Value Judgements: Dystheism

[The Hammer]

"Dystheism is the belief that a deity is not wholly good, and is possibly evil."

Dystheism - Wikipedia

Do your Spiritual beliefs contain Deitiesor aspects of Divinity, that you would label as Dystheistic?

In the Norse/Germanic Pantheon, the Gods hold many Dystheistic qualities. With Odin oft being described as fickle, and many other deities being associated with War and Battle as well. Then of course we have the classic case of Loki, who not only antagonizes the Gods verbally, he is often in conflict with them. He is the embodiment some say of Trickery and Mischief, and as far as I know, his name is translated (possibly) as Knot or Tangle.

On the Monotheistic side of the spectrum, I would argue that the Abrahamic God also contains Dystheistic qualities, especially in regards to the Old Testament.

What's are your thoughts? Do you Embrace Reject, or are Indifferent to the Dystheistic aspects of your God(s)?

 

[JustGeorge]

Who decides what's good? What's evil?

If we are humans, and gods are gods, can we really understand their ways?

Sometimes I think its what end you're on with them. Mother Kali can present a very frightening form if you're the enemy, but many know her as nothing but a benign mother.

I see the gods that I worship as being complete beings of their own, and worship them as such. I try to avoid 'good and evil' labels. They just don't make sense to me here.

 

[The Hammer]

Who decides what's good? What's evil?

If we are humans, and gods are gods, can we really understand their ways?

Sometimes I think its what end you're on with them. Mother Kali can present a very frightening form if you're the enemy, but many know her as nothing but a benign mother.

I see the gods that I worship as being complete beings of their own, and worship them as such. I try to avoid 'good and evil' labels. They just don't make sense to me here.

I do agree that more often than not the Gods are much beyond our Concepts of good or bad, but certainly some deities embody more antagonistic qualities than others in the Hindu Pantheon. Maybe not a God per se. This person mentions the Sage Narada.
Mythology for the Millennial: Narada may be a trickster, but he deserved better than a life of illusions - Living News , Firstpost

 

[Rye_P]

There's no evil God, IMO

If we do something bad, it's because we want it happens. Not because something non-existent whispers words straight to your ears.

 

[JustGeorge]

I do agree that more often than not the Gods are much beyond our Concepts of good or bad, but certainly some deities embody more antagonistic qualities than others in the Hindu Pantheon. Maybe not a God per se. This person mentions the Sage Narada.
Mythology for the Millennial: Narada may be a trickster, but he deserved better than a life of illusions - Living News , Firstpost

Hehe, oh Narada...

Every time I see his name, I know something upsetting is about to happen.

I feel much of the time he is more of a vehicle for destiny to occur, rather than the cause of the unpleasantness that ensues. More the instigator, but not necessarily because he has a personal desire in the outcome.

In personal experience, I know the Greek God Ares is seldom anyone's favorite, but I have never experienced anything but love and protection coming from him.

 

[Quintessence]

While I reject dualism as an appropriate way of understanding reality, let's entertain the application of that map to the territory of my polytheistic tradition for a moment.

If dualism is applied to my tradition, gods that such maps would label as "evil" aren't only present, they are abundant. However, I think it is important to understand that in polytheism as a whole, humans are hardly the sole (or even a significant) concern of the gods. The gods do what is within their nature to do, and if humans get in the way, many gods simply do not care. I think dualism maps poorly onto polytheist theology in part for this reason. Sure, you could label the Spirit of Pestilence as "evil" because it happens to kill humans, but really? It isn't about us. The world, the universe, the gods, are not about us. Our moral judgements of the gods, are at best, suspect and misplaced.

 

[JustGeorge]

While I reject dualism as an appropriate way of understanding reality, let's entertain the application of that map to the territory of my polytheistic tradition for a moment.

If dualism is applied to my tradition, gods that such maps would label as "evil" aren't only present, they are abundant. However, I think it is important to understand that in polytheism as a whole, humans are hardly the sole (or even a significant) concern of the gods. The gods do what is within their nature to do, and if humans get in the way, many gods simply do not care. I think dualism maps poorly onto polytheist theology in part for this reason. Sure, you could label the Spirit of Pestilence as "evil" because it happens to kill humans, but really? It isn't about us. The world, the universe, the gods, are not about us. Our moral judgements of the gods, are at best, suspect and misplaced.

I remember reading a story once of Giltine mourning. No one wanted to see her, as she was the Goddess of death, but all she wanted was a friend. She wasn't really evil, but she'd received the title because of human's relationship with her functions.

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

"Dystheism is the belief that a deity is not wholly good, and is possibly evil."

Dystheism - Wikipedia

Do your Spiritual beliefs contain Deitiesor aspects of Divinity, that you would label as Dystheistic?

In the Norse/Germanic Pantheon, the Gods hold many Dystheistic qualities. With Odin oft being described as fickle, and many other deities being associated with War and Battle as well. Then of course we have the classic case of Loki, who not only antagonizes the Gods verbally, he is often in conflict with them. He is the embodiment some say of Trickery and Mischief, and as far as I know, his name is translated (possibly) as Knot or Tangle.

On the Monotheistic side of the spectrum, I would argue that the Abrahamic God also contains Dystheistic qualities, especially in regards to the Old Testament.

What's are your thoughts? Do you Embrace Reject, or are Indifferent to the Dystheistic aspects of your God(s)?

Since my God rules over all, including the things I consider evil, He is the only One who can truly save and protect me from it.
I don't judge Him, even though I don't always get Him, because I feel it is not my place to judge God for acting in way way as though He thinks He's God.
That would be like telling a specialist how to do his job while I myself know little to nothing about that specialist's expertise.

 

[Bear Wild]

"Dystheism is the belief that a deity is not wholly good, and is possibly evil."

Dystheism - Wikipedia

Do your Spiritual beliefs contain Deitiesor aspects of Divinity, that you would label as Dystheistic?

In the Norse/Germanic Pantheon, the Gods hold many Dystheistic qualities. With Odin oft being described as fickle, and many other deities being associated with War and Battle as well. Then of course we have the classic case of Loki, who not only antagonizes the Gods verbally, he is often in conflict with them. He is the embodiment some say of Trickery and Mischief, and as far as I know, his name is translated (possibly) as Knot or Tangle.

On the Monotheistic side of the spectrum, I would argue that the Abrahamic God also contains Dystheistic qualities, especially in regards to the Old Testament.

What's are your thoughts? Do you Embrace Reject, or are Indifferent to the Dystheistic aspects of your God(s)?

When you mention this I think of Morrigan or the Cailleach of Ireland. Powerful goddesses of both chaos and creative forces. The embodiment of the natural world. I remember visiting the Cave of the cats Oweynagat around the time of Samhain. Imagining the forces of the otherworld emerging with the Morrigan. I also think of Freya of love and war. This balance of the chaos of the natural world and humans attempts to find some control but without losing the respect of the complexly creative forces of the natural world and maintaining the respect it deserves. The black and white of the reported Abrahamic god seems so fake to me give the myths I learned growing up. Give me the mysteries of the of our amazing seemingly chaotic world that is so creative and I will remain happy.