Does It Matter? (ritual, pagans, God, Article, shaman)

[Storm]

Please read and discuss the article Dancing with the Gods, by Eric S. Raymond. It's a bit long, but very good. An exceprt:

All the Gods are alive. They are not supernatural; rather, they are our inmost natures. They power our dreams and our art and our personalities. Theurgy and ritual can make them stronger, more accessible to the shaman. They can be evoked in a human being to teach, heal, inspire, or harm. Occasionally they manifest in spontaneous theophanies; the result may be religious conversion, creative inspiration, charisma, or madness.

Magic is loose in the world. It is not the magic of fantasy -- no would-be violators of the laws of physics need apply. Real magic acts in and through human agents. The two forms of practical magic are healing and divination. Healing works because human minds have more control over their bodies than we normally think; divination works because humans know and perceive more than they are consciously aware of.

The question I wish to discuss is: Does it matter whether the Gods are supernatural beings or aspects of our own minds?

Non-pagans, please note that this topic is in the Paganism DIR. While respectful questions are welcome, it is not an area for debate.

[mball1297]

Personally, I say no, it doesn't matter. I'm not a Pagan, but this hearkens back to my reality thread. If someone dreams up a god or goddess, they realize that god or goddess. To them those gods and goddesses are real.