dieties... or lack thereof?

[TheMusesTool]

I was just wondering about some less traditional takes on dieties in paganism, or the lack thereof. A lot of the general public is familiar with the view of Paganism in terms of the goddess or multiple gods and goddesses, but what about other takes on deification? How many here take a more Jungian archetype view on deities? Or how about lack of deities?

Personally I find deification does not work for me, although I do believe in other beings that we may derive some power from...


So...what do others think/find works for them in terms of gods/goddess/deities...?

[Cain]

I'm an Agnostic Pagan. All Gods may exist in some sense, as metaphors/archtypes, like symbols which help us interpret the world and project meaning into it. I havent seen evidence for anything more and if I do, I may change my mind. But since these metaphors influence how I think about how the Universe works, it may as well be referred to as religion. I'm more into the philosophy of the religion than the religious trappings itself.

[cheddarsox]

I am a pantheist. So, everything is part of the Divine, but there is no deity. I worship the ALL and that manner in which the ALL operates. I worship, because that is my natural reaction to my awareness of the Divine ALL, not because it is required or needed. it happens, like laughter happens when I hear a good joke.

I don't understand, can't explain and don't try to explain, the experiences others have with deities. That has not been given to me, so I don't know what it is about, or where it springs from.

I can only respond to what has been given to me (I don't discuss russian politics either, for the same reason, I am clueless)

Some say I am not pagan because I am not polytheist...whatever. I don't really use the term pagan anywhere but online anyway. I use pantheist, because it is more descriptive of what I am, and part of what I am is tired about fighting over concepts of deity with others...

B'net pagan boards absolutely wore me out, this place is sooooo much a breath of fresh air!

Yey mysticwicks! Community that works!

cheddar

[Benvarry]

I'm an Agnostic People. All Gods may exist in some sense, as metaphors/archtypes, like symbols which help us interpret the world and project meaning into it. I havent seen evidence for anything more and if I do, I may change my mind. But since these metaphors influence how I think about how the Universe works, it may as well be referred to as religion. I'm more into the philosophy of the religion than the religious trappings itself.

Exactly.

I think there was a thread about "Pagan Naturalism" that also provided an interesting viewpoint that I can relate to. Not sure where it is, though. :awilly:

[Agaliha]

A big part of me wants to see the Gods as most people on here does, and when I can and don't I feel, I don't know, like something is wrong with me. It's like an endless cycle for me. It would be best if I just faced the fact that my view of the gods aren't like other peoples. Heh.


How many here take a more Jungian archetype view on deities?
I do.
This makes sense to me:
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.

As well as dashes of:
agnosticism – Knowledge about God(s) is impossible; OR, knowledge about God(s) is not something that I possess.
pantheism – All that exists is God.
polytheism + monism – There are multiple Gods, but they are all aspects of one divine Force; OR, there are multiple Gods, and there is also a divine Force.
(also known as “monolatry”)
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.
for more definitions: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2032949&postcount=41

Some links on here you might be interested in:
Naturalistic Paganism (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=57102&highlight=non+theist+pagan)
Non-Theistic Pagans? (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=109802&highlight=non+theist+pagan)

I believe there is a mirror (=Single Force) if it is broken the shattered parts reflect something different-- relgions, beliefs and gods (from Morrigan to Bast to Allah and Brahma) but when put back together they equal a whole.
Are there gods? I don't know. I'm torn between the belief they are interceeding, active and alive or if they are "dead", created by humankind and aren't there.
Did sun gods just come about because... waaaaay back when humans didn't understand the cycle of the day and because the sun gave light that made crops to grow and took away the danger of darkness (also equated with death) is was see as magical and holy. They sung praises to the sun, did rituals to make him happy so he would return, he he did each day it was seen as proof. Time went on and he was given names, formally worshipped and all the while-- was he really a god or just an explaination for the unknown, the things humans in the very beginning (without science and all that) couldn't explain.
In most cases, I feel they are expressions of the unknown, aspects of humanity and earth--(Love, death, war, crops, animals, sun, moon, etc)
So for me the archetypal view makes sense.

I've tried, struggled to interact and see the gods as some do on here and I just can't. It leads to problems spritually for me, a spiritual "depression" of sorts. I should stop trying and face my beliefs...

[Garm]

Archetypal polytheism does just fine untill you get on more personal terms with some deity.

And it's not always a good experience, BTW. Hel does not make your dreams pleasant, at least not at first.

Just because they can assume "individuality" in dealing with us does not mean that such is their natural state. I really think they borrow or have such a framework imposed upon them from us when the interaction becomes one on one. Given they way they evolve and change over time they seem to act more like a language or a species than a subjective conciousness.

[Agaliha]

Hey, I just found a site that seems interesting.

The Agnostic Witch (http://www.agnosticwitch.catcara.com/index.htm)

The Agnostic Pagan (http://www.bobbinsandbroomsticks.com/personal/pagan/agnostic)


Nice to know there are others out there like me!
*goes to look for more info*