Ask a Pagan

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

This is interesting

another question concerning this quote. Q. Do you believe in God?

Yes...I'm not sure about ALL Pagans, but most do. I, for example, believe in all Gods and Goddesses as being aspects of a single divinity. Jehova, the Judeo-Christian God, is one of these aspects that I believe in.

What is your opinion of one of these gods or 'one of these aspects' claiming to be the only true God. For instance the God of the Jews and Christianity calls himself the 'I AM' and one of His biblical names is 'El Elyon', 'the God most high'.

Bless you Shy21

pensive · Feb 20, 2005

God_of_Mercy said:
Why is paganism so broad?

For the same reason monotheism is so broad. Paganism isn't a religion, per se. It's a term that can be used to describe or classify a large number of religions.

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

Morningstar, looks like your string has been hijacked.

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

God_of_Mercy said:
Why is paganism so broad?

WitchVox said:
Pagans:
Paganism is not a single religion, but an umbrella term for all those religions other than the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A Pagan is a person who follows one of those "other" faiths. Many Witches, Wiccans, Reconstructionists, and other Neo-Pagans simply identify themselves as "Pagan" or "Neo-pagans" when talking with others who may not be familiar with the complexity of the different belief systems. This can make it sound like "Paganism" is a religion instead of a collection of religions. Neo-paganism should also not be confused with the "New Age" movement, as Pagans are almost exclusively involved in distinctive religions while New Age spirituality draws from many sources and esoteric spiritual techniques which are generally added as an extra layer on top of whatever religion one normally follows.

Note: The word 'Pagan" itself comes from the Latin paganu(m), for "someone who is not from the city, rather from the country." In Late Latin, this turned into pagensis, "one who is from the country," and this ultimately became the French pays and the Spanish Pa's, both meaning "nation."-(From Etymologically Speaking at www.westegg.com/etymology/)

Back in ancient Rome, the country dwellers were not only the last to hear of Christianity, but the least likely to convert. They relied on fertility gods for their survival.

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

Wakeup2god said:
Morningstar, looks like your string has been hijacked.

Actually, I had hoped for people of various pagan religions to jump in and answer questions. I'm not representative of all Pagans.

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

What is your opinion of one of these gods or 'one of these aspects' claiming to be the only true God. For instance the God of the Jews and Christianity calls himself the 'I AM' and one of His biblical names is 'El Elyon', 'the God most high'.

I view the God of the Jews & Christians as the creator of Adam & Eve, but I do not view Adam & Eve as the first humans in existence. I also believe as stated in Exodus 20:5, that He is a jealous God and does not want His people to worship the other Gods and Goddesses. Because I do not view myself as a decendant of Adam & Eve (God's people) -- I also do not see this command being directed at myself.

--This is just my view though.

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

slightly out of context but I see what you're trying to say

I also believe as stated in Exodus 20:5, that He is a jealous God and does not want His people to worship the other Gods and Goddesses

Ex 20:3 You shall have no other Gods before me.
Ex 20:4 You shall not make for yourself an idol.
Ex 20:5 You shall not bow down or worship them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God..

So next question. By your reply you obviously believe in the existance of this/my God. Do you then believe the bible to be inspired by my God, and if so what are your thoughts on His claim to be the creator of everything and all life and the God most high?

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

I believe that some parts of the Bible are in fact divinely inspired...most of the old testament and possibly some of the new testament.

I think that, perhaps like Zeus, the Christian/Jewish God is egocentric.

God_of_Mercy · Feb 20, 2005

Now this is the part that gets me. You say you know what pleases the divine and the divine's will but with so many gods and such how to you have a clue? Another question, would you consider the golden calf the hebrews made an aspect of the divine? And just a side note. God said not to have any gods before Him because He does not want us following things that dont exist.

God_of_Mercy · Feb 20, 2005

"and it harm none, do what you will"

Exactly how far does this extend? Does this mean you cant hunt at all? if so lets set up a scenario. Lets say your in the desert with no food, a gun, and some water. Do you kill animals in the desert to survive or die of starvation?

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

You say you know what pleases the divine and the divine's will but with so many gods and such how to you have a clue?

I don't know. I try my hardest to connect with the Gods & Goddesses that I worship. It's not so much about pleasing or appeasing the Divine as it is showing that you are thankful.

Another question, would you consider the golden calf the hebrews made an aspect of the divine?

I believe that the golden calf is symbolic of an Egyptian moon God...but I haven't studied the Egyptian pantheon enough to know for sure...but it is probably representative of one of the Egyptian Gods.

Since both Christians and Jews are commanded by their God to have no other Gods, I advise against them worshipping any other Gods.

Bookofknowledge · Feb 20, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
Yes...I'm not sure about ALL Pagans, but most do. I, for example, believe in all Gods and Goddesses as being aspects of a single divinity.

According to your believe, you believe in all Gods and Goddesses - How are you able to come to conclusion that there are more then one GOD?

Since you believe in all GODs - what is your claim in creation of mankind because not all claims Adam was the first creation of Mankind?

morningstar2651 · Feb 20, 2005

God_of_Mercy said:
Exactly how far does this extend? Does this mean you cant hunt at all? if so lets set up a scenario. Lets say your in the desert with no food, a gun, and some water. Do you kill animals in the desert to survive or die of starvation?

Actually I'd probably die of thirst long before starvation...

The reasoning behind the Rede is the threefold law. It states that both the good and the evil that one creates in the world will be returned threefold (in joy or suffering).

Ideally, I wouldn't harm an animal...and ideally I wouldn't be stupid enough to get myself stranded in the desert. If it came down to it...I probably would hunt for survival if the need arose and I would accept my punishment when it came.

Proud Hindu · Feb 20, 2005

Bookofknowledge said:
According to your believe, you believe in all Gods and Goddesses - How are you able to come to conclusion that there are more then one GOD?

How are you able to come to the conclusion that there is even such a thing as God?

Bookofknowledge · Feb 20, 2005

Proud Hindu said:
How are you able to come to the conclusion that there is even such a thing as God?

Miracles performed by Prophets of GOD and knowledge revealed by GOD.

Stages of human creation

23:12
Indeed We have created man from an essence of clay,

23:13
then placed him as a drop of sperm in a firm resting place,

23:14
then changed the sperm into a leechlike mass, then leechlike mass into a fetus lump, then fetus lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought him forth as quite a different creature from the embryo - so blessed is Allah, the best of all creators.

23:15
Then after living for a while you shall all die,

23:16
then most surely you shall be raised to life again on the Day of Resurrection.

Bookofknowledge · Feb 20, 2005

56:57
We have created you: will you not then testify about Our power of creation?

56:58
Have you ever considered the sperm you discharge:

56:59
Is it you who create the child from it, or are We the Creator?

56:60
It is We Who have ordained death among you and We are not helpless

56:61
in replacing you by others like yourselves or transforming you into beings that you do not know.

56:62
You already know well your first creation, why then do you not take heed?

56:63
Have you ever considered the seed that you sow in the ground?

56:64
Is it you who cause it to grow or are We the grower?

56:65
If it be Our Will, We could crumble your harvest into chaff, and you would then be left in lamenting:

56:66
"We are indeed left laden with debts,

56:67
indeed we have been deprived from the fruits of our labor!"

56:68
Have you ever considered the water which you drink?

56:69
Is it you who send it down from the clouds or are We the sender?

56:70
If it be Our Will, We could turn it salty. Why then do you not give thanks?

56:71
Have you ever considered the fire that you kindle?

56:72
Is it you who grow the tree which feeds the fire or are We the grower?

56:73
We have made it a reminder for man as to what would be the life without it, and a provision of life for the travellers of desert.

56:74
So glorify the name of your Rabb, Who is the Greatest.

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

I suppose the only way you would believe in my God as the most high and only true God would be if He revealed himselg to you personally. Would you be open to that?

Proud Hindu · Feb 20, 2005

Bookofknowledge said:
Miracles performed by Prophets of GOD and knowledge revealed by GOD.

Do you blindly accept everything in the Quran? If the Quran said there were many gods, would you believe that?

I respect your faith in the Quran, but you Muslims should respect other's beliefs in their God/Gods.

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

Was just wondering Jerusha_girl, why are you so worried?

Wakeup2god · Feb 20, 2005

That was addressed to anyone and everyone. Is there a problem, have I offended you?

The second post asking why you were worried reffers to your smiley icon that says 'worried'

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