h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Any ideas as to what might be useful for me to contribute? Those two work-in-progress entries look good, by the way.

What would you like to contribute?

It struck me that you have chosen a set of beliefs that:

(a) usually require converstion rather than being raised in that faith
(b) most people know nothing about
(c) many people are likely to be prejudiced about
(d) as you said yourself, would surprise or confuse or just be out-side the world-view of a lot of your friends
and
(e) are part of a fractured tradition, not part of an unbroken tradition of millions or indeed billions of adherents

As I said - what would you like to write about? You are much more likely to write something which stirs your own imagination than something I hand out to you as a college assignment.

I am not sure if we can get the first-person rule lifted for University Project entries, which is a shame in this case.

Whaddya reckon?

B

Entries can, I believe, be in the first person if they're specifically intended to be personal accounts of particular events in order to inform people about your experiences doing something.

As for those five points you raised -

a) this is true, although as more people take it up, more children will be raised in one of the Pagan religions, although given what most Pagans believe, the children are likely to be raised in a way which doesn't preclude them taking any theological stance they wish
b) unfortunately, this is also true. What a lot of people think they know, they've learned from programmes like Charmed or Buffy - which are very entertaining (I watch them myself, they even get some things right from time to time), but should never be considered to be true
c) another unfortunate one, although partly thanks to programmes like Charmed and Buffy, this is lessening somewhat, certainly among my age group
d) that's an effect of the first three, I think
e) this might be one of the reasons some people find Paganism so hard to cope with. Wicca, for instance, is only about 45-50 years old in its modern form, and the kind I practise is even newer than that

So what would I like to write about? I still don't know! I could easily write something about Wiccan belief, but that would be outside the scope of the project I think. Since you want something on why people believe rather than what they believe. Maybe I could try and come up with something on why people choose to believe in Wiccan and other Pagan religions rather than those considered more 'traditional'?

"something on why people choose to believe in Wiccan and other Pagan religions"

Perfect!

Another topic might be the relationship between Buffy and Charmed and Wicca. You might be include a sidelong look at how other religions are portrayed in the media, all those 'evil' Arabs in the current crop of American movies, for instance.

Truly, whatever inspires you. If I tell everyone what to write, the whole project becomes a sub-set of what I think, and that would not do the subject credit.

B

Well, I'll do some research, as it wouldn't work right if it was entirely from what I know right now I don't think, and I'll see what I can come up with.

That's great. Can I put you up for an entry, and leave you to get on with it?

B

You certainly can

Tis done.

Thanks, MaW.

B

hullo ben, (please dont be michael jackson's mouse)

i havent really read what you're writing...ooops,

but i do know that when i was recently doing a subject called the philosophy of social science, when i soundly drubbed the social sciences for not using rationalist approaches to atheism, and yet still demanding to be regarded as sciences(and in so doing alientating atheists from a discipline based on the assumptions of atheism)...my lecturer just about wet his pants with glee.

just a thought for vous....


also, a buddy of mine neurologist! was born hindu, converted to islam and ended up agnostic challenged me on my fundamentalist atheism once. he made me articulate what made me an atheist...all i could respond with was 'because i KNOW there is no god'..he told me that i was basing my atheism on faith and if i professed to be a , i could only consider agnosticism until the proof of the nonexistence of god was supplied. then he reminded me that you cant prove a negative....so i had an existential crisis...and dyed my hair red.

the last bit was a digression....but i thought you might find it interesting... i'm new, indulge me, lots.
cheers,

b2

I can guarantee that I am not Michael Jackson's mouse, chimp, or any other mammal connected to him in any way!

You actually have the core of two good entries there, if you chose to write them for us.

Will you?

And an interesting approach to an existantial crisis - I am SO glad you didn't dye your hair black.

But seriously, either or both of those topics would add to the project. Can I sign you up for them?

B

b1,

urm.....if you tell me what it is i have to do EXACTLY...like slowly and using small words...as i said, i'm new to this...

if i'm capable, i'm more than happy to help...


remember the small words though.
b2

Dying one's hair black is such a typical response of teenagers who dabble in magic but don't take up the ethics surrounding it, then have a bad experience or get bored, and become responsible adults...

Like I said - dying hir hair red was a much cooler reponse!

Evil Twin, I am going to pop round your home space and let you know about guide entries and uni projects, I'll see you there.

B