It's auspicious that as I sit down to write this that the sky is cracking open,
the sharp taste of the ozone and then the roll of the thunder.
We'll take any rain we can get here - it's been too dry, too long. I know folks who are really doing the rain dances, so thanks and praise.
Why auspicious? Well, it is Thor's-day - and the Thunder is speaking, as I sit here to offer a perspective on Deities and Theism...
the sharp taste of the ozone and then the roll of the thunder.
We'll take any rain we can get here - it's been too dry, too long. I know folks who are really doing the rain dances, so thanks and praise.
Why auspicious? Well, it is Thor's-day - and the Thunder is speaking, as I sit here to offer a perspective on Deities and Theism...
As I've been teaching in new venues and places and getting to meet new folks, and as I've been expanding on my perspectives on sensuality and intimacy, I realize I've been using that 'God' term, a lot... I usually am more reserved and conservative about the use of 'God' as an indicator of the Divine, in fact, i usually just use the term 'the Divine' since I find it more open to interpretation, and less full of triggers.
Full disclosure: I was born and raised in the Catholic church, where I stayed until I was confirmed - being smart enough to know that meant I was an 'adult' in the church, I also was able to argue that I was able to make my own decision, e.g., I quit going to church.
I loved the pomp and the circumstance, the hymns, the Latin, the Incense, all of the rites and mysteries. Honestly, the stories really bothered me - not inspiring as offered. I left that church having a pretty clear idea there was something, but that this wasn't my path of worship.
And, hey, I love science. And I love ritual, myth, mystery and magic. I'm a confusing one - kinda like the Walt Whitman quote: "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."
Full disclosure: I was born and raised in the Catholic church, where I stayed until I was confirmed - being smart enough to know that meant I was an 'adult' in the church, I also was able to argue that I was able to make my own decision, e.g., I quit going to church.
I loved the pomp and the circumstance, the hymns, the Latin, the Incense, all of the rites and mysteries. Honestly, the stories really bothered me - not inspiring as offered. I left that church having a pretty clear idea there was something, but that this wasn't my path of worship.
And, hey, I love science. And I love ritual, myth, mystery and magic. I'm a confusing one - kinda like the Walt Whitman quote: "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."
Anyway, in the midst of it all, I'd have to describe myself primarily as an atheist... I simply don't believe in the concept of a personifiable god. I can see the wisdom in myths and in gods and goddesses, even in the tales of Gods and God. But, I simply can't believe that there is a Ganesh, or a Loki, or a Zeus, the same way I've not been convinced of the 'god' I was given.
I do believe. I believe there is more. I believe there are subtle, seemingly eternal energies at play... I believe in the cosmos as a model for life, as the progenitor of life and as life's fullest expression. Even the Sikhs get a little closer to this view point - to wit:
"Guru Nanak Dev states that the understanding of God is beyond human beings, but at the same time not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened.
Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate (via bhakti) and do simran (remembering) to progress towards enlightenment. Guru Nanak emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings."
I do believe. I believe there is more. I believe there are subtle, seemingly eternal energies at play... I believe in the cosmos as a model for life, as the progenitor of life and as life's fullest expression. Even the Sikhs get a little closer to this view point - to wit:
"Guru Nanak Dev states that the understanding of God is beyond human beings, but at the same time not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened.
Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate (via bhakti) and do simran (remembering) to progress towards enlightenment. Guru Nanak emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings."
And, then there's the Trinity - not the one you might be used to, but rather, the Hindu Triune... it didn't catch on as well as the Christian Trinity, since it doesn't espouse a direct monotheism. Rather, its exactly how I like to relate to myth and religion - as metaphor, as story telling, so that we can each relate to greater forces and powers in our lives. It's a rather elegant way to instruct and prepare, as long as we don't buy all the dogma and start 'casting off our left sandals...'
Here, for your pleasure, and to my clarity, is how I reconcile the use of the shorthand term 'god' for the Divine...
The Hindu Trinity is composed of the following gods, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Maintainer or Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer or Transformer. Together, they represent the energies and entirety of the universe and all of creation. Here's a little more insight into each of them, and their roles.
Brahma: The Creator – Godhead, Source of All, Creative Power… the essence of Brahm is ‘to expand’, so from Brahma comes all generation, germination and growth. It is Brahm who allows a Genesis to arise from swirling Chaos.
Vishnu: The Maintainer – The One Who Enters Everywhere… the essence of Vishnu is organization, ‘dancing Creation into existence,’ so from Vishnu comes all order, obligation and optimization. It is the Maintainer who allows an Order to arise from raw Genesis.
Shiva: The Destroyer – The Auspicious One… the essence of Shiva is destruction, he is specifically cast as the Destroyer who transforms creation’ and his transformation is dissipate, dissolve, and ultimately allow everything that has lived to die. It is the Transformer who allows Chaos to follow from created Order.
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Generative, Organizational, Destructive
G.O.D.
I offer this simple, yet elegant shorthand, so that we might all meet at Source and find the refreshment, rather than worry about how we express our connection. I find these forces in every action, in every reaction, in all of the cosmos and creations. I find them to be full of awe, and wonder, and the subtlest yet most magnificent power. I find this worthy of worship. I find this venerable, and consecrated.
Offered as a perspective, given with thanks and praise.
Here, for your pleasure, and to my clarity, is how I reconcile the use of the shorthand term 'god' for the Divine...
The Hindu Trinity is composed of the following gods, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Maintainer or Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer or Transformer. Together, they represent the energies and entirety of the universe and all of creation. Here's a little more insight into each of them, and their roles.
Brahma: The Creator – Godhead, Source of All, Creative Power… the essence of Brahm is ‘to expand’, so from Brahma comes all generation, germination and growth. It is Brahm who allows a Genesis to arise from swirling Chaos.
Vishnu: The Maintainer – The One Who Enters Everywhere… the essence of Vishnu is organization, ‘dancing Creation into existence,’ so from Vishnu comes all order, obligation and optimization. It is the Maintainer who allows an Order to arise from raw Genesis.
Shiva: The Destroyer – The Auspicious One… the essence of Shiva is destruction, he is specifically cast as the Destroyer who transforms creation’ and his transformation is dissipate, dissolve, and ultimately allow everything that has lived to die. It is the Transformer who allows Chaos to follow from created Order.
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Generative, Organizational, Destructive
G.O.D.
I offer this simple, yet elegant shorthand, so that we might all meet at Source and find the refreshment, rather than worry about how we express our connection. I find these forces in every action, in every reaction, in all of the cosmos and creations. I find them to be full of awe, and wonder, and the subtlest yet most magnificent power. I find this worthy of worship. I find this venerable, and consecrated.
Offered as a perspective, given with thanks and praise.
