Beliefs

RevDavcurand · Senior Pastor/Site Owner

Beliefs

Kridina · Veteran Member

Merry meet!

As an eclectic pagan, I would say that my core belief that has been unchanging is the belief in a divine source. I believe that all gods and goddesses are simply aspects/extensions of a single divine source. This source is neither male nor female, but has elements of both. It is my belief that perfection is BALANCE, not the absence of the darker nature of things (And what IS evil, anyways? Seems to me that evil is different as you go from person to person, culture to culture) There is one thing I agree with the christian concept of things whole heartedly (There are others) and that is The Divine LOVES us. But, not just us.

Another concept and belief I have clung to throughout the years is re-incarnation. I came to this conclusion due to my belief in the Divine love. I couldn't see how something that loved us would condeme us after just one life. We are human and make some terrible mistakes (Along with wonderful choices). To me, reincarnation is logical. It is my opinion that the Divine WANTS us to achieve what they have. Perfection (IE: Balance). In order to achieve this goal, one lifetime is simply not enough!

And call me naive, but I have a belief in the inherent "good" of humanity. It's just that sometimes it is buried beneath pain, anger, frustration, fear, and at times, a physical/mental problem. I've come across some trully horrid people in my life, but I can honestly say...even in the worst of the worst..there was smething there..some spark. Look for it, my fellow pagans. This does not mean that I think all people will heap good apon their fellow humans (Or the world in general). It simply means that I do not believe that someone can be ALL evil (Theres that word again *Sighs*)

Top this all with my personal motto : "Anything is possible"

I'm always prepared to change my mind.

It's just that in 30 years, the above aforementioned things have only been confirmed over and over in my personal experience.

And where does this all take me? Closer to my goal.

I want balance.

I need balance.

And by gawd...I shall have it!!!

Kridina

Astarte · Member

Merry Meet,

I’m going to take a stab at this. I’m going to use a section in the first chapter of the book Pagainism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham called “Principles of Paganism”, which begins on page 39. I’m going to list their point and then comment on it from my own perspective.

1. Your are responsible for the beliefs you choose to adopt.

One thing I choose to believe is true is that what we do “will come back”. This is what I consider karma, which some refer to as “The Law of Consequences.” My personal view on karma is influenced by my study of theosophy.

Karma is a Sanskrit term expressing tersely the principle of action and reaction, or the law of consequences. … Karma is a law of ethical justice that not only works on this physical plane but also on the mental and spiritual planes. [This is my personal view on ”The Three-Fold Law”]

Karma: The Law of Consequences by Gertrude W. van Pelt, M.D.

[from the Introductory]

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/gdpmanu/karma/karm-gp.htm

In The Key to Theosophy, H. P. Blavatsky defines karma as

. . . the Ultimate Law of the Universe, the source, origin and fount of all other laws which exist throughout Nature. Karma is the inerring law which adjusts effect to cause, on the physical, mental and spiritual planes of being. As no cause remains without its due effect from greatest to least, from a cosmic disturbance down to the movement of your hand, and as like produces like, Karma is that unseen and unknown law which adjusts wisely, intelligently and equitably each effect to its cause, tracing the latter back to its producer. -- p. 201, orig. ed.

RevDavcurand · Senior Pastor/Site Owner

Rember Anita that the "Principles of Paganism" were many not just one and listing them real quickly they are:

1.) You are responsible for the beliefs you choose to adopt. You are in control of what you choose to believe, especially when it comes to ideas about spirituality, ethics, values, the nature of the Divine, the nature and purpose of the physical world, and your place in it. The power to choose your beliefs resides in you - not in an institution, church, or government. It is important that you take responsibility for the beliefs you adopt because beliefs act as templates around which you build your reality. You will tend to interpret experience and information to fit what your beliefs tell you to expect, while filtering out information that does not fit. To a great extent, your beliefs shape both the interior and exterior world you create for yourself. Regardless of the beliefs impressed on you in the past, you are in control of what you choose to adopt as your beliefs now. Pagans accept their responsibility to become more self-aware, identify the beliefs they are allowing to operate in their lives, and then to examine the merits of those beliefs periodically.

2.) You are responsible for your own actions and your spiritual and personal development. The development of a conscience, or personal ethic, and then the application of that ethic to everyday life is the responsibility of every person. Any resource, teacher, practice, or holy writing that helps you move toward your goal of spiritual maturity can and should be used. Resources, must give to his or her own growth, however since growth is a muscle you must exercise yourself. Spiritual muscles don't get strong by letting other people do your work for you. Pagans strive to become spiritually mature and to take responsibility for their beliefs, actions, and spiritual growth.

3.) You are responsible for deciding who or what Deity is for you, and forming a relationship with that Deity. Someone who joins a particular faith has gone through the process of deciding what Deity is for them and that the faith they are joining is a good match. Pagans openly acknowledge this process and are open to a variety of ideas about Deity. Pagans have many images of Deity, including multiple images, male, female, animal, energy or spirit images, or no images at all.

4.) Everything contains the spark of intelligence. From the smallest atom to the largest planetary system, each part of the world contains a form of consciousness or spark of intelligence. In the physical realm, consciousness exhibits as awareness, personality, energetic vibrations, or other characteristics that are in keeping with the particular physical form. Science and mysticism both suggest that consciousness is multidimensional, that it folds and unfolds into physical reality from unseen realms, and its expression in the physical world is only a part of its greater reality.

5.) Everything is sacred. Sacredness means different things to different Pagans. To some it means that all parts of the universe are precious, and worthy of respect and careful handling. To others it implies a feeling of kinship, of connection, a kind of cosmic brother- or sisterhood. To others sacredness means that something is holy, having been created, blessed, or approved by a Deity. For some Pagans, this principle also relates to how Deity is involved with the physical and nonphysical universes, and whether by its nature the universe is good or evil. Many Pagans see Deity as penetrating the universe in one way or another. The result of this particular view, however, is that if Deity permeates everything, then everything is sacred. Nothing is cut off or isolated from the Divine Ground. The dualism that says that the physical is bad and the spiritual is good has no meaning to a Pagan. This brings us naturally to the second point, then, since if nothing is cut off from the Divine Ground, then neither are you. Your human nature is not inherently flawed. Do not confuse this issue with one of behavior. People can choose to act in ways that are destructive, but Pagans tend to treat behavior as a separate issue from the question of whether or not human nature is corrupt.

6.) Each part of the universe can communicate with each other part, and these parts often cooperate for specific ends. Here is the crux of magick. Magick is a completely natural process, which, in its simplest form, is the communication and cooperation of many consciousnesses. Other religions call this same process prayer, meditiation, inspiration, synchronicity, or miracles.

7.) Consciousness survives death. Consciousness, as was earlier suggested, exists on multiple levels simultaneously, and physical reality is only one expression of it. Physical existence can be seen as the intrusion of consciousness into the world of matter, and death as the withdrawing, or enfolding, of it back into other dimensions. Pagans hold a variety of views of what happens after death, and most, though not all, believe in an afterlife.

(This excerpt was taken from Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham, pgs. 39-41)1

These all affect how we approch our paths but also remeber that they also refer to seeing life with filters and that we should attempt to remove those filters and see life in a new light, and a new way.

-- Edited by RevDavcurand at 00:38, 2004-07-31

-- Edited by RevDavcurand at 00:39, 2004-07-31

-- Edited by RevDavcurand at 00:43, 2004-07-31

Riya Nyghte · Member

OK, Well Dave you know how hard-headed, and confusing I can be but this response may surprise you. What do I believe in? The core of my belief is LIFE. I believe that all things you do you should do for your life. This goes farther than karma or any other foreign or complicated word you would like to tag it with. This goes beyond karma and reincarnation. Life is life, there is no explanation. That's the wonderful simplicity in my otherwise chaotic world. I live for life, I love and love for life. Doea this make sense to you? If not, ask me specific questions and I'll explain it.