Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Attila722 · 08-10-2002, 05:00 PM

I have considered myself a Deist for a long time. However, I have several really close friends who are Witches, Wiccans and Pagans and have been reading some on the subject for the past few months. I started out reading about the subject out of my own curiostiy in a desire to know more about my friends religion and have liked what I read. They have not prostelytized at all, which is nice as I see that as a big turn off, and one of the many reason I detest xtianity and the Abrahamic triad.

Being a conservationist I like the some of the ideas of Wicca. I also like the idea of God in nature, or nature being God. Something akin to Paines statement about seeing the face of God through the medium of science.

Can one be a Deist with Pagan leanings?

Heathen Dawn · 08-10-2002, 09:05 PM

I used to be a Deist in past, but now I'm a full-blown naturalistic pantheist and nature-worshipper.

When you look at a tree, which of the options is more appealing? That the tree is a reflection of the creative power of an invisible, unsensed creator, or that the tree is divinity itself? The trouble with any belief system of a transcendent creator, including Deism, is that you conclude Nature is not THE thing, and there is something even more wonderful hiding under the veil. I find this disturbing. To me, Nature itself is THE thing, it is real divinity in itself, and there is nothing veiled, hidden to look for.

I used to be a theist and later a Deist and worshipped a hidden God. Then later, when I learnt more about evolution, and came to realize the creator (nature) and the creation (nature) are one and the same, I worship nature herself. You know you have fully departed from the Abrahamic mind-cage when you start worshipping real material things instead of a mystic puff of smoke.

ShottleBop · 08-10-2002, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Can one be a Deist with Pagan leanings?

Only until the great Deist Inquisition catches up to you.

Quote:

They have not prostelytized at all, which is nice as I see that as a big turn off, and one of the many reason I detest xtianity and the Abrahamic triad.

You've met Jewish missionaries?!

Eudaimonist · 08-11-2002, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShottleBop:
<strong>Only until the great Deist Inquisition catches up to you.</strong>

Nobody expects the Deist Inquisition!

Seriously, nobody does.

squiddy · 08-11-2002, 08:36 PM

Attila722 wrote:

"I have several really close friends who are Witches, Wiccans and Pagans"

Yeah, me too!

"They have not prostelytized at all..."

Ugh! Don't you just hate that!

"Being a conservationist I like the some of the ideas of Wicca. I also like the idea of God in nature, or nature being God. Something akin to Paines statement about seeing the face of God through the medium of science.

Can one be a Deist with Pagan leanings?"

Sure. Why not? Who says we can't be anything we want to be? Or that certain "labels" preclude other "labels."

As far as I'm concerned, EVERYTHING is divine and connected. Everything is holy. Each and every one of us, each and every ATOM-- is divinity in itself.

Just Squiddy's 2 cents...

Veil of Fire · 08-12-2002, 05:55 AM

Absolutely.

I'm a druid with some wiccan influence. If THAT'S possible, you can do the much more general 'deist/pagan' combo.

***

On the subject of the deist inquisition...
"DON'T CONVERT, HEATHEN!"
"YAAAAAAAAH!"
"Get me more hot branding irons. I think he's too close to converting."

brighid · 08-12-2002, 07:37 AM

Absofrickinlutely! I am an atheist who also is a member of a coven. I participate in ritual, my sisters know I am an atheist, along with 2 other members and there is no problem. I don�t believe in any Gods or Goddesses and they re simply archetypal personas used for meditative practice. I enjoy pagan ritual, plain and simple. There is no dogma in paganism, or Wicca and I would advise against becoming involved with ANY group that insists otherwise, unless of course this is what you desire. <a href="http://www.witchvox.com" target="_blank">http://www.witchvox.com</a> has some pretty good resources if you are looking to get in touch with others like you in your area.

Explore all avenues, question everything and remain creative and true to yourself.

Brighid

Waning Moon Conrad · 08-12-2002, 08:30 AM

Why shouldn't you be a Deist with Pagan leanings?

One infinite God - manifesting as the totally of nature with various aspects. A mother aspect and a father aspect for example. Aspects of aspects.

Why not?

You might even find that some of the pagan philosophers were deists in that they believed that all of the gods were sort of bits of one god.

I can't see any terrible contradiction here.

Go for it!

jess · 08-12-2002, 08:30 AM

yes. What they said.

jess, an agnostic global reconstuctionalist neo pagan

(now, how's that for a label?)

Malcolm_MacDohmnall · 08-12-2002, 06:47 PM

There cannot be a contradiction. The Deist belief structure indicates a God who created everything then was not an element for influencing it thereafter.

The definition for "Pagan" is one who does not believe in the Christian, Muslim, or Jewish God.

By definition all "Deists" would fall into the definitin of being "Pagans" as would all Hindus and many more belief systems.

Now if you were referring to the Druids or splinter Neo-paganists then there would be a distinct difference as it is ritualistic to influence Deities to act on influencing events. A deist God would not care in the slightest.

08-10-2002, 05:00 PM	#1
Attila722 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Big Spring, TX Posts: 8	Need some insight. I have considered myself a Deist for a long time. However, I have several really close friends who are Witches, Wiccans and Pagans and have been reading some on the subject for the past few months. I started out reading about the subject out of my own curiostiy in a desire to know more about my friends religion and have liked what I read. They have not prostelytized at all, which is nice as I see that as a big turn off, and one of the many reason I detest xtianity and the Abrahamic triad. Being a conservationist I like the some of the ideas of Wicca. I also like the idea of God in nature, or nature being God. Something akin to Paines statement about seeing the face of God through the medium of science. Can one be a Deist with Pagan leanings?

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08-10-2002, 09:05 PM	#2
Heathen Dawn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,656	I used to be a Deist in past, but now I'm a full-blown naturalistic pantheist and nature-worshipper. When you look at a tree, which of the options is more appealing? That the tree is a reflection of the creative power of an invisible, unsensed creator, or that the tree is divinity itself? The trouble with any belief system of a transcendent creator, including Deism, is that you conclude Nature is not THE thing, and there is something even more wonderful hiding under the veil. I find this disturbing. To me, Nature itself is THE thing, it is real divinity in itself, and there is nothing veiled, hidden to look for. I used to be a theist and later a Deist and worshipped a hidden God. Then later, when I learnt more about evolution, and came to realize the creator (nature) and the creation (nature) are one and the same, I worship nature herself. You know you have fully departed from the Abrahamic mind-cage when you start worshipping real material things instead of a mystic puff of smoke.

08-11-2002, 08:36 PM	#5
squiddy Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Stuck in a red state Posts: 388	Attila722 wrote: "I have several really close friends who are Witches, Wiccans and Pagans" Yeah, me too! "They have not prostelytized at all..." Ugh! Don't you just hate that! "Being a conservationist I like the some of the ideas of Wicca. I also like the idea of God in nature, or nature being God. Something akin to Paines statement about seeing the face of God through the medium of science. Can one be a Deist with Pagan leanings?" Sure. Why not? Who says we can't be anything we want to be? Or that certain "labels" preclude other "labels." As far as I'm concerned, EVERYTHING is divine and connected. Everything is holy. Each and every one of us, each and every ATOM-- is divinity in itself. Just Squiddy's 2 cents...

08-12-2002, 05:55 AM	#6
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Absolutely. I'm a druid with some wiccan influence. If THAT'S possible, you can do the much more general 'deist/pagan' combo. *** On the subject of the deist inquisition... "DON'T CONVERT, HEATHEN!" "YAAAAAAAAH!" "Get me more hot branding irons. I think he's too close to converting."

08-12-2002, 07:37 AM	#7
brighid Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: somewhere in the known Universe Posts: 6,993	Absofrickinlutely! I am an atheist who also is a member of a coven. I participate in ritual, my sisters know I am an atheist, along with 2 other members and there is no problem. I don�t believe in any Gods or Goddesses and they re simply archetypal personas used for meditative practice. I enjoy pagan ritual, plain and simple. There is no dogma in paganism, or Wicca and I would advise against becoming involved with ANY group that insists otherwise, unless of course this is what you desire. <a href="http://www.witchvox.com" target="_blank">http://www.witchvox.com</a> has some pretty good resources if you are looking to get in touch with others like you in your area. Explore all avenues, question everything and remain creative and true to yourself. Brighid

08-12-2002, 08:30 AM	#8
Waning Moon Conrad Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 1,417	Why shouldn't you be a Deist with Pagan leanings? One infinite God - manifesting as the totally of nature with various aspects. A mother aspect and a father aspect for example. Aspects of aspects. Why not? You might even find that some of the pagan philosophers were deists in that they believed that all of the gods were sort of bits of one god. I can't see any terrible contradiction here. Go for it!

08-12-2002, 08:30 AM	#9
jess Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: rationalpagans.com Posts: 7,400	yes. What they said. jess, an agnostic global reconstuctionalist neo pagan (now, how's that for a label?)

08-12-2002, 06:47 PM	#10
Malcolm_MacDohmnall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 13	There cannot be a contradiction. The Deist belief structure indicates a God who created everything then was not an element for influencing it thereafter. The definition for "Pagan" is one who does not believe in the Christian, Muslim, or Jewish God. By definition all "Deists" would fall into the definitin of being "Pagans" as would all Hindus and many more belief systems. Now if you were referring to the Druids or splinter Neo-paganists then there would be a distinct difference as it is ritualistic to influence Deities to act on influencing events. A deist God would not care in the slightest.

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