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King Robert Silvermyst

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:35 pm


Much like hermetics, kemetics in general believe that there is one divinity, but as Itself is too vast to know, and thus the One became many: the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt, starting with Ra, Amun, Djehuty, Nut, Geb and Ptah, and from Them then came the rest of the Gods and Goddesses. Many of the Gods and Goddesses are even aspects of other Gods and Goddesses, such as Sekhmet, who can be seen as an aspect of Hethert or Mut, or even as a stand alone Goddess. This can be comparable, though on a much larger scale, to the christian's trinity, three different people yet one God. And there are some arguements that it is from Egypt that the trinity concept came from. All of these Gods and Goddesses have thier own purpose, some of which we miight not like, such as storms and natural disasters created by Set, but all are nessicary. The Gods and Goddesses care about us, but it is our souls that are eternal, not our bodies. So to Them, sometimes it is nessicary to destroy the body, release the soul, and if that person is not ready for Duat, thier personality is destroyed (thier ka), and thier soul (the ba) is sent to be reincarnated and a new ka is created. However, the Gods and Goddesses care about us and are willing to help us if we allow Them to. that's pretty much the reader's digest of my faith.
PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:24 pm


Sorry for not replying earlier, I've been away from Gaia for a while. whee

A brief question for you Silvermyst, I was under the impression that the Egyptian system of religion was more fluid and changing throughout the years of its existence than some of the other Pagan pantheons out there. In other words, impressions of certain deities shifted over time, some were phased out, others were integrated into larger relationships (like your example of citing Sekhmet as an aspect of Hethert or Mut). Do you have any comments on that? I haven't done a ton of research in the area and am curious if you have some insight.

Starlock
Vice Captain


King Robert Silvermyst

PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:59 am


Indeed the Gods and Goddesses are fluid. Although each has thier respective sections of responsibilities, They are very active and involved with us and each other, often stepping outside of thier roles of responsibility, such as Wesir. Wesir is the King of Duat, the realm of the dead, yet He interacts with the living as well. Yinepu is the gentle guide of the dead, yet he is very active in the lives of children as a protector and often taking on the form of their 'imaginary friend(s)'. None have actually been 'phased out', but only forgotten. Our Nisut is working on finding these forgotten Netjer like Meret, Sesmu and Tutu. Personally, as far as aspectings, I simply look at them as different Gods/Goddesses. Aspects furthers the idea of all being one, and the Creator is at the same time all of the different Gods and Goddesses. Personally, I don't know about Mut's connection with Mother Sekhmet except through this concept, but I am very familiar with Mother Sekhmet's connection with Hethert. It was written in mythology that Sekhmet is the aggressive form of Hethert and came forth first when some of humankind rebelled against Ra. However, I have also read some texts that seem to identify Sekhmet as one of the first created of Ra. But, In honesty, I'm not an expert on my religion and I'm still studying more into everything, so what I have to present is only the things I've learned so far.
PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:46 pm


It's funny but in real life many of my friends are more "mainstream" Christians and so being Mormon I am often the least conventional of the group. But on here I probably sound pretty conservative, old fashioned, and traditional in my views of God. Oh well! biggrin

I believe God is an actual being, bit just an idea or essence. That He... well, is a he, for one thing... but has a physical body. But a perfected one... LIKE ours, as he is literally the Father of our spirits and creator of our earthly bodies, but not like ours... immortal, perfect, etc. But I believe we have the potential to become like him. (That tends to be the biggest departure between the "mainstream" Christians and LDS Christians.)

One of our prophets, John Taylor
… What is [man]? He had his being in the eternal worlds; he existed before he came here. He is not only the son of man, but he is the son of God also. He is a God in embryo, and possesses within him a spark of that eternal flame which was struck from the blaze of God’s eternal fire in the eternal world, and is placed here upon the earth that he may possess true intelligence, true light, true knowledge,—that he may know himself—that he may know God—that he may know something about what he was before he came here—that he may know something about what he is destined to enjoy in the eternal worlds.

If we take man, he is said to have been made in the image of God, for the simple reason that he is a son of God, and being his son, he is, of course, his offspring, an emanation from God, in whose likeness, we are told, he is made. He did not originate from a chaotic mass of matter, moving or inert, but came forth possessing, in an embryonic state, all the faculties and powers of a God. And when he shall be perfected, and have progressed to maturity, he will be like his Father—a God, being indeed His offspring. As the horse, the ox, the sheep, and every living creature, including man, propagates its own species and perpetuates its own kind, so does God perpetuate his.


Another more "unique" view on God that the LDS hold is the "godhead." It is the belief that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate people. One in PURPOSE... but not technically the "trinity" you might say.

Also, while less understood, we also do believe in eternal families... including God the Father. Yes, we believe in a Heavenly Mother. And, that women, too, gain all the blessings that men do, though through different roles. And though not quite canon, I would go so far as to say I believe Christ to have been married as well... but that is, yeah, not exactly sunday school. wink

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kleokriesel

PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:29 pm


Matter and energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Thus, all the matter and energy that exists today has always and will always exist. The big bang that created this universe is only one in an infinite series of big bangs and universes.

Neither can God be created or destroyed. Existance - matter, energy, God - could never not exist. God is a force or entity that we can't comprehend with our puny human brains. There is a bit of God in all living beings - for God is manifest in living forms. God doesn't act or react, it is the material (not God) part of us that feel, think, act, etc. When our bodies die, the God in us continues existing.
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2007 7:00 am


Interesting perspective, Kleokrisel. Many boggle over the question of creation, believing that at some point there just had to be a start to everything. This is probably a function of that since our own lives often appear to us as having a definate begining, middle, and end, we think everything else must have a definate begining, middle and end. Some criticize Theistic systems on the basis that God must have too at some point been created if he/she/it was the creator of the cosmos. Sometimes I'm not too sure what to make of such criticisms. sweatdrop

Starlock
Vice Captain


kleokriesel

PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:55 pm


Starlock
Interesting perspective, Kleokrisel. Many boggle over the question of creation, believing that at some point there just had to be a start to everything. This is probably a function of that since our own lives often appear to us as having a definate begining, middle, and end, we think everything else must have a definate begining, middle and end. Some criticize Theistic systems on the basis that God must have too at some point been created if he/she/it was the creator of the cosmos. Sometimes I'm not too sure what to make of such criticisms. sweatdrop


Thanks, but sometimes this theory drains my motivation for, well, life
PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:21 am


Howso? It doesn't sound fatalistic to me since you suggest some sort of continuity of existence.

Starlock
Vice Captain


kleokriesel

PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2007 1:58 pm


Starlock
Howso? It doesn't sound fatalistic to me since you suggest some sort of continuity of existence.


True, existence continues, but the things that we make - actual material objects, social structures, etc. - are so brief and pointless when compared to the continuity of existence.
PostPosted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:40 am


kleokriesel
Starlock
Howso? It doesn't sound fatalistic to me since you suggest some sort of continuity of existence.


True, existence continues, but the things that we make - actual material objects, social structures, etc. - are so brief and pointless when compared to the continuity of existence.


Ah, now I understand where you're coming from here. I have some similar perspectives only I don't see the transience of existence as making existence less meaningful; the cycle of transformation (what we more commonly call creation and destruction) is meaningful in itself to me.

Starlock
Vice Captain


billsabob

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:13 pm


I belive that god is not a being, but unconsiously controls everything in our universe, he is the laws of physics, he shapes the universe to better fit his people, but, without knowing it.
PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:30 pm


Is it one, many or some combination of these? Why do you believe so and in what way does that belief make sense?
my religion has a horde of gods/ess and demigods all of which are apprently real, as a long time ago the took physical manifestations

Is it immanent, transcendent, or a bit of both? What leads you to believe that?
what? im sorry but i do not know the meaning of these words

What sorts of abilities, powers, and limitations does Deity have? Why?
our dietys may only tamper with what part of life they are in control of

If your concept of the Greater/Ultimate/Divine doesn't really fall under the conventional system, feel free to tailor your response beyond these questions.
id love to explain but i dont have the words right now

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Religious Tolerance

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