Balance in a Pluralistic Faith

Disclaimer: The following opinions are to be percieved as my own opinions and therefore not neccessarily representative of other Wiccans.

Over my years I have ran into Neo-Pagans, who argue that monothesism has certain pitfalls hardwired into its structure of One Deity, One truth, One light, One way. Perhaps; the arguents sound good, but I am not certain those charges against all monotheistic religions are entirely correct.

On the opposite hand, I have run into sundry Neo-Pagans who passionately profess that in order to avoid the pitfalls of monotheism we must make certain that worship of the Gods is "balanced"--which leads to an in-depth discussion of how to achieve this proper state of balance.

After some thought, I came up with the following suggestions of how our Neo-Pagan community can celebrate the "beauty of diversity" in "balance."

1. Any person, working as a solitary, can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which s/he focuses on or devotes her/himself to a particular deity. (This is not monotheism; it is henotheism.) Frequently, the deity treated as a patron or matron of the devotee.

2. Any group of people, who feel called to do so, can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which that group primaily focuses on a particular deity. (This is not monotheism; it is henotheism.) Frequently, the deity is treated as a patron or matron of the group.

3. Any person can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which s/he worships a deity which is viewed as a multipicity of deities who are all facets or aspects of Divinity. (This is not monotheism; it is monism.) An example of this would be the Wiccan Charge of the Goddess: "Listen to the words of the Great Goddess, she who of old was also called among men, Isis, Astarte, Diana, Ge, Aphrodite, Melusine, Luna, Morgan, Brigid, Freyja, Arianrhod, Danu, and by many other names." Another example would be the chant: "Pan, Woden, Dionysus, Cernnunos, Orisis." This is monism. Sometimes, it involves the worship of "All-That-Is" a gender-less or androgynous being. It can be expressed in the old misquote: "All the gods are one God and all the goddesses are one Goddess, and there is one Divine Source."

4. Any group who feels called to do so, can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which in which they worship a deity which is viewed as a multipicity of deities who are all facets or aspects of Divinity. (This is not monotheism; it is monism.) An example of this could be the Fellowship Of Isis (FOI). In ancient Egypt Isis was known as the Goddess of ten thousand names. As Isis traveled through the Roman Empire she picked up even more names. The FOI was founded in 1976. With followers from123 countries worldwide, they have over 26,000 members of various esoteric traditions who honor the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Truth.

5. Any person, working as a solitary, can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which s/he focuses on or devotes her/himself to a particular set of deities, such as a bunch from a certain pantheon, or simply a pair of complimentary deities. (This is not monothesism; it is polytheism.) An example of this might be a Nova Roma reconstructionist worshiping Jove, Mars, and Quirinus, or worshiping Jove, Juno, and Minerva. Another example, might be some Scandinavian reconstructionist worshiping Freya and Freyr, as well as the ancestors. Two last examples would be a Wiccan singing to the "Lord and Lady in the moonlight," and a Dianic Wiccan invoking Diana and Aradia.

6. Any group who feels called to do so, can practice a Neo-Pagan path in which they focus on a particular set of deities, such as a bunch from a certain pantheon, or simply a pair of complimentary deities. (This is not monotheism; it is polytheism.) An example of that might be a Wiccan coven who routinely worked with Blodeuwedd, Arianrhod, Hwch Gwta Ddu, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, and Gronw Pebr (representing the Goddess in Triad and the Two-fold God), or the Ásatrú who worship the Old Norse Gods. Another example would be a Wiccan coven who usually invoked Aradia and Cernnunos. Another example would be Neo-Pagans worshiping Lakshmi and Ganesh in October/November, or Isis and Osiris in the spring. A final example would be a tradition that recognizes the Maiden, Mother, Crone, and Horned One, Hooded One, Old One (representing the Three-fold Goddess and the Three-fold God).

7. A group of practioners can be composed of mixed genders with no attempt to have the same number of women and men--provided everyone in the group is comfortable with each other and it "works" for them.

8. A group of practioners can be composed of same sex individuals--provided everyone in the group is comfortable with each other and it "works" for them.

9. A group of practioners can be composed of heterosexual couples--provided everyone in the group is comfortable with each other and it "works" for them.

10. A group of practioners can be composed of any combination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or heterosexual indivduals--provided everyone in the group is comfortable with each other and it "works" for them.

11. Folks who prefer to work alone should remain solitaries. Folks who have too many commitments to work with a group should remain solitaries.

12. Those who feel called upon to focus on the Divine Feminine, or female deities--whether by henotheism or monism or polytheism--should do so.

13. Those who feel called upon to focus on the Divine Masculine, or male deities--whether by henotheism or monism or polytheism--should do so.

14. Those who feel called upon to focus on a mix of Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine, or mix of female and male deities--whether by henotheism or monism or polytheism--should do so.

We don't have to worry if folks are "genuinely worshiping" the "Old Gods," or IF they are only "venerating" them as "Jungian archtypal images."

We don't have to worry that some groups might not be using the genuine secret, ancient names.

We need not fret over a Neo-Pagan Grove that seems to not have set rituals for the seasonal circles and worry over the gender balance of deities. There is no worry if they might invoked the Goddess 7 times a year, and the God 8 times a year.

We don't have to worry about the gender balance when a Nova Roma reconstructionist worships the ancient Roman triad of Jove, Mars, and Quirinus, nor when a Wiccan worships Diana and Aradia at a moon circle.

We can enjoy the men of BOG as Green Men dressed in kilts and leaves parading around, shouting "Blessings on this gathering," and passing out acorns. We don't have to hyperfocus on the theological implications of there being no "Green Women" in the march.

We can rest assured that the Feminist Dianics and Minoan Brotherhood each have members who serve as they are called do so by the Gods--and that they will balance each other out.

And if you feel some deity, gender, or aspect of the Divine is neglected, go forth and make thine own offerings of love and worship!!!!

Now isn't that just a lovely way to function in a healthy religion?

Blessing of multitudes upon you,
Myth Woodling
January 24, 2010