain and Syria. Rome extended the denefits of it's empire even wider, until finally in AD212 almost everyone except slaves acquired full Roman citizenship. Even slaves were being better treated by then, but slavery in a society with no colour bar was very diffrent from that in 19th-century America. Many slaves were freed; a few prospered.

<<Now for the important bit>>

Romans, like many polytheists were religously tolerant. The myriad of faiths of the empire were not suppressed but regulated, some being incorporated into the Roman pantheon.

As long as the subjects offered incense to the emperor - a political and not a religious gesture, as few educated Romans literally believed in the emperor's divinity - people had freedom of worship.

The Roman suppression of Druidism in Britan, like the crushing of Jewish revolts in Judaea and later their intermittent persecutions of Christians, was political. The Druids potentially threateded Roman rule in Britan; the Jews had violently rejecyed Roman rule in Judaea and surrounding lands; and the Christians appeared to be disloyal."

So there you go, I unretract my previous stament, and stand by it.

 

OK, I've checked my sources, an I would like to quote from a book I'm reading on this subject:

"But one accusation cannot be levelled against Rome: that of racism. When the Romans talked of 'barbarians', the term simply denoted culural and social backwardness and brutishness. The inhabitants of previously barbaric provinces, such as Gaul (France), North Africa and Spain, could and did become Romans, some eventually entering the Roman Senate - to the disgust of conservate senators. Several such 'provincials' became emperors later in the empire.

Racial background had no effect on a person's career. The emperor who perdided over Rome's millennial jubilee in AD248 was called Philip of Arab because he came from Arabia Nabataea, now Jordan.

Whole dynasties of emperors came from Libia, Spain and Syria. Rome extended the denefits of it's empire even wider, until finally in AD212 almost everyone except slaves acquired full Roman citizenship. Even slaves were being better treated by then, but slavery in a society with no colour bar was very diffrent from that in 19th-century America. Many slaves were freed; a few prospered.

<<Now for the important bit>>

Romans, like many polytheists were religously tolerant. The myriad of faiths of the empire were not suppressed but regulated, some being incorporated into the Roman pantheon.

As long as the subjects offered incense to the emperor - a political and not a religious gesture, as few educated Romans literally believed in the emperor's divinity - people had freedom of worship.

The Roman suppression of Druidism in Britan, like the crushing of Jewish revolts in Judaea and later their intermittent persecutions of Christians, was political. The Druids potentially threateded Roman rule in Britan; the Jews had violently rejecyed Roman rule in Judaea and surrounding lands; and the Christians appeared to be disloyal."

So there you go, I unretract my previous stament, and stand by it.

 

One view, duly noted.

 

Thank you... I feel good

Oh, BTW, that was taken from the book 'The History and Conquests of Ancent Rome' by Nigel Rogders, with consiltation from Dr. Hazel Dodge FSA.

 

It isn't Christianity that does this in the first place. It's people who claim(ed) their Christians, back in crusade times they didn't even know the Bible, and did whatever the Pope told them too.

A person can't be Christian without knowing what's in the Bible.


And this war isn't a religious war.

 

ryupower: What if Jesus (or God) came down and said to you, "Don't hate Pagans! Love thy neighbor!" Would you listen? And stop persecuting Pagans?
(this applys to any Christian here)
I'm just wondering...I want to know if you'd listen and do what he said.
As my Catholic friend once said (jokeingly) "Don't make us go on another Crusade!"

 

I would.

And I don't persecute Pagans, now where'd you get that?

I love everyone, even those that hate me.

 

Who was that guy who was supposed to go kill these townspeople because they didnt beleive in God, and so God told him to go kill them. Mom's Pastor preeched it on Sunday...Thomas...I think his name was...well the point is that the townies tricked him, and he didnt kill them but if he had there wouldnt be war in the middle east! Pastor David has an odd way of conveying not to be decived...

(the keywords are: GOD told Thomas (or w/e his name was) to KILL innocent people! What kind of God says to go kill other humans! What about "Thou shalt not kill?" So is it really "Thou shalt not kill....unless I order you to kill"?

This is really in the bible BTW.

 

She seems to be one of these 'fluffy bunny' pagans that thinks we're all oh so persecuted, ryupower, its not something I'd worry about.


'never again the burning times!'

 

yay peace and love for everyone! I love you to man! *cries* But perhaps persecute is not the right word...I dunno something less harsh...like hate....or something to that effact

 

Not all Christians hate Pagans, I've got some very good friends who are Christian, and while they may not agree with my beliefs, they don't think any less of me because of them. Get your head out your arse and realise that not everybody hates Pagans, as much as you seem to want them to

 

Oh cool! *is happy*

 

I need sleep chums! g'night

 

I don't hate Pagans...I love pagans.
And so does any other Christian.

That's why we want to get them saved.

 

But at the same time if you truely love someone, surely you'd accept their wishes and not try to save them if they don't want to be saved?

 

.

Parallel: A friend found out that some gangs are planning on killing his friend at the party.

The friend warns the person.

The person says "no, I don't believe you. I'm going to that party."

the friend goes " No! They're gonna kill you! "

"you know what? I do it my way, there's no one there to kill me. Believe me."

"Yes there is!"

"no there's not!"


Isn't the friend of that person trying to prevent him from getting killed, eventhouh his friend doesn't like it?

Now, the person doesn't listen, and goes anyways (eventhough there were many warnings on his way), wouldn't the person be responsible for his death?

Remember, that once that person looks in the face of Death, he'll have no excuse.

If he didn't go, he'd still be alive. But wasn't it the responsibility of his friend to try to prevent him?

Same concept here


We do this out of love, not out of controlling wise.


A parent, for instance, teaches his son consequences because he cares about him, and because he's responsible for trying to get him to behave so he won't get in trouble.

 

Not saying your doing it out of controling, I understand that its out of love.

At the same time though, if someone was truely intent on going to that party, and truely believed that there was no on there who was planning to kill them, then theres no way you could really stop them attending the party short of forcing them against their will. And no, if they went anyway, the friend wouldnt be responsible for the death. They would of done everything they could to prevent it, but some things just arnt possible

 

It's worth a try. And Christians are responsible for spreading the gosspels, if not, they'll be heald accountable for the person that went to hell. (whom they were supposed to minister to)

However, If a person refuses the warnings, he'll be without an excuse when he's standing infront of the Throne of Judgement.

 

I agree, with what your saying, but I do enjoy my religion, I've never felt so at peace than when I'm in deep medatation. See, I've been diagnosed with severe depression, (and yes I go to therapy and take meds for it) so balance and inner peace are my main goals and I feel I have that with Paganism.

 

Buddhists are 'heathans'.

Pagans worship the elements,nature, etc...

The Trinity in Paganism was more like Satan twisting the true Trinity.

Remember that Satan always builds up a counterattack of the truth.