Ojuice5001

There are many kinds of attitude toward a religion, which stretch from devout belief to extreme opposition. Where do you stand on Roman paganism, as exemplified by the ancient religion, the modern Reconstructionists, and me?

Is it your religion? (Don't all speak up at once! )
Is it something that you would give a lot of consideration to believing?
Is it a minor but significant possibility?
Is it on a level with the belief that Robert Howard's Conan stories are true?
Or is it 100% impossible?

How interesting are the Roman gods? Really interesting, a little, or almost none?

Finally, if the Roman gods did exist, what would be your attitude toward them? Would you worship them, oppose them, or try to remain neutral (which, BTW, would work if and only if the gods didn't care about you; they care about many people, but not all).

Jamie_L

No.
No.
That's probably a good summing up.
Conan isn't 100% impossible?

Very interesting. Greek/Roman mythology is great storytelling. It has what Judeo-Christian mythology lacks - divine characters. This mythology is interesting because the Gods embody human weaknesses as well as strengths. There's a lot more material there for good stories.

*Shrug* I don't know. I might worship the ones that seemed like good guys. I probably wouldn't worship the ones that seemed like bad guys. The usual.

Jamie

[ December 03, 2002: Message edited by: Jamie_L ]</p>

Demigawd

<strong>Is it your religion?</strong>

Not as such.

<strong>Is it something that you would give a lot of consideration to believing?</strong>

When I was a child, I felt a lot of guilt for the fact that I considered pagan, particularly Greek, mythology to be alot more interesting than Christianity, given I was brought up in a Freewill Baptist community.

<strong>Is it a minor but significant possibility?</strong>

As significant as Norse, Egyptian, Celtic, etc. pantheons, I suppose.

<strong>Is it on a level with the belief that Robert Howard's Conan stories are true?</strong>

I enjoy both pagan mythologies and Robert E. Howard's Conan stories. Great works of adventure fiction.

<strong>Or is it 100% impossible?</strong>

I don't consider anything 100% impossible in a universe comprised of billions of galaxies.

<strong>Finally, if the Roman gods did exist, what would be your attitude toward them?</strong>

I'd probably sacrifice a cow to Zeus every so often. And then have a cook-out with friends and family.

<strong>they care about many people, but not all</strong>

Well, unless you were an offspring via a mortal dalliance, a king, or someone suffering heroic-level hubris, literature depicts them as being rather indifferent towards you.

sakrilege

I'm more familiar with the Greek than the Roman but I agree with what Jamie says here.


I would try to appease any that seemed to be giving me a hard time. If any were good to me then I would acknowledge them. I haven't thought thru the worship part fully.

Eudaimonist

Ojuice5001:
Is [Religio Romana] something that you would give a lot of consideration to believing?

No.

Is it a minor but significant possibility?

No.

Is it on a level with the belief that Robert Howard's Conan stories are true?
Or is it 100% impossible?

Oh, I'd say it's just as possible as that J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth and its Valar pantheon are real, and that Peter Jackson's movies are live footage shot in Middle-earth.

How interesting are the Roman gods? Really interesting, a little, or almost none?

I'm not familiar with those mythical gods except through Greek myths. The myths are fun reading, and interesting from a psychological perspective, but not interesting as a possible reality.

Finally, if the Roman gods did exist, what would be your attitude toward them?

That depends on their attitude towards me.

Would you worship them, oppose them, or try to remain neutral (which, BTW, would work if and only if the gods didn't care about you; they care about many people, but not all).

Do you remember how the crew of the Enterprise reacted to Apollo in the episode Who Mourns for Adonais?

[ December 03, 2002: Message edited by: Eudaimonist ]</p>

Marduk

Is it your religion? (Don't all speak up at once! )

No

Is it something that you would give a lot of consideration to believing?

Not really, for the same reasons I don’t follow any anthropomorphic gods, it seems absurd, but if they exist as they do in the stories, they are aliens, just like on Stargate SG-1.

Is it a minor but significant possibility?

No

Is it on a level with the belief that Robert Howard's Conan stories are true?
Or is it 100% impossible?


99% impossible

How interesting are the Roman gods? Really interesting, a little, or almost none?
Finally, if the Roman gods did exist, what would be your attitude toward them? Would you worship them, oppose them, or try to remain neutral (which, BTW, would work if and only if the gods didn't care about you; they care about many people, but not all).

I like all the stories about ancient gods & supermen, fascinating stuff, I’m sure I could be persuaded to worship Isis

Shadownought

I don't believe in the Greek/Roman gods, but they're sure a heck of a lot more credible than the story of our friend Yahweh. If gods DO exist (which I don't think they do, but that's beside the point), then they'd be the likes of Zeus and company- in other words, a lot like humans.

Greek mythology is fascinating stuff. Unlike the writers of the Bible, the ancient Greeks told some darn good stories.

[ December 03, 2002: Message edited by: Shadownought ]</p>

GunnerJ

nope

I don't give "consideration to beliving" something. If someone presents evidence of a claim, I'll believe it.

The phrase, "minor but significant possibility" seems contradictory.

I'd say so.

There's nothing that logically prevents immortal superhumans like the Olympians from existing. It just doesn't fit with what we know about the universe. So, no, it's not impossible.

GunnerJ

Missed two.

They're very interesting, in the same way that Paul Atredies, or Ender Wiggum, or Scarlet O'Hair, or MacBeth are interesting: as fictional characters.

Depends on on what they have to offer me. I mean, if some big dude comes to my door saying that he can hurl lightning bolts at anyone who messes with me as long as I burn some cow entrails evry so often, and proved he could do it, I bet I'd be making some burnt offerings.