Slartibartfast
Registered Member
And why do you believe in them. How were you first alerted to the existence of these gods.
Ostensibly, all of them. Polytheism is an inherently pluralistic viewpoint and I, like most modern polytheists, don't really try to put a limit on the number and identities of gods that might exist.And why do you believe in them. How were you first alerted to the existence of these gods.
Is the man who is having the experience of being Napoleon as real as your experiences and how do you know?Ostensibly, all of them. Polytheism is an inherently pluralistic viewpoint and I, like most modern polytheists, don't really try to put a limit on the number and identities of gods that might exist.
We generally limit ourselves on the number of gods we worship/venerate/honor/work with. But that's a different matter.
As far as why, it varies but mainly I had a series of personal experiences several years ago, typically referred to in the Pagan community as UPG or Unverified Personal Gnosis. Interactions with deities, both in waking and non-waking states, which were consistent with similar experiences from others I knew. A few of those experiences were unverified shared gnosis, rather than just unverified personal gnosis, which to me feels more valid since I can compare my perception with that of others from the same event, and base ideas off of the consistencies between those experiences.
Cthulhu, of course.
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Truth.[#nevermind]
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My notes say Van Lente and Ellis, Why We're Here (n.d.), ca. 2009, per archive record.
In my experience, UPG is qualitatively distinguishable from delusions. Typically, someone with a delusion or hallucination is thoroughly convinced of the reality of it, often to an incredibly intense degree, and usually a delusion pertains to something that contradicts facts and is not a matter of subjective opinion. It's why things like delusions are considered part of a disordered state of mind, such as with mental illness or brain damage. But people who experience UPG tend to be reflexively skeptical of it, cognitively aware of its strangeness. And the things that UPG is about, i.e. religious or spiritual beliefs, are non-falsifiable and are, as such, a matter of subjective opinion.Is the man who is having the experience of being Napoleon as real as your experiences
Like I said above, it's subjective. I don't know, and I've never claimed to have objective knowledge. I am inclined to believe my experiences in part because they are shared experiences, and not just personal ones. I am able to compare, contrast, and analyze what I've seen and heard against the experiences of others. But that's ultimately my subjective analysis of my own perceptions.and how do you know?
I believe there is one God and many gods. As for the source of my belief, I've always had a spiritual side, but could never rationalize it in my mind. I would suggest spirituality comes from the core of your being, whereas the mind is a functional organ of being. The mind has limitations, whereas spirituality has none.And why do you believe in them. How were you first alerted to the existence of these gods.
And how do you define LOVE, Kx000?I believe in LOVE, because I have always been belief inside me.
I agree. Spirituality is pure imagination and imagination has no limits.I believe there is one God and many gods. As for the source of my belief, I've always had a spiritual side, but could never rationalize it in my mind. I would suggest spirituality comes from the core of your being, whereas the mind is a functional organ of being. The mind has limitations, whereas spirituality has none.
Imagination is the product of mind, is it not?I agree. Spirituality is pure imagination and imagination has no limits.