Raincloud

A Buddhist would ask: Does RevJohnG exist, or does what we believe is RevJohnG keep changing and is not constant? A Platonist would ask: What is more real the RevJohnG that exists on earth, or the perfect archetype (Form) of RevJohnG in the otherworld? I think the answer is somewhere in the middle (in my humble opinion). in terms of deities, we are really talking about our invisible friends, so there will always be a loose definition of existence there. IMHO

I'm a soft polytheist. Wiccan style. So just as the Christians see God emanating as 3, we see God emanating as multiple Gods. For a soft polytheist, all gods are one god, all goddesses are on goddess. I mainly honour the horned God Cernunos and Irish Goddess The Morrighan. Mainly because both have approached me. I was honouring Egyptian Gods, but I've left that scene.

There is a minority movement within the witchcraft community to reclaim the use of the title Warlock for male witches, but at the moment it's a minor movement and controversial. Oberon Zell Ravenheart, a prominent pagan, self identifies as a 'Wizard'. I'm a student at his Grey School. http://www.greyschool.com/

There is the book of shadows that each coven/witch has. But I'm sad to report that Literalism and Fundamentalism and fights over the word 'Wiccan' are quite prevalent in 2013 in the pagan community.

usually it's considered ideas such as the Wiccan Rede, and the duality of male/female deity. It's not so much dogmas as accepted general practice. As Salemwitchchild says there is usually no dogma. There are of couse pagans who try to create a kind of fundamentalist requirements for paganism and Wicca. But they are such a minority that most ignore them.

Hi Mate, First of all A.J.Drew is not really the best author to read on this subject. He has also converted back to Catholicism and now denounces Wicca. But I will answer your question, the best I can. It is believed by some that individual souls choose where they reside in the afterlife, and choose the nature of their rebirth. In New Age circles it's called a 'soul contract'. A lot of Wiccans have this general belief, however it's not universally recognised and is not really an established dogma of Wicca.

Excellent! Praise the makers!

As a former Christian, following a Wiccan-ish path now, I've come to know few Wiccans that have much love for the way Christians behave. Of course I can throw a rock down the street and hit a Christian that hates just about every other group besides his/her own denomination. If you are a Christian Universalist, or Wiccan, or other... how do you see those two ideas of faith existing alongside? Are one or both false? Are they just accents of a universal path we are all walking? Does your Universalism come before your branch of religion?

Wow, that is a really good design!! Blessed Be!

Thanks Dorian. Good Sources. I can't help but have a soft spot for Kirby.

Anne is pretty active on her Facebook Fan page most of the time. https://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage

I follow a modern eclectic form of Wicca. In my tradition, we don't pretend that everything we do stretches back to the Ancients. For example the circle casting rituals come from John Dee, a Christian Magician. Wicca can vary between hard and soft polytheism, with some strict Duo-theism (everything from the Lord and Lady). Most see the Source as the Goddess, and she creates her son, which becomes her husband. Then the myriad Gods and Goddess as emanations of this original source. One thing I like about the Modern Wicca I practice is that we can honour the Gods and Goddesses of other pantheons without too much 'Fundie protest'. At the end of the day, I think "polytheism' is about seeing God as 'plural', instead of 'singular'. As the Elohim, instead of Just Yahweh.

I see my views as more 'classical liberalism'.

All workers every where deserve the human right to unionise and collectivise.

Pretty much why this elevation of science into religion, annoys me. Look at what Science has had to go though to get independence from religion, now New Ages wanna put it back into religion? Or mix science in with their worship? I know I won't win this argument with many, because Science is not respected these days it's revered. It's the revering I don't like. I wrote this on facebook just then: One should respect Science, not revere or worship it. Science should not replace philosophy, art, politics or religion. Respect it instead. Respect that science needs to be separate from worship or reverence. If you want to revere something then have a religion. If you want a philosophy to live life, then read philosophy. Don't elevate science above what it is, because ultimately that disrespects it's needed independence.

Easy. I don't use "science" to learn about life. I don't ask for focus studies of whether I should leave my front door today. I don't replace philosophy, spirituality and religion with Science. I don't replace Wisdom and common sense with Science. I understand 'Science' is one area of knowledge seeking, that I do not elevate above all else. In short I do not worship Science.

I'm Wiccan. Wiccans traditionally believe in reincarnation. But there is no real teaching, no real dogma. More a general belief. This is what attracts me to the religion in the first place I tend to lean toward the Buddhist teachings. I don't believe in the New Age idea that we pick and choose stuff. I don't believe in soul contracts. I believe it's much more involuntary. I think there is much more bastardry involved. The universe is not a kind place, and feels fit to chew us up and spit us out on a regular basis. Which ties in more with the suffering notion the Buddhists mention. (Although opinions vary in Buddhism. You have your fluffy bunny buddhists too).

Doesn't go against the Second Amendment of the Constitution? They'll let one minister perform ceremonies but not another?

Freedom is not American Thankfully I have Australian Freedom, which is superior to American Freedom. *lights a match and runs*

7“Wen you guys pray, no say any kine stuff dat mean notting. Get odda peopos all ova da world dat make lidat. Dey tink God goin lissen to dem cuz dey say so plenny stuff wen dey pray. 8No make like dem, cuz yoa Fadda know awready all da stuff you need, befo you aks him. 9So, pray lidis, ‘God, you our Fadda. You stay inside da sky. We like all da peopo know fo shua how you stay, An dat you stay good an spesho, An we like dem give you plenny respeck. 10We like you come King fo everybody now. We like everybody make jalike you like, Ova hea inside da world, Jalike da angel guys up inside da sky make jalike you like. 11Give us da food we need fo every day. 12Hemo our shame, an let us go Fo all da kine bad stuff we do to you, Jalike us guys let da odda guys go awready, An we no stay huhu wit dem Fo all da kine bad stuff dey do to us. 13No let us get chance fo do bad kine stuff, But take us outa dea, so da Bad Guy no can hurt us. [Cuz you our King, You get da real power, An you stay awesome foeva. Dass it!]’ 14“I telling you guys, if you let da odda guys go afta dey do bad kine stuff to you, den yoa Fadda up dea inside da sky goin let you guys go, an hemo yoa shame fo all da kine bad stuff you guys do. 15But if you no let da odda guys go afta dey do bad kine stuff to you, den yoa Fadda no goin let you guys go, an he no goin hemo yoa shame fo all da kine bad stuff you guys do. From: http://www.pidginbible.org/

I would somewhat disagree. When you look at the Baptism of Cornelius. This the first time a Gentile was Baptised. That Gentile was never under the old covenant. He was only every under the new covenant. My ancestry is a mix of Celtic/Anglo Saxon/Germanic. I don't think historically my Ancestors were under the old covenant or Jewish. They have come to Christ, after Christ came to them. But... maybe I'm off topic. Whilst I find some of what Spong says to be good, I think he goes a little too far with re-writing Theology.

Fawzo, I said a prayer to God for you and your family. My impression was that this was going to hit 'emotionally' at a later point. Please know that people do care about you, even from the other side of the globe. Please, if you feel it's getting too much, please pray. *hugs* Dave