"My God Is an Awesome God!"

[MineralMan]

"Your God Sucks!"

Thus spake far too many people. And therein lies a huge problem for us all. It is the "middle-schooling" of religion.

[niyad]

1. my goddess is one of love--sorry about your psychopath.

here in fundieville, I have fun with that one.

[MineralMan]

2. Love is good. Your Goddess Is an Awesome Goddess!

[niyad]

3. She is indeed.

Charge of the Goddess

Traditional by Doreen Valiente, as adapted by Starhawk:

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.

Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.

For My law is love is unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the holy grail of immortality.

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.

Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of Whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe:

I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,

I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.

From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.

Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.

Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And you who seek to know Me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am That which is attained at the end of desire.

[MineralMan]

4. Merry meet and merry part.

[niyad]

6. Blessed Be

[yallerdawg]

8. See - this would qualify you as a "none."

As faith and spirituality recede into nothingness in the face of facts, evidence, reason and science.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Any respect you might have hoped for for your religious beliefs

just fucking evaporated.

[yallerdawg]

15. How does this detract from "your respect for my beliefs?"

"None" as in "None of the Above" regarding religious affiliation is continuously referred to as evidence of declining faith.

I have pointed out that people aren't necessarily abandoning faith or some kind of faith, they are abandoning old style organized religion - and replacing it with something else.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. That's amazing. You're actually oblivious to what you were replying to.

[yallerdawg]

17. I know exactly what I was commenting on.

And I explained it to you fully.

[AtheistCrusader]

18. Then why are you referring to paganism that way?

Because your 'explanation' is nothing of the sort.

[yallerdawg]

19. You've lost me.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[AtheistCrusader]

20. Clearly.

You don't seem to know what you're talking about either.

[guillaumeb]

21. But you mentioned an uncomfortable fact for the "religion is dying" group.

Note that I did not use the words choir, or harmony.

[niyad]

5. She also has a great sense of humour:

http://blessedbe.sugarbane.com/humor/chocolate.htm

[MineralMan]

7. A sweet ritual, indeed.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Here's my favorite, and how you entertain her:

[MineralMan]

10. LOL!

Perfect! All cats. Every time.

I had one cat, one of my favorites, who sought out boxes eagerly. She would jump in, curl up and snooze. You could fold the flaps up, interlocking them, to shut her in the box. No matter. When she wanted out, she would push her way out.

Even cat goddesses would, I'm sure, do as you illustrate. I like predictable deities.

Shared on FB.

[gibraltar72]

11. It is all in your head.

As a recovering evangelical I say it's all bunk to control weak minded.

[Nitram]

12. The "middle-schooling of religion" started millennia ago. Even before ancient Egypt, where

deity one-upmanship was rife. Probably started the first time two Stone Age clans discussed their spiritual beliefs.

[MineralMan]

13. I'm certain that you're correct. Thanks.