What should America's State Religion Be?

[wilted_laughter]

I am not sure Paganism is a religion, I could be wrong.....

Well why did you use a word if you don't know what it means?

Pagan may refer to:

* A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism.

* One who follows a religion of European, North African, West Asian or Pre-Columban American origin and who is not Christian, Muslim nor Jewish, or who does not worship the God of Abraham. Such usage, while traditional in the above three religions, may be considered derogatory. (Religions of Southern and Eastern Asian origin (eg. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Shinto are not generally considered to be Pagan).

* Pagan, Myanmar.

* Pagan Island, an island of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

* The world in which the Ultima VIII: Pagan computer game takes place.

* Pagan Lorn, a metal band from Luxembourg, Europe (1994-1998)

* Pagan - Bulgarian khan(767-768)

I was refering to the second meaning of the term.

[Voice Of Reason]

Well why did you use a word if you don't know what it means?

It is my belief that Pagans believe in no God..........

[Jo Bennett]

It is my belief that Pagans believe in no God..........

That's because you're an idiot. Most pagans I know believe in a number of Gods, though revere one or two in particular.

[wilted_laughter]

It is my belief that Pagans believe in no God..........

Actually they quite often believe in lots of gods

Pagan religions

* Ancient Greek religion
* Roman religion


Greek religion is the polytheistic religion practiced in ancient Greece in form of cult practices, thus the practical counterpart of Greek mythology. Within the Greek world, religious practice varied enough so that one might speak of Greek religions. The cult practices of the Hellenes extended beyond mainland Greece, to the islands and coasts of Ionia in Asia Minor, to Magna Graecia (Sicily and southern Italy) and to scattered Greek colonies in the Western Mediterranean, such as Massilia (Marseille). Greek examples tempered Etruscan cult and belief to inform much of the Roman religion.


Religion in ancient Rome combined several different cult practices and embraced more than a single set of beliefs.

The Romans originally followed a rural animistic tradition, in which many spirits (gods) were each responsible for specific, limited aspects of the cosmos and human activities. For example, there were different gods for ploughing, for horses, and for cattle. See Faun. The Etruscans provided the context out of which Roman culture and religious beliefs evolved. See Etruscan mythology.

Another aspect of this animistic belief was ancestor worship, with each family honouring their own dead by their own rites. See Genius.

Early in the history of the Roman Republic, foreign gods were imported, especially from Greece, which had a great cultural influence on the Romans after they conquered it. In addition, the Romans connected some of their indigenous deities with Greek gods and goddesses.
Some important ones, with the Greek equivalents in parentheses, were Jupiter (= Zeus), Juno (= Hera), Minerva (= Athena), Mars (= Ares), Vesta (= Hestia), Saturn (= Kronos), Vulcan (= Hephaistos), Cupid (= Eros), and Neptune (= Poseidon)and Dionysus or Bacchus in Rome

As the Roman Empire expanded, and included people from a variety of cultures, there were more and more gods. The legions brought home cults originating from Egypt, Britain, Iberia, Germany, and Persia. The cults of Cybele Isis and Mithras were particularly important.

Along with this, the ancient Roman beliefs and practices continued, especially in and around Rome itself. This included the worship of the lares and penates (spirits specific to a family, with altars in the home), festivals such as the Lupercalia and Saturnalia, and a complex system of lucky and unlucky days.

Another important aspect of religion in Roman times was the divinity of the Emperor. More than just being the Pontifex Maximus (the head of the Roman Religion), Roman Emperors endorsed the various popular cult religions. In an effort to enhance political loyalty among the populace, they often called subjects to participate in the cults and revere the emperors as gods. Examples of this include "The Achievements of the Divine Augustus", which are two large bronze pillars in Rome inscribed with the deeds of Augustus, roman coins where the Emperor is portrayed with a halo or divine glow, temple inscriptions such as "Divine Augustus Caesar, son of a god, imperator of land and sea..." (Roman Temple Inscription in Myra, Lycia).

Eventually, Christianity came to replace the older pantheon as the state religion.

[Dono]

I am human and imperfect......."Let him without sin cast the first stone."

Following that, Christ said, "Sin no more". You use the "human and imperfect" excuse to justify actions that you KNOW are wrong. If you are indeed a "man of faith", just who do you think you are fooling?
Dono

[Nurglitch]

I am human and imperfect......."Let him without sin cast the first stone."

I was talking about President Bush, but now that you mention it you're not a good catholic either. <Takes a run-up, lobs first stone>

[Obvious Child]

Following that, Christ said, "Sin no more". You use the "human and imperfect" excuse to justify actions that you KNOW are wrong. If you are indeed a "man of faith", just who do you think you are fooling?
Dono

Exactly. This quote says we shouldn't go conemning others, but does not justify continuing a life of sin. It is misused by liberals as much as conservatives, as some liberals say 'even if homosexuality is a sin, you're forgiven' which ignores the need to strive to live a sinless life.

As for Pagans, there are often many Gods as well as an all-encompassing Spirit, called by some God, which is both Creator and Creation.

[Mucusaur]

It is my belief that Pagans believe in no God..........

Thats atheist. Terminolgy! You must learn terminology!

[Voice Of Reason]

That's because you're an idiot. Most pagans I know believe in a number of Gods, though revere one or two in particular.

Jo, I am not going to get into name calling with you but you ought to do your homework before you run your mouth.......Thanks

http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm


WHAT DO THE WORDS
"PAGAN" AND "PAGANISM" MEAN?

There is no generally accepted, single, current definition for the word "Pagan."

[Voice Of Reason]

Following that, Christ said, "Sin no more". You use the "human and imperfect" excuse to justify actions that you KNOW are wrong. If you are indeed a "man of faith", just who do you think you are fooling?
Dono

I sure would never want to believe what you do........There is nor room for hypocrites in heaven.........That is definitely a ticket to hell...........

[Mucusaur]

Pagans believe in many things, including but not limited to getting baton charged at Stonehenge by police

[Voice Of Reason]

I was talking about President Bush, but now that you mention it you're not a good catholic either. <Takes a run-up, lobs first stone>

I could do a lot better, there is no question about that............

As could all Christians including the president but we try.........A person that comes to mind to me is Ex President Carter who was a "Born Again" Christian who supported murder in the womb..........Sorry, that just does not compute.......

Or we go go to EX President Clinton who was a Christian and attended Church every Sunday and the rest of the week he was getting BJs in the oval office by a woman young enough to be his Grand daughter............Can you say hypocrite?

And thenw we have another prominent democrat, The Reverend (and I use the term loosely) Jesse Jackson who while acting as a spiritual advisor to EX President Clinton was in pregnating one of his staff...........

HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wez]

I could do a lot better, there is no question about that............

As could all Christians including the president but we try.........A person that comes to mind to me is Ex President Carter who was a "Born Again" Christian who supported murder in the womb..........Sorry, that just does not compute.......

Or we go go to EX President Clinton who was a Christian and attended Church every Sunday and the rest of the week he was getting BJs in the oval office by a woman young enough to be his Grand daughter............Can you say hypocrite?

And thenw we have another prominent democrat, The Reverend (and I use the term loosely) Jesse Jackson who while acting as a spiritual advisor to EX President Clinton was in pregnating one of his staff...........

HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!

That bears no relevance to Bush's double standards at all. Slagging off others doesn't make Bush any better.

-Wez

[Mucusaur]

Well if clinton was a hypocrite (which it seems he is, based on VoR's Evidence ) than GWB must be too, right?

[Voice Of Reason]

That bears no relevance to Bush's double standards at all. Slagging off others doesn't make Bush any better.

-Wez

What double standard...........

I notice your from the UK and are quite critical of the way the U.S. is run.............

Let me cite a little sory for you:

During my Navy career I served on 5 Navy ships.......The Crew of the ships constantly complained and bellyached about what a bad ship it was but let someone from another ship make any adverse comments about their ship and those were fighting words...........

Bear that in mind when you constantly criticize and put this country down........The very country with without our help you in the UK would be speaking German now...........