Worshiping God and Goddess

[Curious_Kitty]

So let's say that there is one Spirit *the christian God*, and to help understand them better you broke them down into aspects, or personalities *the God and Goddess* and they join together to be the Spirit. The God represents the father aspect of Spirit, and the Goddess represents the female aspect. Would that be considered polytheism?

 

[CelticRavenwolf]

So let's say that there is one Spirit *the christian God*, and to help understand them better you broke them down into aspects, or personalities *the God and Goddess* and they join together to be the Spirit. The God represents the father aspect of Spirit, and the Goddess represents the female aspect. Would that be considered polytheism?

I would hazard to say that it's no more polytheism than the concept of the Holy Trinity - keep in mind that many Christians refute this concept strongly to begin with. It's still not really a Christian view, persay, but if you still consider them one and the same it's not polytheism.

 

[Curious_Kitty]

Good, that was worrying about that. Though, i see how it would be easy to forget that they are the same thing, as with the Holy Trinity, and accidentally start polytheistic worshiping.

 

[blackout]

I do understand the psychological need to merge a bit,
before taking a major paradigm leap.

Maybe my own experience will help you.

The passage in the bible that first gave me "safe confidence"
that I could call "God" "Goddess" was this one.
(paraphrased cause I don't want to take the time to look it up)

"In OUR image we formed them.... man and woman"

So I began to think of god/dess in terms of ying yang.
(not that I ever thought god was ACTUALLY a "male" to begin with)
Obviously if man and woman were created in THEIR image...
both the female AND male attributes belong to god/dess.


Then as my christian training wheels finally came off...
and I was free to ride off into my own freedom
I found mySelf of a more pantheistic/panenthiestic mindset.
ALL is gOd. All that exists, did exist, and potentially exists.
This means that as a WHOLE... there is indeed ONE gOd.
Yet, at the very same time... each individual thing is ALSO gOd.
I am gOddess... my piano is gOddess... my computer is gOd... etc etc
because we are all comprised of the very same "gOd/dess stuff".
The stuff of existence/potential existence itself.

So I am both mono & poly theist at the same time I guess.
or neither. ??



anyway, that's my thing.
Hope it helps.

Good luck in your moving beyond....

 

[CelticRavenwolf]

Ultraviolet - A good point and a very interesting view. Thanks for sharing!

Curious_kitty - Some argue that the worshiping the Trinity IS polytheistic, which is why there are so many sects that do not recognize it and condemn the faiths that do. Catholics still do, Anglicans do, and I'm pretty sure Lutherans and Presbyterians do too. Come to think of it, I think that it's more the "newer" offshoots that reject the Trinity, though if memory serves me there have always been grumblings and disputes about whether or not Jesus is God-come-to-Earth, or literally the son of God, and about the deification of the Holy Spirit.

Long story short - religion is something that no one in this life can prove, thus millions of people around the world believe different things. You can choose a personal spirituality or a communally-approved religion. You can opt to combine the two, but the fact of the matter is that such a highly structured and regimented religion does not tolerate creative thinking. God might, but his church does not. Instead of asking people here for answers, ask your god. Do you think that your dreams were his way of saying that damnation awaits, or do you simply think that it was your own fears run amok?

 

[Curious_Kitty]

Ultraviolet/Celtic Raven- good points. i guess im just gonna have to wrestle with my self and try to find out if it was fear, or God.

Everyone-Thanks for helping me! your viewpoints are all appreciated and helpful

 

[CelticRavenwolf]

You're most welcome. Best of luck on your journey!

 

[AlsoAnima]

Hello.

o.o Wow, my religion suddenly woke up when I was away.

I supposed this has already been solved before I posted but I'll go ahead and throw in my input on the original post.

The Father
The Holy Spirit
The Son

Okay. The Son is a manifestation of the Deity embodied in a form of flesh.
The Father is the male aspect of the Deity
The Holy Spirit, described sometimes as "Mathew's Spiritual Mother" for that disciples strong connection with that aspect, is the female aspect. Also called Wisdom in some parts of the bible. This is the 'missing' female aspect that got glossed over by the patriarchal church set up after Christ's death.

 

[syberpriend]

1st time I hear there is goddess in christianity also, but y christians say Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, y not Son, Holy Ghost n Father?

 

[Jeremiah767]

order of importance to the catholic church at the time, I would guess. The Father being the creator, the son being the savior, and the holy spirit being an entity that embodies divinity in human beings. So it is a all about importance in my opinion.

 

[CelticRavenwolf]

Also it just rolls off the tongue better!

 

[Curious_Kitty]

true. maybe that's the only reason. if all three are the same thing, perhaps there is no order of importance?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I find that Christianity and Wicca work very well together. Much of the symbolism isn't all that different, and Wicca adds a more natural touch to the Christian viewpoint.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Jeremiah767]

I constantly find myself having similar philisophical stances to that of a Christian, but yet for theological reasons, I dropped the religion along time ago. I am curious though as to what specific parts of the bible and/or theological doctrine of christianity do Christian Wiccans subscribe to.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I constantly find myself having similar philisophical stances to that of a Christian, but yet for theological reasons, I dropped the religion along time ago. I am curious though as to what specific parts of the bible and/or theological doctrine of christianity do Christian Wiccans subscribe to.

For me, the symbolism behind the Jesus myth is the classic hero and initiation myth in one. It represents the constant flowing of death and rebirth, and our relationship with the conscious universe (God). In fact, for me, the cross and the pentacle have similar meanings; they both show humanity as the microcosm and the relationship I mentioned above. The pentacle represents the human figure and how it relates to the stuff (classic elements and spirit or metal) of the universe, and the cross how we must sacrifice something of the self (ego) to understand and become closer to God.

The Garden of Eden myth also speaks to me. Especially in how becoming knowledgeable (the eating of the fruit) leads to a dualism of self and not-self, and our estrangement from God and nature. We realize we are naked in a hostile world, and clothe ourselves in armor and ego to survive it.

 

[AlsoAnima]

I constantly find myself having similar philisophical stances to that of a Christian, but yet for theological reasons, I dropped the religion along time ago. I am curious though as to what specific parts of the bible and/or theological doctrine of christianity do Christian Wiccans subscribe to.

You're asking an extremely diverse group. We all see things different ways to be honest. As I've told many people asking about my religion, it's best to ask specific questions when possible.

 

[blackout]

For me, the symbolism behind the Jesus myth is the classic hero and initiation myth in one. It represents the constant flowing of death and rebirth, and our relationship with the conscious universe (God). In fact, for me, the cross and the pentacle have similar meanings; they both show humanity as the microcosm and the relationship I mentioned above. The pentacle represents the human figure and how it relates to the stuff (classic elements and spirit or metal) of the universe, and the cross how we must sacrifice something of the self (ego) to understand and become closer to God.

The Garden of Eden myth also speaks to me. Especially in how becoming knowledgeable (the eating of the fruit) leads to a dualism of self and not-self, and our estrangement from God and nature. We realize we are naked in a hostile world, and clothe ourselves in armor and ego to survive it.

Interesting thoughts from you as always.

I like your take on the garden.

 

[Herr Heinrich]

Ok, so I was raised purely Christian, and taught that there is only one god. Now that I'm trying to incorporate Wicca as well, I find myself having trouble with the whole God/Goddess combination. I know that the one Spirit *or christian God* is just divided into a God and Goddess to make things easier to understand, but I'm still not sure. Can anyone help me understand?

Hello Curious_Kitty! I am not Wiccan or Christian but I do have some advice for you(garnered from my experience of leaving my Catholic faith). Do what you feel is right. No one can tell you what is right or wrong in your heart. Read some books on other religions, think about what you know form modern science, and talk to people. After that sit quietly for a while and ask yourself what feels right.
I did this and it seemed to work out well. For a few years now I have been reading about Daoism and Buddhism even while I was still a devout(at one point fanatical) Catholic. I eventually started questioning everything about Christianity. I have settled with Taoism after a lot of thinking. I still am thinking and searching.
Anyway, do what you feel is right in your heart. Quite your mind and listen. You will eventually hear at least part of your answers.

Love,
Xiao Shu

p.s Sorry I kinda rambled on there.

 

[Curious_Kitty]

Hello Curious_Kitty! I am not Wiccan or Christian but I do have some advice for you(garnered from my experience of leaving my Catholic faith). Do what you feel is right. No one can tell you what is right or wrong in your heart. Read some books on other religions, think about what you know form modern science, and talk to people. After that sit quietly for a while and ask yourself what feels right.
I did this and it seemed to work out well. For a few years now I have been reading about Daoism and Buddhism even while I was still a devout(at one point fanatical) Catholic. I eventually started questioning everything about Christianity. I have settled with Taoism after a lot of thinking. I still am thinking and searching.
Anyway, do what you feel is right in your heart. Quite your mind and listen. You will eventually hear at least part of your answers.

Love,
Xiao Shu

p.s Sorry I kinda rambled on there.

I try doing that, but then when I think I have it figured out, people tell me something different, then i have to go and think again. I love being told new ways to think about things, but it also makes my head spin. I've read books about Buddhism, and tried that for a while. I've read books on Hinduism, Islam, Wicca, Shamanism, Christianity, and more. Every time i think I've got it right, to where it feels perfect, I find something new. I just keep piecing everything together, and I feel like a shopping-cart religious.

 

[Herr Heinrich]

I try doing that, but then when I think I have it figured out, people tell me something different, then i have to go and think again. I love being told new ways to think about things, but it also makes my head spin. I've read books about Buddhism, and tried that for a while. I've read books on Hinduism, Islam, Wicca, Shamanism, Christianity, and more. Every time i think I've got it right, to where it feels perfect, I find something new. I just keep piecing everything together, and I feel like a shopping-cart religious.

Well I suppose just keep looking until you find something that sticks. Perhaps mixing things you liked about all the other religions into your own religion. Kind of like a yummy stir-fry made from the ingredients in your shopping cart.