Muazzam wrote:
Schol-R-LEA wrote:
Hail Eris!
I'm sorry for the offtopic question. I think movements like Discordianism, neo-naganism, etc. are somehow motivated by nationalism. Like, you're White and deserve to have a European(-inspired) religion--rather than a Middle Eastern one. Do you, as a Discordian, think I am right?
WUT.
That makes absolutely zero sense, especially when most neo-pagans are really more influenced by Hinduism, Taoism, and Rinzei Zen Buddhism than the historical religions they claim to be embracing.
If anything, it is mainly a rejection of what is perceived as 'mainstream' (that is, Xtianity - Judaism is mostly ignored, while Islam is considered The Enemy by most people in American and European culture as a matter of habit, one not likely to be broken soon either sadly); race and nationality aren't a factor at all (except for a minority of Asatruar, mainly ones who are deep into 'white power' and specifically embraced Asatru as a 'Nordic' religion; for them, your question would be right on the money, and most other neo-pagans, including most Asatruar, avoid them like the plague). If anything, many would be as likely to embrace Islam as neo-paganism, precisely
because it is not Xtianity and is seen as 'exotic', were it not for the geo-political issues.
Well, that and most neo-pagans are women, and Islam is seen as anti-feminist. A lot of neo-pagans are neo-pagans because it is 'feminine empowerment'.
Most neo-pagans like to think that they see nationalism as the evil it actually is (more because they see patriotism as too mainstream than for any real philosophical reasons), and at least pretend that they are somehow above taking race seriously despite the obvious fact that being able to say that race isn't important is itself a form of racial privilege (they are usually aware of this, as they will make that argument against others, but fail to see it in themselves - exceptionalism is a pretty basic human trait - and I will admit that I do the same thing myself).