Eclectic in the making?

[EarthMom]

I'm confused. And that's probably a huge understatement. I don't know where I fit into the Wide World of Paganism. I don't know if I belong under that umbrella at all, to be honest. (I explained that I've had a years-long attraction to Paganism in my introduction post.)

There are so many reasons for me to be hesitant to embrace this change, not the least of which is my Christian background...I'm very active in my church. I still believe many biblical principles to be valid, but there are just as many that my conscience cannot adhere to anymore. I'm also afraid of confusing my daughters, who have been raised in the Christian faith up to this point. And quite frankly, I'm afraid of scaring my husband, who would think I'd gone off the deep end. I would need to be very sure about my path before making the life-altering decision to change religions. Maybe some of the knowledgeable minds around here can help me figure some things out.

Here's a short list (it is be no means a comprehensive one!) of what I DO believe...
1. All things in the Universe are connected and have power in and of themselves - including thoughts. This is the catalyst of magic.
2. I believe in the power of herbs and Nature for healing...in essence, homeopathy, yet it is so much more!
3. While I believe the Myths were based in reality, the gods and goddesses were not true "gods and goddesses"...I know this requires a lot of explanation of why I believe this way, but I won't get into that now. However, this belief makes worship nearly impossible.
4. I believe in an afterlife.
5. I believe in the Threefold Law.
6. I believe in much of the Wiccan Rede.
7. Here's the real kicker...science. I believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms. Modern-day scientists may not posess all the knowledge to explain the supernatural or paranormal, but I believe the potential exists. I think this must be true if #1 is true.



For every question I answer, a hundred more seem to pop up...it's overwhelming! I don't even know excactly what questions I'm trying to answer by posting this. Help?

[PlaceboArtist]

There are so many reasons for me to be hesitant to embrace this change, not the least of which is my Christian background...I'm very active in my church.

Jesus's teachings can be combined fairly easily with Paganism. You can also still go to church - I know of many atheists who attend church for the peacefulness of the services and the good social support network.

Here's a short list (it is be no means a comprehensive one!) of what I DO believe...
1. All things in the Universe are connected and have power in and of themselves - including thoughts. This is the catalyst of magic.
3. While I believe the Myths were based in reality, the gods and goddesses were not true "gods and goddesses"...I know this requires a lot of explanation of why I believe this way, but I won't get into that now. However, this belief makes worship nearly impossible.
7. Here's the real kicker...science. I believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms. Modern-day scientists may not posess all the knowledge to explain the supernatural or paranormal, but I believe the potential exists. I think this must be true if #1 is true.

This is all fairly close to what I believe. I call myself a Pantheist, if that's at all helpful in your search. Also, if you feel like explaining your position on gods and goddesses by PM I would be interested.

4. I believe in an afterlife.

Afterlife as in going to another place or afterlife as in being reincarnated on earth? That can make a largish difference to which directions you might want to head in your search.

5. I believe in the Threefold Law.
6. I believe in much of the Wiccan Rede.

Most religions (and non-religious philosophies) have a guideline similar to the Threefold Law - a general 'don't be a dick or it'll come back to get you rule'. As for the Wiccan Rede, I'm not hugely familiar with it but AFAIK it's roughly the same? Both things would be compatible with most faiths you could think of, so don't limit yourself to Wicca because you agree with a couple of its creeds.

[yewberry]

Jesus's teachings can be combined fairly easily with Paganism. You can also still go to church - I know of many atheists who attend church for the peacefulness of the services and the good social support network.

I'm afraid flaws with both of these statements. The first is a gross misrepresentation of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. God is pretty clear that other gods are a no-no, period. The second statement is profoundly disrespectful to the actual Christians who attend the OP's church. Christianity of almost every stripe is very much not about just going through the motions.

Brina

[Morphidae]

I'm afraid flaws with both of these statements. The first is a gross misrepresentation of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. God is pretty clear that other gods are a no-no, period. The second statement is profoundly disrespectful to the actual Christians who attend the OP's church. Christianity of almost every stripe is very much not about just going through the motions.

Brina

Yeah, well, the God of the Old and New Testaments is also okay with stoning witches and slavery. It's not a black and white religion.

To the second point, I'm a pagan going to a Christian church. They know it and are quite fine with it. I go for the spirituality not the religion and the support structure. They don't beleive it is disrespectful in the slightest.

[yewberry]

Yeah, well, the God of the Old and New Testaments is also okay with stoning witches and slavery. It's not a black and white religion.

The Ten Commandments are pretty black and white, and adhered to by (to the best of my knowledge) all Christian denominations. People, of course, can and will do whatever they like. I maintain one is playing fast and loose with the rules when one tries to have it both ways.

To the second point, I'm a pagan going to a Christian church. They know it and are quite fine with it. I go for the spirituality not the religion and the support structure. They don't beleive it is disrespectful in the slightest.

Your church leaders know that you worship other gods along with the Christian one and they're totally okay with it? I'm really curious as to your denomination.

Brina

[ConjureWitchery]

I'm confused. And that's probably a huge understatement. I don't know where I fit into the Wide World of Paganism. I don't know if I belong under that umbrella at all, to be honest. (I explained that I've had a years-long attraction to Paganism in my introduction post.)

There are so many reasons for me to be hesitant to embrace this change, not the least of which is my Christian background...I'm very active in my church. I still believe many biblical principles to be valid, but there are just as many that my conscience cannot adhere to anymore. I'm also afraid of confusing my daughters, who have been raised in the Christian faith up to this point. And quite frankly, I'm afraid of scaring my husband, who would think I'd gone off the deep end. I would need to be very sure about my path before making the life-altering decision to change religions. Maybe some of the knowledgeable minds around here can help me figure some things out.

Here's a short list (it is be no means a comprehensive one!) of what I DO believe...
1. All things in the Universe are connected and have power in and of themselves - including thoughts. This is the catalyst of magic.
2. I believe in the power of herbs and Nature for healing...in essence, homeopathy, yet it is so much more!
3. While I believe the Myths were based in reality, the gods and goddesses were not true "gods and goddesses"...I know this requires a lot of explanation of why I believe this way, but I won't get into that now. However, this belief makes worship nearly impossible.
4. I believe in an afterlife.
5. I believe in the Threefold Law.
6. I believe in much of the Wiccan Rede.
7. Here's the real kicker...science. I believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms. Modern-day scientists may not posess all the knowledge to explain the supernatural or paranormal, but I believe the potential exists. I think this must be true if #1 is true.

For every question I answer, a hundred more seem to pop up...it's overwhelming! I don't even know excactly what questions I'm trying to answer by posting this. Help?

EarthMom, you are giving me ideas for my second blog post. If you have anything you would like me to address, please post it and I will try to either blog about it or respond here.

[Egarwaen]

Your church leaders know that you worship other gods along with the Christian one and they're totally okay with it? I'm really curious as to your denomination.

The Unitarian Universalists are, at the very least, very... Er... Universal. However, whether they count as "Christian enough" or not is a matter of some debate.

[yewberry]

The Unitarian Universalists are, at the very least, very... Er... Universal. However, whether they count as "Christian enough" or not is a matter of some debate.

The UU is, at most, nominally Christian in most areas (certainly here on the West Coast, where pretty much anything goes). If Morphidae is UU, then I completely understand why her church doesn't mind her worshiping other gods.

Brina

[Annie Roonie]

2. I believe in the power of herbs and Nature for healing...in essence, homeopathy, yet it is so much more!

7. Here's the real kicker...science. I believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms. Modern-day scientists may not posess all the knowledge to explain the supernatural or paranormal, but I believe the potential exists. I think this must be true if #1 is true.

For every question I answer, a hundred more seem to pop up...it's overwhelming! I don't even know excactly what questions I'm trying to answer by posting this. Help?

Hello and welcome! I haven't been the introductions in a bit, so I'll say it here. Nice to meet you!

For #2 I think you mean herbalism not homeopathy. Science has debunked homeopathy over and over, but science relies upon herbalism frequently. Not the magic of it, but the medicinal and other qualities of herbs.

#7 I think this too. I believe supernatural and paranormal are simply as yet not understood and that one day most things will be.

I don't go to church but your post resonates with me in the confusion and the overwhelming nature of the myriad aspects to paganism. The pagan primer on the homepage of this site helped sort things a bit. I'm not at a place yet where I know for sure what path I am on, and I have no limitations (other than coming out to the local public at large ) about worship, ritual or any observance. All that is to say that even with a bit more freedom, a body can still be confused and overwhelmed so do't feel alone!

I've taken the advice I and others have received here from many and I read and keep reading. The more I do the less confused I am, but I'm still not clear about which path if any I am drawn to or is drawn to me. Animist is a term I looked into and for now it fits, but sometimes a deity fits too.

I think if you allow yourself some leeway in the confusion department and keep investigating, you'll at least be able to find things that interest you or don't. And that's a start. Maybe keep track of the questions you have too. Some may become unimportant and others might end up being the impetus for something wonderful.

Good luck to you!

[Kessei]

7. Here's the real kicker...science. I believe that everything can be explained in scientific terms. Modern-day scientists may not posess all the knowledge to explain the supernatural or paranormal, but I believe the potential exists. I think this must be true if #1 is true.

Now I'm confused! Can you explain what you mean by this being "the real kicker"? The vast majority of neo-pagans I've met hold the same perspective on this that you describe.

For every question I answer, a hundred more seem to pop up...it's overwhelming! I don't even know excactly what questions I'm trying to answer by posting this. Help?

Some people find their comfortable niche under the "umbrella" relatively quickly. Others of us take a lot longer to find a comfortable path, or bounce around, or build a path of our own.

Based on this description of your perspectives/believes, you can be confident saying you fit under that big umbrella somewhere if you feel it's where you belong.

If you're worried about the consequences of making a drastic change...then don't. Ease into things slowly and organically. Just continue developing your interests (like herbalism), pick up related interests and leave books lying around the house in inconspicuous places, talk to your husband about the neat/curious/confusing things you're reading, and eventually those new interests will develop into patterns that nobody really thinks too much about.