Make contact with a god/dess

[DJ Droood]

Sometimes I just feel confused about what to believe in.

That is an interesting way to put it...perhaps also confused as to what you *should* believe in? At one time, not too long ago, it was practically required by law to believe in a "higher power" of some sort (do some Western countries still make you put your hand on a bible in court?)...even today, people who don't believe in, or are uninterested in the idea of gods are held in about the same esteem as criminals in society at large. So society is telling you that you *should* believe in gods (for goodness sake, at least one!) and if you do it right, you will have some kind of contact/communication, and then you are left scratching your head thinking, "Why am I not getting messages in my inbox from the deity?"






(note: edited to provide a more recent study link)

[Greenleaf]

That is an interesting way to put it...perhaps also confused as to what you *should* believe in? At one time, not too long ago, it was practically required by law to believe in a "higher power" of some sort (do some Western countries still make you put your hand on a bible in court?)...even today, people who don't believe in, or are uninterested in the idea of gods are held in about the same esteem as petty criminals in society at large. So society is telling you that you *should* believe in gods (for goodness sake, at least one!) and if you do it right, you will have some kind of contact/communication, and then you are left scratching your head thinking, "Why am I not getting messages in my inbox from the deity?"

yes that is a very good way of explaining it.

So what should I do? Can I still be a pagan even if I don't believe in god(s)? I thought it was contradictory to be pagan and atheist?

[DJ Droood]

So what should I do? Can I still be a pagan even if I don't believe in god(s)? I thought it was contradictory to be pagan and atheist?

Try to be happy and help others be happy!

[Oakapple]

Greenleaf, you seem to be pretty much where I am. You said "I feel more connected to nature than to a deity". Sounds good to me, lots of deities are just names for parts or forces of nature.
Seems to me its the connection thats important , not the name. I do know how it is though, we feel we should have a personal deity. Sometimes I'm convinced its ok not to and at others I wish I was getting those messages like other people!
You may like to look at

http://caerabred.wikispaces.com/WHAT+DO ... ISTS+DO%3F

The naturalist druid idea is pretty attractive, although the forum has been quiet for ages, and their sense of humour can take some getting used to !

[Greenleaf]

Greenleaf, you seem to be pretty much where I am. You said "I feel more connected to nature than to a deity". Sounds good to me, lots of deities are just names for parts or forces of nature.
Seems to me its the connection thats important , not the name. I do know how it is though, we feel we should have a personal deity. Sometimes I'm convinced its ok not to and at others I wish I was getting those messages like other people!
You may like to look at

http://caerabred.wikispaces.com/WHAT+DO ... ISTS+DO%3F

The naturalist druid idea is pretty attractive, although the forum has been quiet for ages, and their sense of humour can take some getting used to !

thanks so much, you've helped me overcome a hurdle. I guess I shall continue believing in nature instead of focusing on trying to find a deity as it what I feel most comfortable with

[DJ Droood]

http://caerabred.wikispaces.com/WHAT+DO+DRUID+NATURALISTS+DO%3F

The naturalist druid idea is pretty attractive, although the forum has been quiet for ages, and their sense of humour can take some getting used to !

I seem to have lost may password to get in there....maybe their Grand Arch Pendragon, Curseswalker, should petition to get a subforum created here instead....generate a bit more traffic for them....it is a bit different than Skeptical Druid....

[DaRC]

The naturalist druid idea

I'm assuming this is different from the naturist druid.

Curses-walker

I must admit I've ranted at a rambler but I rarely curse walkers
Although we did see a red-socked elderly naturist walker once... but I digress

To get back on topic - so your deity could be referred to as Nature, Natura or even Gaia (as in Gaia Theory)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_theory_%28science%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_%28mythology%29

[Kima]

I think it's very important that no one feels forced to have a deity. There is no reason why having a god/dess should become a rule! However I am intrigued by the relationship that ancestors maintained with their gods. I feel that because they were worshipped by generations who lived on the same land as I, their names still hold a certain power here.

[Oakapple]

Naturist Druid - not for me thanks, especially in this weather!!!

I don't think cursuswalker comes on here much anymore, or that he curses walkers!! There's some strange stuff going on here with spellings.

[DJ Droood]

I think it's very important that no one feels forced to have a deity. There is no reason why having a god/dess should become a rule! However I am intrigued by the relationship that ancestors maintained with their gods. I feel that because they were worshipped by generations who lived on the same land as I, their names still hold a certain power here.

I guess the same argument could be made for Christ, then....His name was invoked by my ancestors on all their lands for as many generations back as I can reckon. I think we are also free to make up new traditions for ourselves (and for our decedents, if they want them.)

[Twig]

I can so relate to this issue! The harder I try, the more I do not "succeed." I think the "Don't call us, we'll call you" philosophy is the best approach. I finally decided to just sit and clear my mind of any kind of "grasping" thoughts -- or of any thoughts at all. Whether I felt any presence or not was not to be a goal. There was no goal -- just sitting. I confess that I haven't done this in a long time; I don't know how I got so unplugged... But the idea is that "If you build it, they will come." When it feels like you're doing nothing, you really are doing something. Going to a place and being honest with yourself every day creates a sort of "zone" for things to happen, whether you are aware of them or not.

[Greenleaf]

I came across an interesting quote today and thought I'd share it here

"all it takes for a god to exist, is for one person to fully believe in that said god. we create our gods with our minds.. Perfect love and perfect trust are what create "god" (viafacebook wicca page )

[DJ Droood]

double post computer fart

[DJ Droood]

I came across an interesting quote today and thought I'd share it here

"all it takes for a god to exist, is for one person to fully believe in that said god. we create our gods with our minds.. Perfect love and perfect trust are what create "god" (viafacebook wicca page )

How come love and trust, by themselves, aren't enough?...or sunrises and thunderstorms and puppy dogs or a baby's laugh? Why do all these things have to become "god" to be meaningful?

Sorry OP, if I am ruining your thread with silly talk...I'lll stop now.

[Greenleaf]

double post computer fart

?

I just figured the fact that the quote states "we create our gods with our mind" would be intrestong for those trying contacting a god.

(I should probably unsubscribe from this thread as my question has been answered and to keep me from rambling on )

[Oakapple]

How come love and trust, by themselves, aren't enough?...or sunrises and thunderstorms and puppy dogs or a baby's laugh? Why do all these things have to become "god" to be meaningful?

Sorry OP, if I am ruining your thread with silly talk...I'lll stop now.

I wish I knew why!! And sometimes I wish I felt all those things were enough without the "God" thing. I am an unhappy atheist.

Please do all keep on rambling on, its a fascinating discussion.

[DaRC]

I came across an interesting quote today and thought I'd share it here
"all it takes for a god to exist, is for one person to fully believe in that said god. we create our gods with our minds.. Perfect love and perfect trust are what create "god"

Hmmm they've not met Loki or some of the other trickster Gods then....
As a concept it's something Neil Gaiman explores in his book American Gods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods

[Ade Sundog]

This is something that has been bothering me for yonks. I am not an atheist , and then again i don't have any particular belief in any Gods, or Goddesses . Occasionaly in my life i have had an experience of 'something' , what , i do not know , something ineffable. But my problem is this -

What do deities actually do? Apart from acting as some sort of life-coach?

I read a quote from Swami Vivekananda - via George Harrison , which went something like this - If there is a god , then we must see him , and if there is a soul then we must percieve it , otherwise it is better not to believe, it's better to be an outspoken atheist than a hypocrite.

[NovaStar]

I came across an interesting quote today and thought I'd share it here
"all it takes for a god to exist, is for one person to fully believe in that said god. we create our gods with our minds.. Perfect love and perfect trust are what create "god"

Hmmm they've not met Loki or some of the other trickster Gods then....
As a concept it's something Neil Gaiman explores in his book American Gods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods

Great discussion and I was going to say exactly the same thing as Greenleaf re: American Gods - fantastic book and interesting concept about 'old' Gods forgotten in favour of 'new' Gods!

I don't feel the need to communicate with a specific deity; to me they are manifistations of a universal spirit, created by mankind to explain or represent particular facets of existence. I remain open-minded though.

[Greenleaf]

Great discussion and I was going to say exactly the same thing as Greenleaf re: American Gods - fantastic book and interesting concept about 'old' Gods forgotten in favour of 'new' Gods!

I don't feel the need to communicate with a specific deity; to me they are manifistations of a universal spirit, created by mankind to explain or represent particular facets of existence. I remain open-minded though.

The American gods book does sound juicy, I'm such a bookworm so I'll definitely be reading that

I read a quote from Swami Vivekananda - via George Harrison , which went something like this - If there is a god , then we must see him , and if there is a soul then we must percieve it , otherwise it is better not to believe, it's better to be an outspoken atheist than a hypocrite.

I'm agnostic so I dunno if gods/goddesses exist, I will keep my mind open if they want to come knocking. For now I'll consider the views of the Naturalist druids as that seems to fit my current vision.