Pagan Journeys > Beginner's Chat

My theology and where to begin?

(1/3) > >>

Nicodemus:
Hello All
I hope by summarising my existing theology someone might be able to recommend where I start looking? I accept that I will have to practice alone and that my theology will be eclectic in nature.

I am specifically pantheistic or panentheistic in my approach. I see all aspects as being personifications or phenomena of a single existence or being i.e. the God or the Goddess. Nature is divine. I see no hurdles to polytheism but my worship will be monotheistic really. I am not currently looking for magic, spells or supernatural aspects, rather worship of God without limitations of gender, race, varna, caste, location or need of an official initiation yet.

I expect it is acceptable to design it myself, but I wonder if there are things to keep in mind or that others have learnt that might help in this approach?

I am happy to do lots of reading, but I am struggling to find a direction to start reading. Any suggestions pulling on your own research would be very welcome :)

Thanks.
Nicodemus.

Nicodemus:
OK, since posting the above I have been able to gather some thoughts together and would have deleted the above post if permitted. I would be still grateful on feedback of course. I hope this doesn't bother anyone but I have posted some draft ideas below to share for fun :)

Theology:

1) No duality - there is no difference between the Divine and nature except through the dynamics of matter and mind. The whole is divine and hence is it can be seen as pantheism or panentheism. Polytheism and Monotheism are both valid, divine perceived as multiple but is singular in essence.

2) As the whole is divine, there is no limitation, restriction or inequality based on race, gender, caste, location and background. All people are equal and divine.

3) Nature is divine and preservation and care are fundamental.

4) Polytheism and monotheism are both acceptable ways to worship the divine in us and around us.

5) Evil and harmful acts are due to not understanding and following the wrong thoughts and emotions. God is not evil, but evil exists in human thought and action. Evil can be removed from each individual through practice and worship, should a person choose.

Practice:

1) Worship can be conducted through rituals, meditation, prayer, song and study. Worship can be conducted at any time, alone or in groups.

2) Statues, alters, temples and shrines are helpful to focus the mind and worship. They represent the Divine which is both inside us and manifested outside of us. The divine cannot be limited to a single object but can be felt and known.

3) Study and philosophy form a foundation of understanding which in turn support the worship and practice. Worship and practice are a foundation for philosophy and study. Equality exists in that the parts make up the sum and each part is important.

4) Clothing, hairstyle and habits are not a limitation or a requirement. People can dress and act as they wish, not harming others where ever possible.

5) Happiness, peace and psychological maturity can come through philosophy and worship.

BronwynWolf:
Oh boy :::dons flame-proof suit before beginning::::

Not sure I can really help much, but I can point out a few places where you maybe aren't looking at things from the right angle.

#1: You claim there is no duality, but there is.... everywhere you look in nature, there is. You must have two sides to have a whole. (You also mention poly and monotheism here, but I will leave that for #4)

#2 Yes, all people hold within them the spark of the divine. BUT different gifts means different strengths and weaknesses. Rather than "equal", I think "Equivalent" is a more apt description. By using "equal", you might find yourself disappointed when someone else doesn't measure up to what you believe.

#3 Nature is divine. Yup, you got that. The word "Preservation" means non-changing, and Nature is NOT that. "Conservation and wise stewardship"

#4 HERE you may run into people who will tell you you come off as arrogant. Yes, both paths are acceptable. Of course they are. That is because no two humans are alike, so we do not have the same mind views of things. Now I will bring in what you said in #1 "Polytheism and Monotheism are both valid, divine perceived as multiple but is singular in essence".... Nope. I am a hard polytheist. To MY mind view, each and every god/goddess form are individual entities. I worship them as such. I do NOT worship the primordial well-spring of divinity they were all born from. Therefore, not even in essence is my belief system singular.

#5  SOMETIMES harmful acts are because of lack of understanding and following negative thoughts and emotions unintentionally. "Evil" requires a CONSCIOUS CHOICE... and it seems only humans are capable of such a choice.

Practice:
#1 Worship can be as simple as saying "thank you" in a conversation between you and your gods. The rest, yeah you got it.

#2 This is true

#3 I quote someone else here: "The sum is GREATER than the worth of the parts"

#4 True

#5 You are leaving out something in this equation, in my opinion: Philosophy and worship without LIVING FULLY become empty pillars. If you do not EXPERIENCE the world you live in, you aren't learning all you have available to you. (IMO if your equation worked, we'd have a whole lot fewer sex offenders in the clergy)


Another thing I think you need to watch out for.... you seem to want to boil it down and compartmentalize everything. Where is the LIFE in your path? The joy? Your two posts here come across as very cut and dried and rather...empty. Just my opinion, based on the written word.

Nicodemus:
Wow, thanks so much BronwynWolf.   :D
I am rarely offended so I appreciate you breaking my points down. Just a little note, the points are just my current view and I am not suggesting this is how Paganism should be or that this is a correct view, it is just how the view I am starting with and want it to improve. :)

Interestingly you picked on something which have been in my mind and I have been concerned about, namely the lack of Joy in my philosophy. This is actually one of the key reasons I have started to look to Paganism because my current philosophy/religion has drained me of passion for life and motivation. It is fair enough having inner peace, but not necessarily at the expense of living life with a joyless, passionless world view. Perhaps I will try to start a thread on brining out passion through paganism, if I cannot find my answers in existing threads. :)

I should have put a caveat on the point 1) because for me existence is non-dual, not because it always was but because of the theology I have been following for the last 5 years has lead me to see non-duality. So I appreciate both views and none of my points assume any one represents everyone.

This brings me on to your hard polytheism. Forgive any arrogance. I was summarising my own theology and would hate to think I was telling anyone on this forum that polytheism cannot be hard, of course it can. :)

I will also take the others points on board.

Thanks again!

FairyQueen:

--- Quote from: BronwynWolf on July 29, 2012, 11:16:37 AM ---Another thing I think you need to watch out for.... you seem to want to boil it down and compartmentalize everything. Where is the LIFE in your path? The joy? Your two posts here come across as very cut and dried and rather...empty. Just my opinion, based on the written word.

--- End quote ---

I agree with Bron's last thought. And I wonder why it is that you even need to define and lay out everything anyway? Who are you trying to convince, and why?

It sounds to me like you have everything you need already and now all you have to do...is, well, do it!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page