Non-Deist path

[Roadknight]

I don't believe that any one particular god or set of gods and goddesses actually exist because I have not seen convincing evidence to prove that they do. On the other hand, I can't say that I've seen convincing evidence that they don't.

I'm more of the "It's all in your head" crowd that believes that there are certain areas of our brains that are responsive to religious/metaphysical thoughts and have their own "reward" centers that are stimulated when we engage in worship or theological/metaphysical discussion.

I find things like totem/guide animals and other elements of the Native American and shamanistic paths to be useful markers or guides as to what's going on inside of me.

So, that said, I still celebrate the fact that we are all here. That in all the universe, our tiny little piece of it happens to have had the conditions necessary to allow life such as ourselves to evolve and occupy our planet. This seems to be exceptionally rare in the universe and is worth celebrating and honoring simply for itself. We should spend less time worrying about who's god is the One True One, what will happen to us after we die and more time appreciating and enjoying who and what we have around us.

[Merrilyn]

For many years I have struggled with the concept of deity. Of course, whether or not anything of the sort "exisits" has not, and, in my opinion, cannot be proven. So, I just settled for agnosticism and went along mt merry way. I could never see myself adhering to the concept of deity.
Looking within and around me as much as possible, now..my mind is changing a bit. To me, deity is within, a concept borne of self and connection with the undeniable energies all about us. I don't think too many people out there actually believe in or worship a sort of "untouchable entity" somewhere out there. Deity is, to me, a very personal and symbolic presence and guide in my life.
For example, I don't believe there is a god or goddess somewhere "out there" hanging in the ether. I believe there is spirit in all things, part feminine, part masculine, personified by the idea of a god and goddess, or what have you.
Very interesting post..thanks for sharing.

[Foxpaw]

I also have a non-deist path. I have, in the past struggled looking through various different traditions only to be caught up on this notion of deities.

I believe that god is the soul/spirit within each living thing, that it is what makes us truly alive, and not some kind of mechanical being. In addition I believe that the universe is god and that god is the universe. (pantheism...or at least, I think that is pantheism)

This presented a problem, though. Because I would like to celebrate the changes of seasons and natural events, etc. as I see these things as very special and important things that are necessary to life, sacred, but how to go about celebrating such things without any kind of deity or at least, any kind of personified deity, has been difficult. Nevertheless, it can be done, in simple, little ways of showing your respect to the earth and all that reside upon it.

So that's me. :P I don't even know what you would call my path...a sort of eclectic pagan/animist/pantheist/agnostic....thing.

[EternalMaiden]

Well, I don't have a particular deity and a God doesn't make or break my foundation or aspiration to a higher purpose, but having deity makes my path alot clearer at times. It helps me to focus and gives me an internal outlet that will -never- let me down.
For me it's not about if they exist at all, it's about the meaning they carry.

For instance, I get caught off guard in dogmatic religions because the fables they tell are apparently fictional. But in actuality it's the meaning that those stories bring that I should be seeking.
Same with the seasons changing, if it meant nothing to you. It wouldn't matter if it existed or not, it almost wouldn't, right?
Well it's the same with gods, you can chose just one pagan panthenon from the lot of them and the rest just fade and no longer matter.
So yeah, it's all in your head. But I'm glad it is, otherwise I'd be an ant on a big hill facing a herd of angry buffalo. (Because I'm very naughty.)

The only reason I ramble on is because I've spent cold years trying to find my faith in something.

[Agaliha]

I'm in basically the same boat as you, RoadKnight.
There is a thread-- Non-Theistic Pagans? (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=109802) --that talks about it.

Here is what I posted there:
Right now I consider myself a non-thiestic Pagan. I don't believe the Gods are there, active and interceeding anymore, I never really did now that I think about it . I see the Gods as symbols and metaphors for nature, humans, and life...distant and far away.
I also think when it comes to the Gods, what you believe and what is in your head is what makes it...real. For example, if you believe that your Gods love you...then well they will.
I grew up in a non-mainline faith with no God/Diety that was worshiped, no holidays, no rituals, no place of worship, no holy books...it wasn't athiesm, but close. There was talk to God-- but it was in a distant way, there was talk of reincarnation, astral travel, souls...things like that. I was with that faith till I was 11 when I declared myself Athiest. A few years later and things changed-- I began my endless search for a Faith, belief, religion that fit me. The problem was I was trying to find a religion that fit not my beliefs, but fit my views and opinions and views of the ideal. For example, the [I]ideal view of diety to me is Henothiesm, many connected to one, unique yet connected. I found I don't believe it though and though deep down...
So here I am, sort of full circle, heh. I'm more interested in the Gods and religion in the sense of anthropology, archaelogy and thelolgy-- I always was, even when I was a child. I like to read, research, learn, understand them-- in a scholarly way. My family even jokes that I should get my major in theology-- comparitive religions.
Anyway, I don't really know what the future holds and anything, but right now I am content as a non-theistic pagan.

<snip>

I think I finally found a definition that explains my beliefs....and perphaps it will explain others as well:

functional polytheism – Symbolic use of polytheistic theology and terminology as a ritual tool or useful concept, without literal belief in the existence of multiple gods.

archetypal polytheism – Belief in multiple gods/goddesses as representing psychological (Jungian) archetypes, or elements of the human personality; belief that there are a relatively small set of unique gods/goddesses, and that gods/goddesses from different cultures who have similar personalities and domains are representations of the same god/goddess.

From: http://www.ksu.edu/psg/handout1.doc (http://www.ksu.edu/psg/handout1.doc)

I'm thinking if there is such a thing "Symbolic Polythiesm" would apply as well.

[Cryptic]

You may want to check out the "Naturalistic Paganism" thread under Paths forum.

I had similar views in the past, but didn't know where to go. I am now a Pantheist (http://www.pantheism.net/).

[Ivyrose]

I too have deity issues. Its never really caused me any problems, I figure that it is just my way of seeing. When I have gained visual effects following a spell, or in meditation I tend to see in colours and light rather than people.
I have found that this effect happens in other areas too for me, when I have worked with spirits I have never seen a "person" instead I get smells, emotions, and hazy indistinct shapes.

Its because of my lack of personification of energy that I have trouble naming any particular deity or pantheon. I tend to direct my requests to "all" or the particular spirits that would be related to what I am doing (i.e asking the spirit of the house to make it stand strong and firm, and keep our those in it warm and safe)

[CloeOtter]

Well I to have been in this situation for a while as well, though resently I thought a trickster deity had taken a interest. Now I feel Mother Earth was just trying to tell me to lighten up and mischif or laughter is a part of life. Anyway... I have always felt that the Earth was mother to all that is here and her essence is within everyone and everything. I too have sense guides, animal and nature spirits....as well as others, though the closest thing to deity I have felt was mother earth essence focused on me in a few occassions, plus during meditation and communing in nature.

I did look up the penthiest site and idea... it just does not quite work for me cause I do feel Earth or Mother Earth is Goddess if there is deity she is it. (oh, by the way because I feel no connection with greek or latin I call the Earth Danu) Plus I truely feel reincarnation is fact though I do not have a set idea on how it works.

I did find this website www.gaianism.com
This rings ture for me. Being a Sensitive I know there is more to everything than what can be labeled, tested, touched, seen.

Hope the site is helpful to some one.:wave: