What is this called?

[Élistariel]

I'm trying to figure out, exactly - well, sort of, what religion I am.

I believe in a, I don't know what to call it, force, source maybe? - I'm gonna call it the Thing for this post here. I'm not really sure what I think it is. Anyhow the Thing is the ultimate deity. I don't want to call it God as I don't see it as the Christian/Jewish/etc God. I believe that all the gods and goddesses are aspects of the Thing. The Thing, whatever it is, has no gender, it is both and yet neither. At the same time I believe the gods, goddesses and their counterparts or aspects are human constructions. They're our way of interpreting the Thing.
I feel like I'm wording this terribly.

So, what is is called when you believe in a main deity or Thing, but you believe the way people perceive it is a human construct?

-I think I may have confused even myself trying to explain what's in my head. :collapse:

[Ariste]

That's pretty similar to what I believe. I've been called everything from athiest to satanist...I just call myself pagan and leave it at that.

[Élistariel]

That's pretty similar to what I believe. I've been called everything from athiest to satanist...I just call myself pagan and leave it at that.

I find I fit with a lot of Unitarian Universalist beliefs, but at the same time, UU to me, just seems a catch-all for "believes in everything" or at least "believes in the possibility of anything." That's not quite right for me.

[Serpent]

Your beliefs sound a bit like pantheism. You might want to check out resources based around Taoism, and the hindu concept of Brahman, and the UU to help yourself along your journey.

[Annyka]

Your beliefs sound a bit like pantheism. You might want to check out resources based around Taoism, and the hindu concept of Brahman, and the UU to help yourself along your journey.

I agree, it does sound a bit like Pantheism, but it could also be Monolatry.

Where Pantheism would cover the statement "I don't want to call it God", Monolatry is the recognition of the existence of many gods, but with the consistent worship of only one deity, which would cover the statement "I believe the gods, goddesses and their counterparts or aspects are human constructions. They're our way of interpreting the Thing" to a certain degree.

[Caelestis ♥ Raven]

It sounds alittle bit like what I believe. I used to consider myself a pantheist though I am kindof rethinking if the term fits me 100% anymore

Mostly I believe in the Divine (aka the thing *giggle*) The source, energy, all that is. No gender. The Divine everything, and part of everything, and flows through everything.

I believe as humans we feel the need to connect to the Divine in our own terms. So we create archetypes to represent parts of the Divine or how we connect to the Divine. These archetypes are our Deities.

For me personally I choose to connect through a feminine image of a Goddess.

[Phoenix_Falls]

I agree, it does sound a bit like Pantheism, but it could also be Monolatry.

Where Pantheism would cover the statement "I don't want to call it God", Monolatry is the recognition of the existence of many gods, but with the consistent worship of only one deity, which would cover the statement "I believe the gods, goddesses and their counterparts or aspects are human constructions. They're our way of interpreting the Thing" to a certain degree.

Quoted for agreement and also to add that the dictionary definition of monolatry isn't the same as KO's monolatry for whatever reason. Hemet's (AUS) definition of monolatry is closer to the dictionary definition of monism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism).

[Élistariel]

It sounds alittle bit like what I believe. I used to consider myself a pantheist though I am kindof rethinking if the term fits me 100% anymore

Mostly I believe in the Divine (aka the thing *giggle*) The source, energy, all that is. No gender. The Divine everything, and part of everything, and flows through everything.

I believe as humans we feel the need to connect to the Divine in our own terms. So we create archetypes to represent parts of the Divine or how we connect to the Divine. These archetypes are our Deities.

For me personally I choose to connect through a feminine image of a Goddess.


LOL. Yeah, I just wish I knew what to call the Thing. The Thing just sounds funny, "The Source" makes me thing of Charmed and I'm not even gonna go into "The Force."

[Garm]

Sounds similiar to what I call the GWEITIS

The Great-What-Ever-It-Is

[Caesar]

Yeah the wording was a bit confusing and what I derived out of it sides on a 60 40 scale between Pantheism(60), Monolatry(40).

[Élistariel]

Using wikipedia's definitions of these. I'm going to try to explain my beliefs a little better. Either that or further confuse anyone who reads this. :lol:

"Monolatrism or monolatry is the recognition of the existence of many gods, but with the consistent worship of only one deity." and it also said "monolatry is the worship of one god who alone is worthy of worship, though other gods are believed to exist..."

No. For one thing I don't actively worship anything. I don't just think there are multiple deities and recognize them. I believe they are all aspect of the one big Thing. In my views to say that one deity is unworthy of worship would be like saying they all are. This isn't me. The Henoism it's compared to isn't either.

"Pantheism is the view that the Universe (Nature) and God are identical.[1] Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that “God” is best seen as a way of relating to the Universe.[2] Although there are divergences within Pantheism, the central ideas found in almost all versions are the Cosmos as an all-encompassing unity and the sacredness of Nature."

Close, but no cigar. I don't believe that the Thing is the Universe. I believe that it created it.

It listed a few others, but I'm just going to put those for right now.

Also when I say that all deities are just aspects of the Thing, I mean they are beings on their own terms, but at the same time just aspects or parts of the Thing. For example Zeus and Jupiter are pretty much the same. I suppose Thor could be seen as Zeus/Jupiter as well, but not as closely related. I don't mean related in the familial/biological sense. I mean more along the cultural sense. All are individual deities, each worthy of worship on their own, but all are aspects of the Thing.

[Élistariel]

Quoted for agreement and also to add that the dictionary definition of monolatry isn't the same as KO's monolatry for whatever reason. Hemet's (AUS) definition of monolatry is closer to the dictionary definition of monism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism).

I looked up Monism on wikipedia.
"Monism is any philosophical view which holds that there is unity in a given field of inquiry, where this is not to be expected. Thus, some philosophers may hold that the universe is really just one thing, despite its many appearances and diversities; or theology may support the view that there is one God, with many manifestations in different religions."

This. This is close, very close. I must look more into this. The theology bit that is.

[Dragonfly Spirit]

I'm trying to figure out, exactly - well, sort of, what religion I am.

I believe in a, I don't know what to call it, force, source maybe? - I'm gonna call it the Thing for this post here. I'm not really sure what I think it is. Anyhow the Thing is the ultimate deity. I don't want to call it God as I don't see it as the Christian/Jewish/etc God. I believe that all the gods and goddesses are aspects of the Thing. The Thing, whatever it is, has no gender, it is both and yet neither. At the same time I believe the gods, goddesses and their counterparts or aspects are human constructions. They're our way of interpreting the Thing.
I feel like I'm wording this terribly.

So, what is is called when you believe in a main deity or Thing, but you believe the way people perceive it is a human construct?

-I think I may have confused even myself trying to explain what's in my head. :collapse:

Don't think I can help you figure out what your religion is, I'm still trying to figure that one out for myself :hahugh: but what you have written is very similar to what I believe. The only label I've been able to put to myself for definite is Animist, I've always been that since a child, it's just a feeling within me.

I also believe in one central entity, I think of it as the divine, but sometimes I'll call it god as habits from childhood are sometimes hard to break, I don't see a problem with the word god though as I don't see that it's a word that should belong only to the abrahamic faiths. I don't see this divine/god as having either a human face or a gender it is more of an energy that flows through the universe and is in every natural thing, people, stones, plants etc. It was the first thing, before the universe before everything and being the first no part is untouched by it.

Religions and the gods they worship / honor are something different, I see all these as being man made, but that is not to stay I think they are none existence or of no value. At one time cars did not exist, they were invented they now exist and it is the same with religions and gods.

I look upon the divine as something so big that we as humans could never hope to comprehend it's whole meaning and as the human race progressed the religions and gods have been invented in different places to help the people of the time comprehend just a tiny fraction of the divine in a way that made sense in their world/time. I think of the divine like a giant mirror ball, where each tiny piece represents a god/goddess of our making and in turn they are tiny bit's of the whole of the divine.

Time moves on, regligions can become corrupted by people more intent on power over others then discovery of the whole. Old gods can be replaced by new gods but the old gods are still there and if we choose to look we can still learn through the stories they represent and the values they give to our ancestors.

Personally I follow a northern tradition path as this is the one that feels right to me, I honor and have shrines to the land and house spirits around me, my ancestors and the gods/goddesses of my birthland. As human constructs I don't believe they are around in material form, but they are in my heart and head as they were in my ancestors and they guide me in my life and my ethics and throught them I feel I have a small connection to the divine that is the whole.

[Louisvillian]

Sounds like soft polytheism leaning towards the pantheistic end of the spectrum. Or, as said by others, possibly Monism.

[AlAskendir]

....Deists believe that there is an unknowable 'God' (of no particular gender) who created the universe & set up all the laws of nature, but who doesn't contact humans and can't be contacted by humans.

If that doesn't work, you might check into the beliefs of the Universalist Unitarians (started as a variety of Christianity and is still getting over that), or the Science of Mind.

Maybe your variety of Spiritual Practise doesn't fit any known religion!!! That is not only not a bad thing, it is a great thing!!!

[AlAskendir]

there is a something that I sometimes interact with which seems to know everything - - - but won't answer questions of morality or moral guidance with anything except "choice, you must choose". I call 'it' "Source".

Or you might want to go Greek. and call it the "Meta-God".

[Herumetem]

COULD it be Hinduism? Not all of the branches of Hinduism are Pantheistic. It also sounds more Panentheistic to me. Also, what is your belief about the afterlife? Reincarnation, paradise, non-existence? That will help if you're looking for a specific faith, but it's okay to just be Pagan!

[Eyeris]

How about, you are you, and instead of trying to find out 'what religion you are' based on what you already believe, (a religion is a thing you decide to be a part of, not something you already are categorized).

So, you be you, and try to find the truth.

You can do this by researching others and what they think, trying out different methods... it's up to you.

[Eyeris]

Or check out this thread: http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=234793 :)

[aluokaloo]

wasn't there some movie about killer space veggies called The Thing? anywho, i would say agnostic with pagan leanings maybe? maybe your beliefs don't need a label.

[Quantum Witch]

Have you looked at pandeism? If you believe "The Thing" created the Universe, but it is also the Universe, I find that this, with a side of soft polythesim may be your best definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandeism

[EponaCapaill]

I'm trying to figure out, exactly - well, sort of, what religion I am.

I believe in a, I don't know what to call it, force, source maybe? - I'm gonna call it the Thing for this post here. I'm not really sure what I think it is. Anyhow the Thing is the ultimate deity. I don't want to call it God as I don't see it as the Christian/Jewish/etc God. I believe that all the gods and goddesses are aspects of the Thing. The Thing, whatever it is, has no gender, it is both and yet neither. At the same time I believe the gods, goddesses and their counterparts or aspects are human constructions. They're our way of interpreting the Thing.
I feel like I'm wording this terribly.

So, what is is called when you believe in a main deity or Thing, but you believe the way people perceive it is a human construct?

-I think I may have confused even myself trying to explain what's in my head. :collapse:


How about, you are you, and instead of trying to find out 'what religion you are' based on what you already believe, (a religion is a thing you decide to be a part of, not something you already are categorized).

So, you be you, and try to find the truth.

You can do this by researching others and what they think, trying out different methods... it's up to you.

I have given up trying to define and name my "religion". I am me. I believe that all gods emenate from one divine source. Yes, gods and goddess of love and good and poetry come from the same place as gods and goddess of chaos and war. Good and bad, love and hate, etc are all part of every human and they are all part of the Divine. Each god or goddess is a representation of those aspects.

So, I am just me. Sometimes I sound and feel more Christian, others I sound and feel more Pagan, still others I sound and feel somewhat Buddhist. So what do you call that? I call it living my life. I no longer require a name for it.

I think that Eyeris has got it right, just be you. Your religion doesn't need a name, just your belief. Find out what feels true for you.

[Raconteuse]

You can always say you're a Non-Denominational Spiritual Idealist... I find that quite effective when I don't know what else to call it.

[aluokaloo]

You can always say you're a Non-Denominational Spiritual Idealist... I find that quite effective when I don't know what else to call it.

plus it makes ya sound precocious! ;)