Religion: Fact Or Fiction?

“	Originally Posted By: aaradia Also modern Witchcraft has the Supreme Diety as either a Goddess, or as inclusive of all Genders. My Craft tradition has such a Female Diety (which in public circles is referred to as the Star Goddess) In my tradition, Dieties seem to have a gender, but really are inclusive of other genders within themselves too. It is my personal belief that most Dieties wear gender to their followers like we choose what clothes to wear. They really are not limited like we are, but may be more in personality like what we consider as Masculine or Feminine. Certainly not the same as the Christian Supreme Deity. -aaradia	”

Very cool, so I take it you are a Wiccan?

__________________
Oh THAT'S how that works!

“	Originally Posted By: Mei Hua Druidic, You also have the Greek god Zeus, In Chinese belief systems you have the Jade Emperor, and many, many more. So while they may all be supreme gods, they are not the god of Christianity.	”

Just wanted to add that the idea of supreme varies too. While Zeus was, and is, the supreme Deity, he was not Omnipitent and Omniscient in the way that most Monotheistic traditions view their Deity.

Also wanted to point out that there is a growing movement (both within Greece and in other parts of the world) of Greek Reconstructionist religion. So, Zeus is still worshipped by both Hellenic's and other less traditional Pagan/ Witch traditions.

-aaradia

__________________
I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me & through me.& when it has gone I will turn to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remain.F.Herbert

“	Originally Posted By: Mei Hua Very cool, so I take it you are a Wiccan?	”

Well, yes and no Mei Hua. Now you are touching on the lovely (said sarcastically) politics of modern Witchcraft. *sigh*


The term Wiccan is said by some to only refer to the Witchcraft traditon by Gerald Gardner. Some Gardnerians get really uppity at the way Wiccan now is used by many non-Gardnerian Witches.

Many Witches (such as myself) will use the term because it is a good generic form to introduce people to the idea without them freaking out when I say "my religion is Witchcraft." It is easier to say "I am Wiccan" and introduce them to the word Witch when they get to know you better and won't assume the worst stereotype when hearing that word.

And now the term is used derisively by some to refer to those that don't truly study the religion seriously enough. Wiccan is now considered a loaded word by others who consider it equivalent to "white lighters" or "fluffy bunnies"
The short version of this long story is that those terms would be the equivalent of a "McDojo" black belt in martial arts.

(There are LOTS of similar politics in Wicca/ Witchcraft that plague the martial arts community!)

More than you probably ever wanted to know huh? So, Yes, I am Wiccan, although I prefer the term Witch myself!

-aaradia

__________________
I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me & through me.& when it has gone I will turn to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remain.F.Herbert

“	Originally Posted By: aaradia Well, yes and no Mei Hua. Now you are touching on the lovely (said sarcastically) politics of modern Witchcraft. *sigh* The term Wiccan is said by some to only refer to the Witchcraft traditon by Gerald Gardner. Some Gardnerians get really uppity at the way Wiccan now is used by many non-Gardnerian Witches. Many Witches (such as myself) will use the term because it is a good generic form to introduce people to the idea without them freaking out when I say "my religion is Witchcraft." It is easier to say "I am Wiccan" and introduce them to the word Witch when they get to know you better and won't assume the worst stereotype when hearing that word. And now the term is used derisively by some to refer to those that don't truly study the religion seriously enough. Wiccan is now considered a loaded word by others who consider it equivalent to "white lighters" or "fluffy bunnies" The short version of this long story is that those terms would be the equivalent of a "McDojo" black belt in martial arts. (There are LOTS of similar politics in Wicca/ Witchcraft that plague the martial arts community!) More than you probably ever wanted to know huh? So, Yes, I am Wiccan, although I prefer the term Witch myself! -aaradia	”

I honestly did not know any of that, thanks for telling me, and I actually find it very interesting.

__________________
Oh THAT'S how that works!

An information resource on various religions.


http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclop...t-of-religions

__________________
Oh THAT'S how that works!

a good link for creation myths from around the world http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html trying still no dots ...........................no couldnt do it...............................interestingly the current scientific myth of the big bang is not included.......................

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

Plum dragon said "your devotion to a blind faith vs our devotion to scientific proof."

i think maybe you should read my posts again.

at this present moment in time i do NOT have a blind belief in creationism.

niether do i have a blind beleif in supposed materialistic objectivism.

the main thrust of any of my arguments within this subject area is that dogmatic belief of any sort stunts the individual.

be that belief in god or no god............................................... ......................

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

By definition the Jewish/Christian/Islam is THE supreme deity:

He/She/It (sex is really not an appropriate concept) is defined as "The Self Existant One".
The one that precedes ALL, the one that is subject to NONE.

There cannot be any debate over the supremacy of this deity.
Argue the existance, argue over which conceptualisations/approximations are most accurate, argue over who was a true spokesman for, which is the right colour tunic to wear, but supremacy is a matter of definition.

JM

PS The question about want went before is irrelevant. Religion is a human construct. An attempted response. "The Self Existant One" would, once again by definition, precede any religion(s) attempting to come to terms with this reality.

PPS Having a Supreme deity does not a supreme religion make....

<<Having a Supreme deity does not a supreme religion make>>

very good point
A concept of a supreme diety is still a supreme seperation

when asked about a God or a belief in a God our temple has a simple statement

"in true oneness there is no one"

__________________
You are not where you have been and you are not where you are going you are only here.

“	Originally Posted By: FightingFat What a strange idea. 1. You don't necessarily go to hell, if you're a nice bloke. 2. Eternal damnation is a hell of alot better than an Eternal Slumber???????? Ever read Dante's inferno? Burning in agony for ever?	”

better that , then never breatheing again. Never existing for the rest of eternity. besies listen to this:

Why Worry?

Why worry?
there are only to things u should be worry about;
if your sick or well.
your well u dont need to worry

if ur sick, there is only 2 things to worry about;
if you will get better or die
if you get better then dont worry.

if you die, there is only 2 things to worry about;
if your gonna go to heaven or hell.
if you go to heaven then dont worry.

However if u go to hell,
you will be to busy shaking hands with your friends to worry.

lol i love that poem, friend has it on a poster on his wall.

thats roughly wht it says.

__________________
Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare.

Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us

www.myspace.com/loveiscancer
www.xanga.com/loveiscancer

God created the world, the universe, all things, out of nothing, but if there was nothing how was god created?
By all known proven physical theories, it's impossible to materialize from nothing, so is it truly possible that god just appeared from nothing with all his power, or is it perhaps just a story created by man to explain all the things we do not know, and as a way to deal with all our suffering and give us something to hope for when we die; i.e. heaven.

What are your thoughts, ideas, or theories?

__________________
Oh THAT'S how that works!

"God created the world, the universe, all things, out of nothing, but if there was nothing how was god created?"...........instead of GOD in that sentance substitute "the big bang"....does it make any more sense now??????

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

“	Originally Posted By: Wingnut "God created the world, the universe, all things, out of nothing, but if there was nothing how was god created?"...........instead of GOD in that sentance substitute "the big bang"....does it make any more sense now??????	”

Never said it did, but at least there's been more proof of big bang than god.

__________________
Oh THAT'S how that works!

as

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

as for heaven.......either a memory of some form gnosis.....or a way to control the population (do what your yold and youll go to heaven)......or its real.........or something else.............

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley