Question for all polytheists... (reincarnation, soul, evolution, creation, America)

[Katzpur]

How do you believe you came into existance? Do you credit one of your gods with creating you or do you believe that human life evolved from a single-celled organism? How did humans come to be and how did your gods come to be? What makes them gods and you not, and what can they do for you?

(Sorry -- I guess that was more than just one question. Hopefully, they are sufficiently related that you can tie them all together and help me to understand.)

[Feathers in Hair]

A very interesting question!

I believe that the universe was nothingness, and then a bright ball of light appeared. It gathered energy and it shook, like a dog shaking water from its fur, and all the bits of light flew off in different directions. Those lights are the soul and spirits of everything that has or will exist, including those who would go on to incarnate as dieties. I believe that physical life did start through evolution, but that our spirits may have been present before that.

There are a multitude of stories that I enjoy about humans came to be, but I'm not sure if I believe them.

What makes them gods and we humans not? Since an aspect of my belief system involves reincarnation, I don't think there's much difference. For example, if a spirit wanted to learn more about compassion, what better way than to incarnate into a life that inspired a person to be compassionate? Having done so and learned the beauty of that attribute, they would be better able to inspire others to choose that path.

What can they do for me? Depends on the god. At this point in my path, I tend to celebrate ones that I wish to emulate. For example, in Artemis, I recognize the 'wild woman' archetype, a woman being complete without a man, and the protectress of innocence. I celebrate these things, so what she does for me is to inspire me to become what I wish to be. In other cases, ones like Persephone let me celebrate the person who I already am.

Does that help? I've gone a long time without trying to articulate these things, so I'm kind of nervous about attempting it. I don't wish to fail such an interesting question!

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

How do you believe you came into existance? Do you credit one of your gods with creating you or do you believe that human life evolved from a single-celled organism? How did humans come to be and how did your gods come to be? What makes them gods and you not, and what can they do for you?

(Sorry -- I guess that was more than just one question. Hopefully, they are sufficiently related that you can tie them all together and help me to understand.)

I believe the gods developed the moment that life occurred in the universe and that we were created through a long process of evolution. The gods exist so long as the life they are apart of exists. I believe my gods watch over the life and times of the Northern European (Germanic) peoples and that so long as we exist, they will be there to watch over us. I'm not sure what the gods can do for us, but I do believe they provide us with luck (favorable circumstances which favor the bold).

[The Bakara]

No creation stories have survived from the celtic cultures, which I see as a bonus. However the gods came into being, however people came into being, I haven't really thought about it too much.

[Katzpur]

Hi, Feathers!

Thanks for your reply. You explained your belief quite well, actually. Could you tell me if your belief is fairly representative of general polytheistic belief, or if it's just your own understanding.

I believe that the universe was nothingness, and then a bright ball of light appeared. It gathered energy and it shook, like a dog shaking water from its fur, and all the bits of light flew off in different directions. Those lights are the soul and spirits of everything that has or will exist, including those who would go on to incarnate as dieties. I believe that physical life did start through evolution, but that our spirits may have been present before that.

What makes them gods and we humans not? Since an aspect of my belief system involves reincarnation, I don't think there's much difference. For example, if a spirit wanted to learn more about compassion, what better way than to incarnate into a life that inspired a person to be compassionate? Having done so and learned the beauty of that attribute, they would be better able to inspire others to choose that path.

That's very interesting. So when the bits of light flew off into different directions, were some of them destined -- at that point -- to become divine, or is their divinity something that came about through reincarnation? Do you believe that, through reincarnation, you or any other beings who are now human could someday become divine? I guess what I'm asking is if some of these bits of light had a divine component that others didn't have, or if it's just a matter of time, luck, accident or a life well-lived that divinity is attained. Do you see humans and gods as being pretty much the same "species" (for lack of a better word) or are they fundamentally different in their nature?

Kathryn

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Darkdale

I believe the gods developed the moment that life occurred in the universe and that we were created through a long process of evolution. The gods exist so long as the life they are apart of exists. I believe my gods watch over the life and times of the Northern European (Germanic) peoples and that so long as we exist, they will be there to watch over us. I'm not sure what the gods can do for us, but I do believe they provide us with luck (favorable circumstances which favor the bold).

So tell me if I've understood correctly... From the moment any life existed, there were gods. Did these gods have anything to do with bringing "the moment that life occurred" into existence? Am I right in assuming that your gods watch over only a certain group of people, and that these people are all essentially of Germanic origin? Would other gods watch over people from other parts of the world, such as the Latin American countries? As nationalities mix, how does this work? I ask because I am of Northern European ancestry, but my husband is Hispanic. Who would my children's gods be under your belief system?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

So tell me if I've understood correctly... From the moment any life existed, there were gods. Did these gods have anything to do with bringing "the moment that life occurred" into existence?

I don't believe that gods "created" life or the Universe. I think of them as a part of nature, but directly tied to life.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Am I right in assuming that your gods watch over only a certain group of people, and that these people are all essentially of Germanic origin? Would other gods watch over people from other parts of the world, such as the Latin American countries? As nationalities mix, how does this work? I ask because I am of Northern European ancestry, but my husband is Hispanic. Who would my children's gods be under your belief system?

Yeah, the Norse gods watch of the Northern European peoples and their descendants (even those who are mixed. Remember, the Northern European peoples were all mixes of many different tribes). I pretty much figure other gods watch over other people and I don't worry too much about that... so long as they don't try to force their foreign deities on me.