Why make up your own religion???

[Druweid]

In my experience, this (Universal truth)varies from pagan to pagan. Some have a strong sense that there is something "more real" out there than what we see, and they search for ways to be true to that, knowing that what works for one may not work for another. Other pagans quite frankly don't believe anything is absolute, but that everything is relative. They basically hook onto whatever toots their horn. It goes without saying that "Pagan" is a very broad category - it is almost impossilbe to generalize.

You could compare a Pagan's (or pretty much anyone's) spiritual development with Perry's nine levels of intellectual development. I believe it will adequately explain your observations as stated herein.

Food for thought. Eat heartily.
-- Druweid

 

[Druweid]

Good riddance.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life.


-- Druweid

 

[Druweid]

I think perhaps one very big difference in experience is this: During my years of being ecclectic 1. I was very unhappy and 2. I made some terrible mistakes that caused me a great deal of suffering, and it rather taught me to be a little more humble about my abilities to sort through things on my own. I certainly would not have written this OP a dozen years ago. It is definitely a product of what I've been through.

Here's the rub: You yourself seem to be admitting to have chosen your present "path" based on shortcomings of your previously chosen path. To me, as a Pagan, this seems the right, proper, and logical spiritual development for a person. But now, you turn back and question why others are not yet on a comparable level to yourself? This sounds like a high school graduate looking at a fourth grade class saying, "Haven't you guys learned it all yet?"

Each person who exerts effort toward their own spiritual growth is on the right path. Good or bad, right or wrong, there are lessons needing to be learned and experiences needing to be gained. To disdain or question another because they are still on the lower steps of their ascent to greatness is absurd.

Regards,
-- Druweid

 

[GeratTzedek]

To be very honest, Druweid, I don't think I'm on a higher spiritual level than anyone. Just because I roll my eyes at what someone else does, doesn't mean my own flaws aren't glaringlhy obvioud to me. Truth be told, I'm a hundred time more harsh on myself. But if I started threads addressing my own flaws and talked to myself, it would be awfully looney!

 

[Gardenia]

I think perhaps one very big difference in experience is this: During my years of being ecclectic 1. I was very unhappy and 2. I made some terrible mistakes that caused me a great deal of suffering, and it rather taught me to be a little more humble about my abilities to sort through things on my own. I certainly would not have written this OP a dozen years ago. It is definitely a product of what I've been through.

See, again, this is your experience. What you have been through. I've only been happy as an eclectic pagan, nothing else did it for me. I've encountered no "great mistakes" which caused me to leave - I'm not saying I've made no mistakes, that I've not suffered, but not to the extent that I want to leave my path and can't imagine anyone else wanting to do what I am doing.

A product of what you've been through, but surely you can see not everyone is you. We do not all have the same experiences as you. Even within your own religion, that's why sometimes people convert away from it as well. Because people do that, does that mean you should too? Of course not. Their experiences are not yours. You have been lead to where you are, and everyone else to where they are. It may not all be the same place, but does it mean one is more valid than the other? I don't think so.

Again, it doesn't really make one better that they chose eclecticism, or any other religion, it just makes us different.

 

[FreeSpirit74]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Gardenia again"

Rats.

See, again, this is your experience. What you have been through. I've only been happy as an eclectic pagan, nothing else did it for me. I've encountered no "great mistakes" which caused me to leave - I'm not saying I've made no mistakes, that I've not suffered, but not to the extent that I want to leave my path and can't imagine anyone else wanting to do what I am doing.

A product of what you've been through, but surely you can see not everyone is you. We do not all have the same experiences as you. Even within your own religion, that's why sometimes people convert away from it as well. Because people do that, does that mean you should too? Of course not. Their experiences are not yours. You have been lead to where you are, and everyone else to where they are. It may not all be the same place, but does it mean one is more valid than the other? I don't think so.

Again, it doesn't really make one better that they chose eclecticism, or any other religion, it just makes us different.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I think perhaps one very big difference in experience is this: During my years of being ecclectic 1. I was very unhappy and 2. I made some terrible mistakes that caused me a great deal of suffering, and it rather taught me to be a little more humble about my abilities to sort through things on my own. I certainly would not have written this OP a dozen years ago. It is definitely a product of what I've been through.

If a dozen years ago you understood why someone would make up their own religion, but now you don't, does that mean you've lost understanding over the years?

 

[Crazy Liz]

You could compare a Pagan's (or pretty much anyone's) spiritual development with Perry's nine levels of intellectual development. I believe it will adequately explain your observations as stated herein.

Food for thought. Eat heartily.
-- Druweid

Very interesting link. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Druweid]

To be very honest, Druweid, I don't think I'm on a higher spiritual level than anyone. Just because I roll my eyes at what someone else does, doesn't mean my own flaws aren't glaringlhy obvioud to me.

Whether or not or think or feel yourself to be better than another in any way is not important. Your comments have been very critical. That you are as critical with yourself is, in no way, justification. When you admonish another the same way that you admonish yourself, it has the subtle yet unmistakable connotation of expecting the other to be on the same level as yourself.

The concept of the spiritual and/or moral lesson "treat others as you would have them treat you," has merit, but it cannot be interpreted too broadly. Would you feed a seven year-old the same as a seven month-old? Teach english to a 12 year-old the same as a 2 year-old? Obviously, equal treatment sometimes requires understanding and compensation. Both the seven month-old and seven year-old should receive what is proper for each of them given their condition and circumstances at that time.

You had a choice. You could have simply asked, "Why do you create your own religion?" You did not make that choice, but instead used words like arrogant, audacity, immature, and narcissistic. This gave every outward appearance of having judged the answer before anyone had actually presented one. This, more than anything, should explain the reason for the reactions you have received.

Respectfully,
-- Druweid

 

[Futuwwa]

If there is no universal truth, why bother being spiritual/religious at all. Thank you for your addition. Things are becoming a little clearer to me.

Though I generally agree with the OP, a picked-and-mixed self-syncretized religion would not necessarily be improbable to be true if it would not be exclusivistic. I have yet to see an eclectic Pagan who claims that his gods are the only gods in existence. In fact, I don't think I've met a single one who hasn't either been a pan(en)theist or a traditional polytheist.

 

[Gardenia]

Whether or not or think or feel yourself .....
.........
Respectfully,
-- Druweid

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Ramona]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Gardenia again"

Rats.

Got her for ya.

 

[dlamberth]

I think perhaps one very big difference in experience is this: During my years of being ecclectic 1. I was very unhappy and 2. I made some terrible mistakes that caused me a great deal of suffering, and it rather taught me to be a little more humble about my abilities to sort through things on my own. I certainly would not have written this OP a dozen years ago. It is definitely a product of what I've been through.

In many of the spiritual paths that do dig deeper into the inner life, I feel that a teacher or guide ...someone who has been there before...becomes a must for the seeker. In my own journey, when I worked solo, I found that my own spiritual advancement went at a snails pace, and was not nearly as fun…and with all sorts of mistakes...compared to when I did work with a guide. Because of that, for a lot of people, I do see a lot of advantages in being tied to a single religious path with a guide to work with. A single known path can keep the seeker focused and on track and to be honest, because of that, I feel that's the best route to take for most people. In the same breath, I also feel that a good understanding of the inner spiritual life that one finds in other spiritual paths is a healthy thing to have. I feel that having that info and even experience helps to widen ones own spiritual life.


.

 

[Eudaimonist]

A single known path can keep the seeker focused and on track and to be honest, because of that, I feel that's the best route to take for most people.

I tend to agree, and because of this I don't think that one can ever form a solid "rule" with which to advise people. One can only speak in terms of statistics and generalities. "Most people benefit from..." still begs the question "Yes, but what is right for me?"

Let's also remember that every well-trod path started out as the unknown path or the path less travelled. Without the innovators and ground-breakers, where would we be today?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Druweid]

Let's also remember that every well-trod path started out as the unknown path or the path less travelled. Without the innovators and ground-breakers, where would we be today?

Hmmmm, the word "lemming" comes to mind. But honestly, I've always liked the philosophy "If you and I agreed on everything, there would be no need in this world for one of us."

-- Druweid

 

[AnonymousX]

<<staff edit>>
I know the phrasing makes it sound like I'm angry, but I'm not. It's not a rhetorical question; I am genuinely curious why you think you have the authority to decide what is truth and what is not. It's a way of thinking that I don't understand. My gosh, I have been blessed by G-d with a fantastic intelligence, and I've spent most of my life studying what others have to say, and I would never have the audacity (sorry I can think of no other word) to think that I could make up my own religion. At this point it is hard for me not to see this as incredibly immature and narcisstic. I'm sure it looks quite different to you. Please help me understand you.

Down through history, people simply didn't do what you say you are doing. They believed religions they were taught because they believed them to be correct. It had nothing to do with what they personally thought or wanted or it being convenient. The very very few people in history who actually started new religions, such as Muhammed or Joseph Smith, go through great pains to VALIDATE what they are doing. They make claims such as visions or visits by angels that would set them apart from the average person. They try to show how what they are revealing has been true from the beginning of time. But what they don't do is just say, "Oh I'm making up a new religion." They never treat it like some buffet that they can casually throw together whatever foods they want to make a meal. Now I might not agree with their claims, but I can certainly understand what they are doing. You, I am completely baffled by. Please help me understand you.

Who said I "made up" my religion? and besides even if I did it's called Freedom of religion and Pursuit of Happiness, Basic human rights. ...A winnar is you...

 

[vajradhara]

money.

metta,

~v