Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Relationships and Religion
My Pagan view of the deities — what God is and what they are not

My Pagan view of the deities — what God is and what they are not

Last updated on: August 31, 2022 at 12:38 am by Ann Trip

My Pagan view of the deities — what God is and what they are not 2022-08-31T00:38:42+00:00 Ann Trip

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God

“Power of nature” PHOTO BY PJOTR SAVITSKI

A recent Sunday morning, the Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, senior co-minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, NJ had us thinking. He asked, “What would you say God is? What would you say God is not?” in his similarly titled sermon.

Ann Trip

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, NJ. PHOTO BY ANN TRIP

There were many different responses to these questions and all like-minded and agreeable to a point. However, there were no Pagan responses that I heard in person or have yet seen online. I was running the live stream, other Sacred Wheel CUUPers were monitoring Facebook chat or had other plans**.** Therefore, this had me thinking as I do follow the Druidic path and work with deity. I know what I believe in, but to what extent would be the question here.

A few people have told me that I “don’t believe in God” or that I “worship the devil.” None of those people are Unitarian Universalists by the way. This is far from true though. Yes, Pagans do not follow a monotheist Deity and we do have a horned god. This whole notion of our Deity is really the devil comes from ignorance, 1700 years of indoctrination, and unwillingness to learn. Just because our beliefs are not based in Abrahamic religions, does not mean we are worshiping evil. In fact, my elder, the Rev. Foxxy Pullen, despises the word worship as applied to Paganism.” We don’t worship deity, we honor them,” she says. It’s a cooperative relationship, we are not their servants. Additionally, most, not all, Pagans believe in either the three-fold law (three times what you give comes back) or karma.

God

Woodbastwick church – Old King James Bible – PHOTO BY IAN S

My friend’s Christian faith for example, instills the fear of God into their followers. I often wonder how someone can follow such a belief. However, he has strong ties, or so he says he does – always talking about repentance and to fear God. Now I’ve only known him about 15 years online but I cannot imagine all he claims he has to repent. I also question how you can follow or love something that you fear. I cannot be comfortable with something I fear, nor can I put faith into it.

Going back to those questions Sammler-Michael asked in his sermon, Deity is not singular in my view. I follow many deities on my path both female and male, which also means Deity is not only a he.

I do not believe that the deities are all-knowing either, If they were**,** accidents and diseases might not happen. Or perhaps we are supposed to learn from those challenges? Foxxy often reminds us that “Deity doesn’t give us more than we can handle; but exactly as much. It’s stretching to meet Their expectations that make us grow.”

“Way Out sign at Warren Street station” by R/DV/RS

Likewise, if you are looking for a sign, maybe you are looking too metaphorically. Sometimes it’s dropped on your lap such as a friend calling for something unrelated and voila, but you missed it. “Pay attention to everything around you,” something my martial arts instructor taught us for self-defense reasons but still it applies here. You just need to be alert, listen to the wind blow, feel the sun’s rays; sit under the moonlight. It’s sometimes subtle messages that the deities send out. It’s when you miss the subtle ones too many times the deity may drop one on your head.

Furthermore, stop praying for your favorite team to win. There is no reason deity would pick one team over the other. Deities have better things to do than pay attention to sports.

When I talk to my deities requesting help, I know I’m expected to do work to get what I want. It’s like that old saying goes, “I pray I win the lottery,” but never purchase a ticket. Sure they may help me, but not without my willingness to do the labor. I believe the Deities are there when we need them but they expect us to do our part. Envision the goal in mind and then go after it as my elder Hermotius taught us.

Recently, we explored this further in a new discussion group “Theology on Tap” led by Sammler-Michael at a local bar. The four part series asked similar questions related to our beliefs as we picked apart different writings.

One meeting we studied a piece in progressive rock musician/philosopher Robert Fripp’s upcoming book “Intro to Guitar Circle.” Sammler-Michael quoted Fripp, “Music is not even in the notes – it is between the notes.” In response, two of us answered similarly that music is everywhere. Music is in nature, in “every step we take, and every move we make.” This to me also applies to the deity. They are everywhere – in the trees, in the air, the sun, the moon, the stars, the water…

This is what the deities are to me and I’m sure that many Pagans (if not all) could agree. Everyone has their own experiences and answers to these questions though and none of them are wrong. As Joan Osbourn sings, “What if God was one of us? …just a stranger on a bus…”

Relationships and Religion

Spiritual Practice

deity

Rev. Foxxy Pullen

Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael

Sacred Wheel CUUPs

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

Previous Post

July 30, 2022

Change happens — let it roll — go with the ebb and flow

Next Post

September 30, 2022 Daydreaming, astral travel, planning ahead — they're all related

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz