Why should I hide my beliefs?

[1213]

...I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer...

I would like to know, why do you want to do so?

 

[VoidCat]

I would like to know, why do you want to do so?

I first want to know your motive for asking.
Do you truly want to know and understand or do you ask to do so in order to tell me how wrong I am and that it's evil? Or do you have other motives?

 

[Trailblazer]

A small altar should not cause any more criticism than a small cross would.

That reminds me of something rather funny that happened in my office a few years ago. There was one atheist coworker Bill and my Christian coworker gave him this small wooden cross she had made. I will never forget the day he came into our office and gave her that cross back, the look on his face as he returned it to her. He retired a few years after that, I really miss Bill.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It shouldn't be part of living in a secular democracy.
Religious beliefs should hold no weight in anything concerning law, public policy, etc.



By "advocate for their position", what you really mean is force their religious beliefs on the rest of us.

The law doesn't force christians to have abortions, marry same sex partners or be euthanized.
This is all them trying to tell others what (not) to do simply because their religion disagrees.

Contrast that for example with a debate on wether or not to legalize heroin.
Such a law would not force anyone to use heroin either.

But there is an actual real debate there, with real arguments concerning societal and individual health etc. Based on real data, real science, real studies.

Not some iron age superstitious dogma.

What you are expecting is totally unrealistic. You are saying that religious people basically should not allow their religious beliefs to influence their social or political views (only if they disagree with yours, right?). If course people are going to vote their views, and many people are religious so their their political views and votes will reflect that. That's just how it is.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

So what you should maybe do is take time to think of the consequences and then come to a decision?

Honestly... personally, I'ld go on the offensive just to annoy them.
I'ld be all in their face and make sure I'm well within my constitutional rights and tick them off on purpose.

People might think that makes me an a-hole, but the way I see it... it is no different then standing up to a bully in high school.

Sure, I got beatings back then. I didn't care. I did my very best to stand up to them and tick them off just because I could.

And in the end, it was the bully every time that was sent to the principal's office and who got into trouble.
It also exposed them to the other kids for the bullies that they were.

I got quite good at cracking them in the end, lol.
It actually earned me quite a reputation in senior years. Bullies knew to stay away from me. Not because I'ld beat them up, because I wouldn't. But they knew that picking a fight with me would only make them end up in detention. And not because of me snitching. Rather because I became a master at trapping them, hahaha.

 

[Trailblazer]

Oh I'll just not say who its for. The people at the group home already know I am a pagan.

I kind of understand how you feel because at work most of the people in the office with were Christians and there were no Baha'is, so being a Baha'i was not exactly something that was accepted. I gravitated towards the few atheists and agnostics in the office because they were more accepting of me and my beliefs.

 

[Trailblazer]

Hmmm... As an atheist in a predominantly christian nation, I've definitely experienced pushback on my beliefs and have had to adjust what I can and can't do and say according to that pushback.

The same applies to me as a Baha'i in a predominantly Christian nation.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

What you are expecting is totally unrealistic.

Not having 26 bishops in permanent seats in an official governmental institution in what is supposed to be a secular nation, is "unrealistic"?

I disagree.
But I guess you speak of the whole gay marriage / abortion / euthanasia thingy.

You are saying that religious people basically should not allow their religious beliefs to influence their social or political views

No.

I'm saying policy makers of a secular democracy should use secular arguments to defend their views instead of religious ones.

Off course, it's kind of hard to make a secular argument against something like homosexual orientation and equal rights for all.

(only if they disagree with yours, right?)

Not at all.
I welcome views that disagree with mine. I welcome that discussion and debate as it will likely lead to both parties learning and expanding their minds.

In fact, nothing sounds more boring then a society where everybody agrees on everything.

I just prefer rational discourse over superstitious ramblings.
Having said that, technically, superstitious ramblings as arguments in a debate between policy makers in a secular society is unconstitutional and irrelevant.

If course people are going to vote their views, and many people are religious so their their political views and votes will reflect that. That's just how it is.

I'm not talking about voters. I'm talking about policy makers.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Honestly... personally, I'ld go on the offensive just to annoy them.
I'ld be all in their face and make sure I'm well within my constitutional rights and tick them off on purpose.

I would probably do the same. As a JW I had no problem telling other Christians what group I belonged to so I have received the same vitriol as the Satanists would. I must say, it is exhilarating to see people squirm. I would watch Marilyn Manson interviews for inspiration.

People might think that makes me an a-hole, but the way I see it... it is no different then standing up to a bully in high school. Sure, I got beatings back then. I didn't care. I did my very best to stand up to them and tick them off just because I could.

A lot of Christians have no problem condemning those they see as sinners so I would say that it is no different to how they behave.

I got quite good at cracking them in the end, lol.
It actually earned me quite a reputation in senior years. Bullies knew to stay away from me. Not because I'ld beat them up, because I wouldn't. But they knew that picking a fight with me would only make them end up in detention. And not because of me snitching. Rather because I became a master at trapping them, hahaha.

You are a legend! I would have loved to see how you trapped them at school.

 

[Earthtank]

I personally think you can do whatever you want so long as its legal, decent and honest

That's one helluva slippery slope that will only end in disaster since that's very subjective. What Hitler did was "legal, decent and honest" from his point of view

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Not having 26 bishops in permanent seats in an official governmental institution in what is supposed to be a secular nation, is "unrealistic"?

I disagree.
But I guess you speak of the whole gay marriage / abortion / euthanasia thingy.



No.

I'm saying policy makers of a secular democracy should use secular arguments to defend their views instead of religious ones.

Off course, it's kind of hard to make a secular argument against something like homosexual orientation and equal rights for all.



Not at all.
I welcome views that disagree with mine. I welcome that discussion and debate as it will likely lead to both parties learning and expanding their minds.

In fact, nothing sounds more boring then a society where everybody agrees on everything.

I just prefer rational discourse over superstitious ramblings.
Having said that, technically, superstitious ramblings as arguments in a debate between policy makers in a secular society is unconstitutional and irrelevant.



I'm not talking about voters. I'm talking about policy makers.

I see. I cannot comment on the British system of things as I am American and our political system is different here.

 

[stvdv]

@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?

Many "desire to impose their religion on you" ... this is just another example. It's mainly an Abrahamic issue, hence living in the West you will have that a lot. In Holland, where I live, it was only ca. 100 years ago that 99.9% of all the Dutch people were Christians, and very big on evangelizing, imposing on others

Such attitude, which is arrogance, won't be rooted out easily, because arrogance means "I know best", so not open for change
@stvdvRF

 

[ChristineM]

That's one helluva slippery slope that will only end in disaster since that's very subjective. What Hitler did was "legal, decent and honest" from his point of view

You think genocide is decent?

And the lies be told to get his country behind him can hardly be called honest.

 

[Isolde Schulz]

@ChristineM reminded me that I've been meaning to post on this topic when she commented this on my previous thread My religious journey so far in response to me saying I plan on putting up an altar to Lucifer


Why should I hide my beliefs? Why is it as a pagan I am always told not to put up an altar or pray to my gods in a room where there are Christians? This goes for outside the group home too. People often speak of freedom of religion. But the moment I practice my beliefs whether it be pagan or in this case satanic I am immediately told that it's offensive to christians to practice my beliefs around them just because I believe differently. Why is that?

You should not. The hypocrisy of pontificating people is actually rampant, or we'd not have to languish under their weight. But alas, they've tilted the Earth's axis a bit more: whiplash from changing their minds so suddenly. Freedom of religion can be an elusive thing, a liberty you eventually harness by making "lemonade out of lemons" in the most judgemental of social scenes.

 

[oldbadger]

What does a Luceriferian altar look like?
What would be upon it?

Does anybody have a picture, please?

 

[VoidCat]

What does a Luceriferian altar look like?
What would be upon it?

Does anybody have a picture, please?

An altar can look anyway a person likes it to. It can be as much as just a bowl or very complex with tons of stuff

 

[VoidCat]

@oldbadger
Once I set it up would you like for me to pm you a picture? Itll take a few days.

 

[ChristineM]

What does a Luceriferian altar look like?
What would be upon it?

Does anybody have a picture, please?

It seems black candles, skulls and dead chickens are not compulsory

 

[Subduction Zone]

It seems black candles, skulls and dead chickens are not compulsory

So disappointed

 

[ChristineM]

So disappointed

Hey you can use them if you want but there is no law to say you ned them.