I think the pagans are very smart - they're going to let the atheists and Christians kill each other off.

Tolerance and imagination and respect and appreciation of the earth seem to be the essence of modern paganism. I've read that monotheistic religions have more of a tendency to be doctrinaire and combative, since their faith allows for one god and no others. I think I'd class atheists with the monotheists from this perspective - their "one god" is "no god," and allows for no others. Actually, I think it's only the fundamentalist monotheists/atheists who are so doctrinaire and combative - and they tend to see all others as doctrinaire and combative and scandalously denying the One Truth.

I find it well-nigh impossible to carry on a reasonable discussion of religion here. Mudcat Doctrine insists that one who professes a religious belief, is responsible for all the misdeeds and odd thinking of all people who profess to have the same faith. Mudcat Doctrine insists that this is not bigotry, but I think otherwise.

I find that the best I can do is say what I don't believe, while others insist that I must believe certain things because I call myself a Catholic Christian. Despite what they think I don't believe in intolerance, I don't believe that women should be subordinate to men, I don't believe in child molestation, I don't believe in combat for any reason. I don't believe in rigid doctrine. But there are many here who insist that of course I must believe all these things, because I call myself a Catholic.

I DO believe in tolerance, imagination, respect, and appreciation of the earth. I DO believe in a God who is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love." (Psalm 145)

Why would anyone choose to believe in anything other than grace, mercy, peace, and love? Personified in one god, many gods, or not personified in a god at all - isn't that what we all should seek? Pursuit of Truth is an illusion, because it rarely allows for the fact that there are many perspectives of the truth - but grace, mercy, peace, and love are universal. Notice that Truth points to a center, and the seeker who has found "truth" is at the center of it all. Those who seek grace, mercy, peace, and love must seek outside themselves. And when and where they find grace, mercy, peace, and love - they will also find real Truth.

-Joe-