Religious themed post under cut- cranky & a bit cynical tone- no personal insults meant. Public in case anyone wants to point others this way( Read more... )
By your explanation I would be religious, not spiritual. I think it comes down to, "Ask not what your Gods can do for you..."
The thing is, some people will claim to be polytheists and then say that the Gods don't really interact with humans, etc. If you believe the Gods are real, what is the point of offering if you are not connecting with Them? Now granted, everyone has different levels of interaction with the Gods and no one is "lesser" because they don't have a "God-phone", etc. I believe firmly in the sacred in the everyday and that the Gods and wights manifest in the blessings of life in this world.
That said, when I have said "I serve my Gods", it's gotten strange looks, and I think a lot of people, even polytheists, are uncomfortable with the idea of serving Deity. I know some people got into Heathenry in the 1990s during the time when it was widely proclaimed "WE DO NOT KNEEL BEFORE OUR GODS WE STAND BEFORE THEM AS EQUALS." Except that the Gods are not our equals, and there is, indeed, a middle way that is neither being equal to the Gods nor equating Them as omnipotent/omniscient such as YHWH, et al.
The word "fulltrui" is used in modern Icelandic to mean "legal representative". I think of this relationship as being reciprocal. It means that my fulltrui represents my interests before the Gods, and I in turn try to work Their agenda here on Midgard, to the best of my ability.
There are times when I will offer and ask my Gods, wights, etc, for things. Most of the time I just offer to say "thank You". I think when all things are seen as interconnected and the world is seen as alive, filled with wights and Wyrd, it is good to take time out and acknowledge this. Offering too much can be problematic, but then again if gratitude is cultivated, "too much" becomes relative.
While I have used the term "spirituality" in terms of dialoguing with people of different paths, by this definition I would be more religious. I don't think I am entitled to everything and I have seen exactly what you are talking about, most often in New Age circles and those influenced by it (some Wiccans, even some Heathens usually coming from a Wiccan background).
Anyway, this is really an excellent way of putting things! I enjoyed reading this, it definitely resonates.
I think anyone bound/owned etc cant help but be religious v spiritual, its the very definition. Its pretty much predicated on one's understanding of the concept of sacrifice- either a gift for a gift quid pro quo mentality, or earnest gift. Its one of those deep philosphical divides nobody in our community has really confronted yet.
By your explanation I would be religious, not spiritual. I think it comes down to, "Ask not what your Gods can do for you..."
The thing is, some people will claim to be polytheists and then say that the Gods don't really interact with humans, etc. If you believe the Gods are real, what is the point of offering if you are not connecting with Them? Now granted, everyone has different levels of interaction with the Gods and no one is "lesser" because they don't have a "God-phone", etc. I believe firmly in the sacred in the everyday and that the Gods and wights manifest in the blessings of life in this world.
That said, when I have said "I serve my Gods", it's gotten strange looks, and I think a lot of people, even polytheists, are uncomfortable with the idea of serving Deity. I know some people got into Heathenry in the 1990s during the time when it was widely proclaimed "WE DO NOT KNEEL BEFORE OUR GODS WE STAND BEFORE THEM AS EQUALS." Except that the Gods are not our equals, and there is, indeed, a middle way that is neither being equal to the Gods nor equating Them as omnipotent/omniscient such as YHWH, et al.
The word "fulltrui" is used in modern Icelandic to mean "legal representative". I think of this relationship as being reciprocal. It means that my fulltrui represents my interests before the Gods, and I in turn try to work Their agenda here on Midgard, to the best of my ability.
There are times when I will offer and ask my Gods, wights, etc, for things. Most of the time I just offer to say "thank You". I think when all things are seen as interconnected and the world is seen as alive, filled with wights and Wyrd, it is good to take time out and acknowledge this. Offering too much can be problematic, but then again if gratitude is cultivated, "too much" becomes relative.
While I have used the term "spirituality" in terms of dialoguing with people of different paths, by this definition I would be more religious. I don't think I am entitled to everything and I have seen exactly what you are talking about, most often in New Age circles and those influenced by it (some Wiccans, even some Heathens usually coming from a Wiccan background).
Anyway, this is really an excellent way of putting things! I enjoyed reading this, it definitely resonates.
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