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G'day
Nov 8, 2005 23:23:07 GMT -1
Post by apothecary on Nov 8, 2005 23:23:07 GMT -1
Aussie polyontologist (poly=many; ontology refers to metaphysical world view). I tend towards the Celtic, though I accept the idea that if you see a temple (and are welcome) pay your respects regardless of who the god is.
I like some aspects of the Gaelic (have irish great grandparents) but it's a little foreign to me. The Brythonic seems closer to home.
A.
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G'day
Nov 9, 2005 13:45:48 GMT -1
Post by Blackbird on Nov 9, 2005 13:45:48 GMT -1
Welcome - I can honestly say that you are the first polyontologist that I've ever met I confess, I think I would be incapable of a stance like that - my worldview is the rock upon which my life is built. I can't imagine adopting other systems, it just wouldn't work for my simple self. (Having said that, after conversations with polytheists of other faiths, there is a good deal of similarity between the world-views of various peoples, as I'm sure you've also found.)
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G'day
Nov 10, 2005 6:05:39 GMT -1
Post by apothecary on Nov 10, 2005 6:05:39 GMT -1
I came up with 'polyontologist' on my own but did a web search and found one other person using the term. It's not really about adopting other systems, but rather acknowledging them as a part of reality. In the old days people were a lot more insular and mostly only knew of their own religions and cosmologies. Nowadays we know of lots of religions, so can we really say that our deity created this world and all other gods are frauds? Nope. Polyontolgy simply allows me the scope to devote to certain deities while actively accepting the existance of the others and remaining on good terms with them if circumstances make it prudent. An example in Oz would be respecting the local spirits while honouring our imports (a situation you may not need to concern yourself with, living in the old country I suspect most polytheists are also polyontologists at least in as far as accepting the existance of other deities.
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G'day
Nov 10, 2005 7:42:08 GMT -1
Post by Blackbird on Nov 10, 2005 7:42:08 GMT -1
Ah, I see. Thing is, I don't think my gods did create the world. Parts of it, yes. Some of them birthed hills, some of them created lakes when their cauldrons burst! But these things are specific, local lore, and I expect that other folk also have their own local lore and local gods. I have no problem reconciling my polytheism with scientific theories about the creation of the universe It's only the monotheists who have this idea about creation... and I confess, I can't get my head round that at all! However, I can reconcile the existence of many gods within my world view. I haven't met all the humans in the world, but accept that they exist. Likewise with the gods. I shall never meet all of them, but assume they all exist.
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G'day
Nov 10, 2005 20:34:25 GMT -1
Post by apothecary on Nov 10, 2005 20:34:25 GMT -1
The creation things just an example I guess. Just the idea that some accomodation occurs. But generally, yep, agreement.
I believe the Celtic deities have their own realms, that they make themselves responsible for certain peoples and areas in this realm, that there are those we don't know of because they stayed home and those who pop up in more than one area of Celtia.
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G'day
Nov 14, 2005 2:32:14 GMT -1
Post by caeraustralis on Nov 14, 2005 2:32:14 GMT -1
My 2 cents worth..... I do believe that there is a creative force in the Universe, and that "something" helped all of this along...but I can't believe that "it" has a plan for all of us. I accept deities as a part of our Universe, and that they are manifested from the natural fabric and have some "control" over it. I think that all makes sense Rhys
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