Comments on: Thor and his Hammer: Why Dawkins doesn’t understand Deity

By: Llewelyn

Llewelyn — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:25:54 +0000

That made me laugh because that is exactly what used to happen to me when I use to hang out with an evangelical christian

By: David

David — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 17:34:03 +0000

Great post. I certainly agree that there is a tendency among most atheists to be generally overly simplistic, practically ignoring the whole social/socio-cultural dimension of religion, where, as I see it, religion is constructed. However, if I may be a bit of a sociological reductionist (instead of atheistic reductionism which is metaphysical), then comments like “things the religious impulse might be responding to” sounds to be presume an a priori, almost platonic, essence of a distinct kind predetermined human impulse labeled “religious” (referred to as ‘sui generis-religion’ in some academic discussions). My point is just that the quote from you tend to decontextualize the social process of knowledge which obviously effect the outcome of how one interprets the “response” which then defines the impulse as “religious”. That is, it is a bit circular to assert self-evident religious impulses and/or experiences, and (I guess this is my real point) this ends up laying the ground for how atheists view and talk about religion where they ignore that it is a product(!) of socio-cultural processes.

By: John Potts

John Potts — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 10:06:56 +0000

I like the Cleethorpes analogy!
When I speak to my christian colleagues, they are also somewhat perplex. The discussion goes along these lines:
Them: “You’re a heathen… so, you don’t believe in God”
Me: “No, I believe in many gods”
Them: “Ah, but you don’t believe in God and Christ the Saviour”
Me: “Oh, but I do. I believe they exist, just as Odin and Thor and Zeus exist. I just don’t honour them.”
Them: “So if you believe God exists, why don’t you believe in him?”

That’s generally the point where I give up….
However, some of the people I have spoken to actually get the point.

By: Llew

Llew — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:45:36 +0000

We do not believe our gods made the things that fill the world

Actually I do and so did Cicero!

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:48:02 +0000

Naturally.

But whether or not I have a relationship or not, is another matter. I acknowledge the existence of Cleethorpes, but I have never been there, nor do I wish to.

By: Llew

Llew — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:41:36 +0000

But Richard, I believe in all of them”.

Does this include Yahweh and Asherah?

By: heathenramblings

heathenramblings — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:51:04 +0000

Reblogged this on Asatru / Heathen South Africa: Ramblings by Karl Andresson.

By: Awa

Awa — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:31:52 +0000

This heathen believes that Thor is the “spiritual abstraction found only in worship” (Tacitus), and that we do interact with the physicality of this every time there’s a thunderstorm.

Thanks for the great read.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:23:53 +0000

Thanks!

That’s fascinating – when you say that, do you mean that you believe Thor is a physical being, as described in the Eddas? If so, what is your explanation for humans not meeting him on a more regular basis?

(I’m not being facetious, I’m genuinely curious!)

By: Lucius Svartwulf

Lucius Svartwulf — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:16:02 +0000

Reblogged this on A Heathen's Path and commented:
Interesting article. My only point would be that there are some Heathens/Pagans who do believe in the “big chested man rolling loudly in the clouds.” I’m one of them.