Whats up you guys. i'm kinda new to this forum, still trying to find my way around it. I'm a shaman, which I have heard is a sect of paganism, though shamanism has existed since before paganism, if remember right. Anyways, why are we making a non-christian thread in a christian forum? There is a really nice froum at deoxy.org which is more pagan/shamanism/new age oriented.
But while I'm here I might as well talk. I'm still learning to be a shaman, technically. I started about a year ago after the result of a near-death experience which changed my life completely. I had a something-is-missing kind of feeling. I tried christianity out for a while, but it didn't really feel right. They paid no attention to the metaphysical and in fact looked down on it. So I started getting into paganism, because I had had a lot of wiccan friends before. After trying wicca out for a month or so, I decided it was a good religion and all, but just not what I was looking for. Then I found out about shamanism, and immediately liked it. After a few weeks I found a shaman in the area who was willing to teach me, and after I started, the 'missing' feeling went away, so I knew shamanism was the path for me. I do not deny that wicca and other forms of paganism can be powerful, and I hold them as high in regard as I do shamanism, they are simply different paths in the same forest (the best metaphor I could come up with on the spot).
I personally do not believe in the One Creator theory, I think the phrase "watever the mind can concieve, it can achieve" is very true, and if it is, it logically follows that our minds are omnipotent. The only difference is, a god can snap his fingers and it is so, while we have to work for something we want. But if you truly want something badly enough, nothing is impossible. Its just a question of how hard are you willing to work for it.
Cool thread, btw.