Hiya. Thanks for giving a nod to all of us who are not particularly theistic. Not sure saying Atheist Asatru makes much sense to anyone by myself, but yeah, we're out there, and naturalistic pantheists, spiritual atheists and other odd flavors can be found bopping around pagan circles.
I didn't read the entire thing, but I like what I read and agree with the main thrust. The main challenge, as I see it, in stemming the tide of fundamentalism is that fighting fundamentalists feeds them. It's like feeding Internet trolls. However, standing by and doing nothing while fundamentalist just keep making inroads isn't a good option either. As an example of this, I'd suggest people study things like the "Moral Majority" and "Dominionism" in the american religious right. This leave us having to look for those willing to hear counter arguments and making a concerted effort to be genial even in the face of blatantly offensive speech and behavior. Besides, sometimes well meaning people are truly just speaking in ignorance and will revise their views once better information is provided. How many of us spent any time in our early teens telling anyone that Wicca is the oldest religion or at least older than Christianity?
On the other hand, combating religious fundamentalism opens up another risk and that is of just not calling a spade a spade, not telling people when they really and truly are flat out wrong. Sure, there are different theories about exactly what sparked the which hysteria in Salam Mass (Ergot in the wheat crop, land disputes etc.), but ever run into someone claiming there were actual practicing Wiccans? Yeah, this is when it's time to pass a few good links, suggest a book or two and let the individual know s/he is wrong. Sure, it's best done in a civil manner, but still.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2013-01-16 11:22 pm (UTC)I didn't read the entire thing, but I like what I read and agree with the main thrust. The main challenge, as I see it, in stemming the tide of fundamentalism is that fighting fundamentalists feeds them. It's like feeding Internet trolls. However, standing by and doing nothing while fundamentalist just keep making inroads isn't a good option either. As an example of this, I'd suggest people study things like the "Moral Majority" and "Dominionism" in the american religious right. This leave us having to look for those willing to hear counter arguments and making a concerted effort to be genial even in the face of blatantly offensive speech and behavior. Besides, sometimes well meaning people are truly just speaking in ignorance and will revise their views once better information is provided. How many of us spent any time in our early teens telling anyone that Wicca is the oldest religion or at least older than Christianity?
On the other hand, combating religious fundamentalism opens up another risk and that is of just not calling a spade a spade, not telling people when they really and truly are flat out wrong. Sure, there are different theories about exactly what sparked the which hysteria in Salam Mass (Ergot in the wheat crop, land disputes etc.), but ever run into someone claiming there were actual practicing Wiccans? Yeah, this is when it's time to pass a few good links, suggest a book or two and let the individual know s/he is wrong. Sure, it's best done in a civil manner, but still.