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Why would I attempt to understand the position of someone who has never

• investigated the culture
  
• read any of the literary works of
  
• studied the history of
  or
  
• learned about the gods of
  

my culture and people.
You are raping my culture. Why would I listen to what you have to say when I can demonstrate that it violates the precepts of the culture you're claiming to worship the Gods of?

Let's take a look at your behaviour here.
I came in and challenged you from the position of someone who's culture you're raping. I did so presuming that you were even cursorily aware of Irish traditions which, considering you claim to worship "The Morrígan", you really ought to be.
You then throw a tantrum.

Why?


I'm asking why, when all evidence is to the contrary, you do.
My Gods don't like foreigners. They said so in their own words. It's not that foreigners are inferior to my people, it's just that they're not my people.


You are not explaining yourself.
I have asked some rather important questions that highlight the lack of scholastic approach to your "religion" and the lack of historicity in your understanding.
Why, rather than just throwing a tantrum, can't you correct my position?

You cannot pull the "Well they're my beliefs, you can't tell me they're wrong" line, because my beliefs not only tell me that I can tell you that they're wrong but that I must tell you that they're wrong.
And if you're right, and I can't tell you you're wrong, then you can't tell me I'm wrong. Which means I can tell you that you're wrong.
And if I'm right and I can tell you that you're wrong, then I can tell you that you're wrong.


Ah someone who, when faced with the facts that they're wrong prefers to believe what they want to believe over the evidence. We call those fanatics where I'm from. Welcome to being in the same camp as Creationists.


..... How are you showing tolerance or humility with this?
Seriously.

Wow. I wasn't really expecting this kind of conversation to get stirred up by my little thread.
I have to agree with most of you though that reasearch and learning are key. When I first started trying to find a path for myself I looked into the Celtic Gods. I've always been fascinated by them but I felt no calling to them. When I discovered that it's a closed culture I realized why and didn't push it.

It kind of sounds like soft polytheism to me.
Soft polytheism is the belief that all gods are aspects of an overarching God (for example, Thorr is Apollo is Zeus is Lugh is Horus etc...) and all goddesses are aspects of an overarching Goddess (for example, Freyja is Aphrodite is Hathor is Brigid is Hera etc....)
On the other hand is hard polytheism. I am a hard polytheist. Hard polytheism is the belief that each god and goddess is their own seperate, unique being. Following the example above, Thorr is not any other deity but Thorr. Apollo is only Apollo. Zeus is only Zeus. And so on.
I'm kind of confused as to what exactly you mean when you say "I believe in a few of the Greek gods" are you saying you only believe a few of them exist and the others do not exist? Or are you saying you feel a kind of closeness to some deities more than the others?

I think it's a pretty common thing that people go through.
I would learn more about the cultures and read the mythology of said cultures more too.

No worries; take your time ^.^
I never understand why so many feel that they need to jump in head first when they're laying down basic things.

Wouldn't saying pantheism/pantheistic be more accurate? Or is that just something totally and completely different?

"Be Courteous: Please be civil and courteous towards your fellow Gaians. We have a very liberal policy regarding language, but overly abusive language is not permitted. If your post is excessively vulgar, insulting, explicit, or hateful, it may be removed and disciplinary actions may be taken on your account(s)."


ninja I'm playing the Gaia Rules & Guidelines card on you all. ninja

I'm not a big fan of that whole censorship thing but could those of you who might be verging on breaking the rule above please try to cool down a bit.

I just kinda like Apollo to me doesn't seem like he exists. I know other people believe in him and good for them but I can't wrap my head around him. Well not so much they don't exist just I view them as like a minor minor god and just not something I could believe in, I acknowledge that Apollo exists just I can't wrap my head around believing in him. Apollo just being an example and is applied to other gods or goddesses like Neptune is the same way. I'm really new to even talking to any gods but I found I think I believe in Ishtar the Babylonian goddess of love since I've actually used that name before in a same context not knowing she was a goddess of love. I used it as a place of worship so I'm trying to wrap the idea of me believing in her but it could and probably is just a coincidence that I used the name as a place of worship. Just seems off to me i know the name and used it as a worship. But yea that answer your question Violet?

Coming from an eclectic background myself - I recommend picking the one that appeals most at the moment and focusing on that for a while. You are absolutely free to pursue others and if you see a great book on something else by all means pick it up, but focusing on one thing can really help with your studies. It's not like you're picking one to follow, after all.

If you're closest to Thoth then look into Kemetic Recon for a while. The Recons are awesome help to eclectics, because they've done so much work already and you can learn a lot from them about their cultures and how their gods like to be worshipped. If Gaia, then there's Hellenismos.