Paganism is not a religion. The word Pagan was used by Christians in a derogatory way to describe those not following the Christian religion and is derived from the Roman term for countryman or villager, although they probably did practise some form of animist religion.

@Moravian @BohoHeathen I'm using dictionary terms here: [google.com]

@RavenCT As Bohoheathen says it is a very general term and since it was first coined by Christians I prefer the original meaning of countrydweller or villager so I am a Pagan Yippee !!

@Moravian Um I'm not going to argue semantics except to say - would you say that about Catholicism? lol

@RavenCT Since you used a capital C I presume you are referring to the Roman Catholic church which is definitely a religious organisation.

@Moravian Widely accepted definitions - which don't just imply but state - religion.

Also that was a capital P I used in Paganism... in case you couldn't tell.

Sadly humans will consult the dictionary when puzzled. (Particularly humans who worked for a Newspaper.). We take language seriously.

@Moravian There's only one kind of Catholicism. I was raised in it. I know.

@RavenCT [catholiceducation.org]

Well they would say that wouldn't they but of course they do not have a monopoly.

@Moravian If you're going to go to alt resources you will find alternate meanings - once again I'm using a standard dictionary.
Language can be imprecise enough without shading it at every turn.

Don't hold your arms outstretched like picture two. That attracts Squaches.

Thats some mean countryside. BEAUTIFUL... A big shout out for giving this thread some nature.

@Seriousreason

Thank you.

Spiritual? Is it the hike itself or that you are out in the natural world? Would a hike through a city landscape be spiritual?

@ShadowAmicus

While hiking, I want to get away from signs of civilization.

The mountains are my sanctuary. While hiking, I feel most grounded and centered.

@LiterateHiker thats what I thought ... and same for me ... but did wonder if it was simply the physical exertion that did it for you

I do not!

Those that look to be offenered. Don't have to look far. What a waste of energy.. I'm always amazed by the every increasing number.

I doubt there is such a list but, as you know, words can and do matter and they often change with the times. I once belonged to a group Childfree by Choice and I learned the difference between less and free. One is negative and one is positive. I feel we need to get rid of godless and instead say godfree. We need to put a positive spin on the language of FREEthinkers.

@Allamanda The word atheist has a negative history. It's like the word 'homosexual.' That had to be changed to gay before any real progress could be made. I don't like the word atheist and prefer others as, secular, freethinker, none believer and, one which is catching on internationally 'Bright.' [the-brights.net]

@Allamanda The group is international as it is a global problem. My late partner once even did a translation in Farsi for the group. Yes, it often does sound silly when new words come into use. Imagine, how people felt when the word "gay" first started to be used.

@JackPedigo Freethinker is my preferred nomenclature....it’s what my father and grandfather called themselves,

@Allamanda True and the fact that most here don't use their real names (which I can understand) add another element.

I get the same light when Astrology is mentioned.

You just might be sane.

That's because of your static latching onto Concepts and words.

Or "awe-inspiring."

This is the new Atheism which is driven more by ego than reason.

Perfect @storm1752. I hate to say it, but “....how bitter and resentful and downright territorial they sound, as if this is their turf” sounds like most people in Christianity to me.

@Truthseeker1968 Yes it does. Any "true believer" sounds like that.

Hats off to you Sir. Achieving a state of personal peace & Harmony " Zen" is no easy feat. Now easy feat at all

@Seriousreason Haha, thanks Mark. Actually I haven't done much that I can take credit for. I learned Zen meditation chiefly so I could relax and sleep when I was under extreme stress. As a result, I stopped being a drug junkie (about 58 years ago) and became a meditation junkie. Years later, a series of enlightening events just "happened." I don't feel any kind of pride for having accomplished something--rather, a sense of profound humbleness. And gratitude.

Wadded panties is such an over reaction.. lol.. Spiritual still has its purpose. IE: Surrounded by God botherers . It's a good safety word to appease. Perhaps avoid the eventual headaches when a acousted by the devout.

Hey, you proved it! With words and stuff! Give me a break.

@altschmerz just because the huffington post writes about it doesn't make it true (it is an opinion piece) but tell that to Merriam Webster who has definitions.

@Metahuman wow, how smart of you, words and stuff, and use Trump's favorite ending when he doesn't have a point "give me a break". Brilliant!

@Seriousreason. Religion = spiritual = bullshit, regarding the panties, tell it to Bohoheathen.

@Mofo1953 I know you are but what am I? Nina nanny boo boo

You're trying to make reality conform to language, rather than language conforming to reality. Get over your hang up with words and definitions and you'll see a lot deeper.

In other words, you can't change the nature of Reality by defining it differently. Who are you? Are you a robot? Do you not feel, do you not bleed?

What is it that feels? Who is it that cries?

@Mofo1953 # savethepanties.. Panties never hurt anyone. If you don't like the word spiritual. Avoid using it..

@Seriousreason panties are spiritual.

@Metahuman Ha ha . '& if your Connor McGregor. You brake out the red one's.

@Metahuman It's Interesting seeing differing ideologs . Free Speech is taken to lightly by those that choose to mould it to a form of law's unto themselves. Those that champion free speech. That sings it's praises. Are wrongfully vilified... To assert that minorities cannot negotiate language , comedy , News. To their chosen viewpoint goes thee.. One famous Man said " It's not that our rival's are ignorant.. It's just they know so much, that isn't so.. " Oh sorry @ metahuman. This message was not directed at you. Or anyone really. If your American.. value your first amendment. 5 Chinese police arrested a woman for a Winnie the Pooh meme.. May still be peeing on the concrete. You must admit tho.. splitting image. Shame it's only looks.

@Metahuman no it is you who chooses to go poopoo caca, I just use language as it is defined to be used. It is your body that feels and cries and hurts, all have natural scientific explanations and definitions, nothing spiritual or ethereal about nerve endings.

@Seriousreason, do they not speak english in NZ? Read my posts, it's not the word that bothers me, it's the stupidity of people who want to give it a different meaning than what it has, and all the meanings have religious connotations and origins. Oh, and the panties term was used sarcastically by me, if you can read properly the original posting which I replied to.

@creative51 beg to differ, only your #3 is different to what I have said, spirit or soul, incorporeal, are all religious terms. Seems like the one purposely misunderstanding is not whom you believe but actually looking at you in the mirror, people here are non believers, all this hooey about feelings of awe with nature, music, art and any other endeavor that has inner beauty has norhing to do with spirits or souls, despite what you choose to believe, we are all moved by this, just most people at least here, choose not to attribute this emotion with the supernatural because it isn't supernatural or spiritual or religious, it is an emotional response of your psyche. Now, if you want to believe that one can only be moved because we have a soul or an incorporeal spirit, may I ask why have you even joined a group of non believers????

@creative51 English can't be twisted, it is a very clear language, I interpret what I hear, can't hear thoughts though. Not my definitions, Merriam Webster's. My agenda is very apparent and very clear, I do not believe in religions, gods, spirits and all the associated assorted esoteric bullshit. Never hid that from anyone.

@Seriousreason ok, you take blue.

On second thought, I'll take black. Kempo Style.

@Mofo1953 who says they're religious terms? They're not religious terms to me. Are you the Word Authority? Do you get to say what words mean, and therefore arbitrarily say that you understand reality because you know what words mean?

Do dictionaries follow people, or do people follow dictionaries?

The meaning of words aside, inflection can put an entirely different meaning on a sentence. Aside from bolding or italicize, we really don't have much inflection here.

So you may not understand what someone else is saying at all, yet here you are condemning it as idiocy.

@Metahuman Merriam Webster says so. Learn how to read. I do not condemn anyone. Learn how to read. What I said, and very clearly, is that I do not believe in bullshit. Learn how to read. Where in my posts have I used the words idiots or idiocy? I don't insult people, I do express my beliefs same as you. I understand very well. Have I suggested that you learn how to read?

@Mofo1953 you didn't answer the point. Let me remake it and let's just focus on this one question for a while. Do people follow dictionaries or do dictionaries follow people? Do dictionaries set the standard for language, or does language set the standards for dictionaries?

@Metahuman don't waste my time. I suggest you use your time instead of martial arts to cultivate your mond by learning how to read. Time well spent for someone as obnoxiously fixated in moot points.

@Mofo1953 cultivate my mond?

@Metahuman use ur brain to deduct, mind.

@Mofo1953 If you are convinced the sky daddy doesn't exist , then stop trying to convince those that are on your side of that.
In defense of @ metahuman . You state you do not insult people. That comment is a pretty stuffy self absorbed leftist tactic to belittle. Telling him to learn to read. I'd expect that comment from an eletist college professor . With two basement dwelling antifa sons/ daughters. I noticed a feeble attempt to bash Trump sprinkled in there as well . I see the NYPost claim " the walls are closing in . " Thought you lot hated Walls

@Mofo1953 use your brain to proofread

@Metahuman i proofread but why edit for something so obvious, oh, right, there are people like you who can't even use their brains and deduct something so easy much less read properly. But since you are kind of an aberration in this site, I will not change my habits.sorry, you still have to learn how to use your brain and read properly.

@Mofo1953 lol, I take you calling me an aberration a compliment.

@Seriousreason, @Metahuman of course you would, shows how little you know how to interpret letters and words.

@Seriousreason a busy body from New Zealand, amazing, don't you have enough problems in your little island that you want to pretend to know what is going on in this country and with such an authority to opine on things that you obviously assume but don't know?

@Mofo1953 lol . Well your true colours are their for all to see aren't they. You remind me of the type of people Trey portraits on South Park. Who sniff their own farts with relish . While having some unearned feeling of superiority. When in fact their confirmation bias, says all anyone needs to know .

@Seriousreason my true colors, please kiwi, enlighten me?

@Mofo1953 non sequitur fallacy. There are there infinite hypothesis to explain what my reasoning and intelligence level might be behind my post.

It's only arrogance and close-mindedness on your part to suppose that you couldn't be wrong in any way on this.

@Mofo1953
My post was self explanatory. Look in the mirror.

@Seriousreason your post was full of assumptions and innuendos, obviously you do not want to explain yourself, typical of trolls.

lol . Panties... Ha. They will be making then tougher these days . Men who identity as Woman . When donning their panties tend to damage the lace . Now the narrative includes male periods . # freebleed.
Remove the tax from sanitary products. Corporations should not profit from products required when Women preform natural functions. . Free Tampons .. Free condoms.. Gender equality.

mmmm....wadded panties...

@creative51 No his Mother identifys as a FECK .. lol.

Well said.

@Gwendolyn2018 ....... Gotta be careful here now.....which character am I? Definitely not Robin, I can tell you that much

@Gwendolyn2018 Naahhhh.... Leaning more like Joker

@IamNobody I'm kinda shaped like the Penguin.

@PondartIncbendog Don't we all to certain extent???

@Gwendolyn2018 Neither do I, it's all in good fun

@Gwendolyn2018 No penguinism here!

@Gwendolyn2018 I know I don't look like the Penguin and that suffice for me. However, if you think I might then there's nothing I can do since I won't provide any pics. Anyway, is it me or is it getting crazy around here??

@Gwendolyn2018 Ok, I'll take it as a nice compliment. IamCute penguin

@Gwendolyn2018 If you like cute penguins then IamOne. If you like lean then IamLean. See the beauty of this virtual world? Easy to please all options !!!

@Gwendolyn2018 Are you asking what's my ethnicity? ..... Mmmmmhhh... IamHuman

@Gwendolyn2018 Sorry, you lost me...where were we talking food???.... Nevermind, I need to get my mind off the gutter, I guess...

@Gwendolyn2018 Aaahhhhh.... I see !!!! Ok back to the same page, good. I don't think I have met a person that wouldn't like chocolate yet. Interesting, now I know you like chocolate, cats, dogs, rocks and cute penguins. On a serious note, this exercise of written communication sometimes slightly deviates from what we say and what we meant to say. Comes with the territory. I don't know about you but as far as IamConcerned, this has been fun so far. Thx !!!

@Gwendolyn2018 Well the list keeps expanding. Very nice. IamGoodatRepartee, perhaps I could say that Samuel Clemens was my inspiration a while ago. I will have to agree with you, it is rare. It doesn't happen every day, to find someone even better than me at repartee !!!! So thank you for that. In reciprocity, here is some things I like as well: I like History, all of it since the Big Bang, I like people with very very few honorable exceptions, and I like to read mostly biographies ( Physicists, celebrities, etc) because their lifes take me places. Cheers !!!

@Gwendolyn2018 Non taken by any means, that's how we all learn. Feedback is always welcomed. Now that we have mentioned the "r" word, I should have few more years to retire but, if life and things allow me to keep working then I would like to do that until I kick the bucket. I do pretty much as I please on my free time anyway. Well, probably enough for one day. Great talk !!!

But, is the term 'Spiritual' used to mean, A) I do NOT believe in nor follow the teachings of a God/Jesus, etc, and merely hold that the 'Holy Spirit' IS the reality of everything, or, B) that the person claiming to be 'spiritual' contends that the 'spirits' of the dead dwell or inhabit still the world around us, or, and there are numerous other definitions btw, that the 'spiritual' person is opting for a 50/50 chance scenario and, maybe, merely undecided?