The Book Of THoTH

I'm asking this question, as for months I've been trying to catagorise and name what I actually believe since being put on the spot for a moment at a dinner party.

"What religion are you exactly... what's it called?... and what do you lot believe?"

To be honest, I was actually speachless for a moment as I tried to put a name to it, and couldn't, and had to admit that I think it would be classed as Eclectic... for want of a better description.

It may not be apparent which side of a fence I might be sitting on, so I'll try to explain.

I believe in an almighty Elemental Conciousness that has a positive and negative aspect... two sides of the same coin... God and Goddess if you will.
Inter-planetary Reincarnation and have seen a UFO (don't know if this matters, though)
Belive that we are a genetically engineered race.
I have a Spirit Guide that I have had contact with
Have (in the past) dabbled in making my own herbal/plant remedies/lotions etc...
Wear the emblem/symbol of a Sumerian/Babylonion God (or his family symbol) to honour his name.
Have taken an ID name from this family of Gods and Goddesses and sign my craft items with that name... Damkina.

This is just part of my list to my beliefs that I noted down when I began to wonder if there was an actual religion or if it really mattered. So, with that in mind, and I'm still no closer to my own answers, does it matter to you that your beliefs have a particular name or description. Or is the name something with which to let others recognise what we hold dear.

Sorry if this is just comes across as a load of waffle, but I don't think I've heard the last on this subject when it's the next dinner party... and it's our (Hubby and I) turn this month! I'm on home soil!

I don't want to come across as preaching and trying to convert, but I don't want to sit there like a lemon and be belittled or hide in the kitchen all night either. We've had some great discussions about all sorts of things, but I've always skimmed the surface and managed to explain enough, but not the details... now they're started to dig now that they know there's a lot more to my beliefs than what they originally suspected. I'm not ashamed of them, it's just that I have difficulty in putting them across in a discussion.

Thanks for any help
Damkina

Hello Damkina,

It sounds like your belief system is close to what I believe and practice. I also get questions on what I believe and then the "what the heck is that" question.

I dont believe it matters as to what a person titles their belief system, just that they honor it, practice it and dont hide it as long as it is safe to do so openly.

Personally, when I am asked what I believe, I say I walk the Shamans Path. I then get to explain, usually indepth, just what that is. It does give the oppertunity to open others minds to concepts that they might not hear otherwise.
Many come back and ask for more, often the ones you would least expect.

I have found that most people are at least polite and many are down right interested to hear what I have to say. It also helps that I am a teacher of Shamanic and Esoteric principles and practices. What most people find shocking is that I dont look the part, I am told that I look like a nice christian mom.
Never judge a book by its cover

I do find a few that have deemed me as a witch, but they are people who have never actually spoken to me or asked me what I believe. They just assume that if I am not a christian, and teach an "alternate" belief, that I must be evil. So far they have been few and far between, and have not caused me any problems.


Namana

It used to matter to me what it might be called, but it doesn't anymore, especially since it keeps evolving. I never try to explain it to anyone. It's a very private thing for me, so I hardly ever talk about it with others.

Sometimes Mr Neb will tell others, "We're Pagans!", but that's more to put them off and end the discussion rather than open it up. It's something that's private for us, and people can think what they like.

I agree with what has been said already. I would just add that if I am asked the question I would say I am not part of any religion but I am a spiritual person who has my own beleif system that is ever changing depending on what experiences I have and what I learn through research. I am an open minded but analytical person who has little respect for close minded people so if they were not satisfied with this answer because they belonged to one particular religion, I would probably not waste my breath trying to explain. On the other hand I get on very well with Pagans, Spiritualists, Buddhists, Witches, Druids, Shamans, Healers, Psychics, Mediums, etc, etc.
Hope this helps!

If I HAD to specify somehow, I guess I'd say Spiritual Agnostic with mythologist, philosophic, and scientific leanings. Though following my own definition of spiritual agnostic, and not a standard interpretation.

All religions have good and bad aspects.

Labels and classifications are often a bad thing, especially when it comes to people.

Just like to say a thank you to you all for your input and information.

We had the dinner party... the guy had had a bit too much to drink before he asked... well, I decided that it wasn't the best time to try and explain to his curious, drunken and befuddled mind.

So, when he began humming the tune to 'The Twilight Zone' to the ceiling, I dished out the cheese and biscuits, and scimmed over the chatter until his wife decided they would go home a bit earlier than planned.

In hindsight, I don't really think that he's that interested enough to seriously think about the personal thoughts of such a discussion. That said, it did give me the opportunity to really do some of my own personal, soul-searching and decide where I am at this moment in time.

Thank you

Chiming in late (as usual) -- I used to identify as "pagan" because paganism is not so much a religion as it is a way of life. Unfortunately, a lot of folks equate paganism with devil worship or make other assumptions regarding what the term means; it only seems to make sense to those who also identify as "pagan". Besides, it really isn't that good a label for me; it was just an easy word to use.

I actually came up with a 'statement of identification' that I shared with folks who asked about my spiritual path - and really wanted to know (as opposed to those who ask for the purpose of telling me I'm wrong and should convert to some religion or other):

"My spiritual path centers on the experience of the energetic and multi-vibrational nature of life, from the perspective of unconditional love."

Had to look it up in my journal just now, though, because my life's circumstances have changed and I'm no longer asked about my path so often because my business is home-based now, and I'm not dealing directly with the public so much any more.

Hee. Sometimes when people ask me about my path I just look 'em in the eye and say, "Got an hour?"
plur

Or you could just give it its own name and call it Pluralone-ism.

Pluralone:

When that is asked of me, my answer is dependent on the asker and/or the mood I'm in. I often just say, "The Boy Scouts, read their oath."

Haha I like that, you did exactly the right thing. I hope you were able to have a giggle about it aswell, even if only with yourself teehee.

The other night somebody at a party asked me if I was 'still a white witch'! I have no idea where they got that from as all I recall saying about my interests before was that I went on paranormal investigations. I have never called myself a witch, even though I am interested in learning about spells. There is no accounting for the stupidity that is still around in this supposedly enlightened time.

Whenever Jehova's Witnesses queried my sister about her beliefs she would say, "I am my own God!", and watch them flee as though there were brimstone flowing from out the top of her head. She was joking of-course, but I kind of like the statement.

Pluralone - 'Got an hour?' I like that one and will have to remember it for next time!
I've also been called Pagan over the years. This doesn't cause me any feelings of offence, which they had intended and so I just replied..."For want of a better word" and shrugged it off. It was they that were offended. Devil worship? Yes, I can totally understand the idiosy... my sister is one of them that is thoroughly convinced that I'm going to Hell in a hand-basket! I just tell her I don't believe in the Devil... he doesn't exist and watch with no small amount of amusement as she gets the proverbial soupbox out to starts spouting her lecture.

Bubba - I think that it also depends on my mood when asked, if I'm able to explain my beliefs correctly, or if it comes across as a load of balony!

Amethyst - Hubby and the others at the table certainly had a giggle... but at the state he was in. His wife has since applogised.
From experience, you only have to divulge or let someone see you behaving a certain way, or buying a certain genre of book/magazine and I'm afraid you're branded!
As I've mentioned above, my sis (much as I care about her) is so blinkered in her Christian beliefs that my own feelings can often be trodden into the ground by my mother so as not to upset my sis.
Yes, there is a much stupidity in this supposed enlightened time.

Juno - I went through school right from the nursery with my 'best friend' and left when we were both seventeen promising to always be friends. We did... until in our early thirties she became a JW and eventually broke all contact when I wouldn't convert.
My Dad did once slam one of their feet in the door when they tried stepping into the house uninvited. Didn't come knocking on the door for a while after that!

Names don't mean much for me...I follow the basic philosophy of Taoism and Discordianism. The Path that can be described is not the Path.
I dabbled in a lot of different religions over the years and really got tired of the damn word itself: Religion?
And it wasn't until I was sixteen when I found the works of Joesph Campbell that the whole thing started to make sense.