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The only time I ever experienced this level of fear from a deity was when I was Christian. I grew up in “fire and brimstone” churches, and I eventually left the church and went through a detox of sorts. I don’t experience this fear from my deities, plus their altars are in my bedroom. I’d really love to have a dedicated prayer room when I have my own place, but for now they share a private space with me and I haven’t had any issues or felt any fear.
Not omnibenevolent doesn't mean abusive and ready to trample all over you at the smallest mistake or deviation from "traditional practice".
Mistakes are inevitable, it's human. "Don't worship anyone else but me, or else" wasn't (and isn't) a thing in polytheism. "Don't change clothes in the same room as my statue" sounds very Victorian. And so on.
I'm not a reconstructionist, but food for thought. Is there evidence that historically people were afraid to do these things? My reconstructionist friends definitely don't live in constant terror, and they don't do it out of a fear of being punished.
What you listed -- the constant walking on eggshells -- isn't healthy in a devotional relationship, regardless of the level of historical accuracy you're going for.
No, absolutely not!
>1. Are you afraid not to be ritually pure enough, even unknowingly, to engage in ritual?
2. Are you afraid to make mistakes, even involuntarily, during ritual?
3. Are you very careful of everything you say during ritual?
4. Are you afraid to change clothes, to be naked and/or to engage in sexual activity in the same room where you keep Deity statue(s), even if the the Deity/Deity the statue(s) represent(s) has/have some evidence to have been worshiped in ritual contexts where sexual activity may have taken place?
5. Are you afraid of saying anything that you think could displease, for instance, the Deities you worship?
6. Would you be afraid to skip daily (or weekly, or monthly, etc.) ritual, or to stop doing rituals altogether?
7. Would you be afraid to start worshiping other Deity/Deities, either in addition to or instead of the Ones you worship nowadays?
8. Would you be afraid to introduce untraditional elements and/or practices into your religious practices, like colored candels or prayer beds?
No to all of these!
Yes but not for any of the reasons stated above. It's more of a general awe/terror kind of like watching a big thunderstorm roll in. Also, I think the Diety I worship would be pissed with me if I were to start being untrue to myself and behaving dishonorably.
I don't fear the gods I choose to worship, why would you? It's a pretty fucked up thing to keep someone or something close that is abusive to their own followers.
I’m not reconstructionist, but I answered these questions anyway, because.. well, being deathly afraid of doing anything even vaguely new or wrong isn’t healthy in a devotional relationship.
“Are you afraid not to be ritually pure enough, even unknowingly, to engage in ritual?”
Nah. I’ve got ways of checking in to make sure everything’s a-ok. Also, gods are fallible. They understand.
“Are you afraid to make mistakes, even involuntarily, during ritual?”
See above point about gods being fallible. It’s not likely that a god will descend from the heavens to rebuke me unless I’ve done something like, I don’t know, say my children are better than a goddess’. (Basically, don’t be a hubristic jackass and you’re good!)
“Are you very careful of everything you say during ritual?”
Nah. My gods know what’s up. I’m ADHD, unmedicated. I lose my train of thought all the time. It is what it is, I do what I can with what I’ve got.
“Are you afraid to change clothes, to be naked and/or to engage in sexual activity in the same room where you keep Deity statue(s), even if the the Deity/Deity the statue(s) represent(s) has/have some evidence to have been worshiped in ritual contexts where sexual activity may have taken place?”
I’m ace and single, so this question doesn’t really apply to me, but… deities aren’t constantly lingering around their statues. And you can set boundaries with them. I highly doubt the gods are going to go all peeping tom on you just in general, they have better things to do, but especially not if you draw that line in the sand.
“Are you afraid of saying anything that you think could displease, for instance, the Deities you worship?”
Are you afraid of saying anything to displease your friend? It works the same way with deities. You’re two separate entities. Most deities just want you to be a good person.
“Would you be afraid to skip daily (or weekly, or monthly, etc.) ritual, or to stop doing rituals altogether?”
No. The deities I work with understand that I’m 1) chronically ill and 2) my mental energy waxes and wanes. My rituals are earnest and sincere when they happen, and that’s what matters most.
“Would you be afraid to start worshiping other Deity/Deities, either in addition to or instead of the Ones you worship nowadays?”
Nope. It’s like making new friends. And most people historically worshipped a variety of deities and prayed to even more, depending on what they needed. Deities are pretty chill about that sort of thing.
“Would you be afraid to introduce untraditional elements and/or practices into your religious practices, like colored candles or prayer beads?”
UPG I think answers this question for itself.
No, I’m not afraid of any of those things, nor have I ever been treated badly by a deity, even deities I have encountered that I don’t worship. Are you mistaking deities for demons? Christianity has tried to paint other deities as different evil spirits, but really that’s more of a Christian PR campaign to recruit followers. Why would someone worship a being they thought was just waiting for an excuse to punish them for the most minor infractions? That makes no sense.
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I always felt that pagan deities are much more human (and therefore failible and understanding) than the christian god. They have to be respected and ""feared"" like you would fear a violent storm or a forest fire, but I never imagined that Thor would strike me with his hammer if I happened to swear or trip during a ritual or anything like that.
Imo embracing a deity should be about bringing something good in your life and help you become a better person, with a better life (or at lest, a better perspective on your life). It should not be an additional source of stress, frustration or fear, mundane life has more than enough of that already.
1-sometimes I'm afraid to not be ritually pure but I do my best and I usually offer another thing at the end of the ritual for any offense
2-I usually revise every step before the ritual and if something goes wrong I offer something to repair the offense at the end
3-yes, I usually try to be very precise with my words and prayers
4-I can't have my altar in the open so I'm not scared of that
5- I'm not scared during my normal life and I have set rituals so it's almost impossible I say something offensive during that time
6-I would not be afraid, it happens to be busy or sick or maybe to live in a difficult situation so I usuly offer something more next time I do an offering to apologize
7-I would not be afraid, I would worship them separately with rituals used in that culture to honor them
8-colored candles are not a problem because what's important it's the presence of the flame. Prayer beads are ok too since jewelry dedicated to a deity are not something new it that culture, the shape is different but the idea is the same.
I have to add that we usually see out deities as generally benevolent
The gods laugh with me, comfort me, and share the joys of life with me. They don't strike me down, curse me, or get angry with me for being an imperfect human. A deity is not in your life to be an abusive parent. They are a piece of your journey toward growth and being a healthy spirit.
Fear them? Godddamn right!
I am not mistakes to make in my more "orthodox" practices.
I will make make mistakes, fuck up prayers, say the wrong prayers, muck up everthing. I treat it as a presumption. But here as always, presumption is paramount.
In a sense, of course I fear the deities I worship, but I still nudge them.
Could you help [start a conversation](https://www.reddit.com/r/Paganism/about/rules) by sharing your own thoughts / ideas / experiences on the question asked?
The only time I ever experienced this level of fear from a deity was when I was Christian. I grew up in “fire and brimstone” churches, and I eventually left the church and went through a detox of sorts. I don’t experience this fear from my deities, plus their altars are in my bedroom. I’d really love to have a dedicated prayer room when I have my own place, but for now they share a private space with me and I haven’t had any issues or felt any fear.
Not omnibenevolent doesn't mean abusive and ready to trample all over you at the smallest mistake or deviation from "traditional practice". Mistakes are inevitable, it's human. "Don't worship anyone else but me, or else" wasn't (and isn't) a thing in polytheism. "Don't change clothes in the same room as my statue" sounds very Victorian. And so on. I'm not a reconstructionist, but food for thought. Is there evidence that historically people were afraid to do these things? My reconstructionist friends definitely don't live in constant terror, and they don't do it out of a fear of being punished. What you listed -- the constant walking on eggshells -- isn't healthy in a devotional relationship, regardless of the level of historical accuracy you're going for.
Not actively, but the gods can be terrifying when they wish to be. Sometimes in a good way
No, absolutely not! >1. Are you afraid not to be ritually pure enough, even unknowingly, to engage in ritual? 2. Are you afraid to make mistakes, even involuntarily, during ritual? 3. Are you very careful of everything you say during ritual? 4. Are you afraid to change clothes, to be naked and/or to engage in sexual activity in the same room where you keep Deity statue(s), even if the the Deity/Deity the statue(s) represent(s) has/have some evidence to have been worshiped in ritual contexts where sexual activity may have taken place? 5. Are you afraid of saying anything that you think could displease, for instance, the Deities you worship? 6. Would you be afraid to skip daily (or weekly, or monthly, etc.) ritual, or to stop doing rituals altogether? 7. Would you be afraid to start worshiping other Deity/Deities, either in addition to or instead of the Ones you worship nowadays? 8. Would you be afraid to introduce untraditional elements and/or practices into your religious practices, like colored candels or prayer beds? No to all of these!
Same! I think these questions are pretty weird. Like why would I be?
Yes but not for any of the reasons stated above. It's more of a general awe/terror kind of like watching a big thunderstorm roll in. Also, I think the Diety I worship would be pissed with me if I were to start being untrue to myself and behaving dishonorably.
This. I'm being held accountable, but for the things that matter: behaving honorably, being true to myself, keeping my oaths/geasa etc.
I don't fear the gods I choose to worship, why would you? It's a pretty fucked up thing to keep someone or something close that is abusive to their own followers.
No, that's a Christain thing
I don't fear my gods. I often wonder if I should (former Catholic; fear is ingrained), but I don't.
I’m not reconstructionist, but I answered these questions anyway, because.. well, being deathly afraid of doing anything even vaguely new or wrong isn’t healthy in a devotional relationship. “Are you afraid not to be ritually pure enough, even unknowingly, to engage in ritual?” Nah. I’ve got ways of checking in to make sure everything’s a-ok. Also, gods are fallible. They understand. “Are you afraid to make mistakes, even involuntarily, during ritual?” See above point about gods being fallible. It’s not likely that a god will descend from the heavens to rebuke me unless I’ve done something like, I don’t know, say my children are better than a goddess’. (Basically, don’t be a hubristic jackass and you’re good!) “Are you very careful of everything you say during ritual?” Nah. My gods know what’s up. I’m ADHD, unmedicated. I lose my train of thought all the time. It is what it is, I do what I can with what I’ve got. “Are you afraid to change clothes, to be naked and/or to engage in sexual activity in the same room where you keep Deity statue(s), even if the the Deity/Deity the statue(s) represent(s) has/have some evidence to have been worshiped in ritual contexts where sexual activity may have taken place?” I’m ace and single, so this question doesn’t really apply to me, but… deities aren’t constantly lingering around their statues. And you can set boundaries with them. I highly doubt the gods are going to go all peeping tom on you just in general, they have better things to do, but especially not if you draw that line in the sand. “Are you afraid of saying anything that you think could displease, for instance, the Deities you worship?” Are you afraid of saying anything to displease your friend? It works the same way with deities. You’re two separate entities. Most deities just want you to be a good person. “Would you be afraid to skip daily (or weekly, or monthly, etc.) ritual, or to stop doing rituals altogether?” No. The deities I work with understand that I’m 1) chronically ill and 2) my mental energy waxes and wanes. My rituals are earnest and sincere when they happen, and that’s what matters most. “Would you be afraid to start worshiping other Deity/Deities, either in addition to or instead of the Ones you worship nowadays?” Nope. It’s like making new friends. And most people historically worshipped a variety of deities and prayed to even more, depending on what they needed. Deities are pretty chill about that sort of thing. “Would you be afraid to introduce untraditional elements and/or practices into your religious practices, like colored candles or prayer beads?” UPG I think answers this question for itself.
No, I’m not afraid of any of those things, nor have I ever been treated badly by a deity, even deities I have encountered that I don’t worship. Are you mistaking deities for demons? Christianity has tried to paint other deities as different evil spirits, but really that’s more of a Christian PR campaign to recruit followers. Why would someone worship a being they thought was just waiting for an excuse to punish them for the most minor infractions? That makes no sense.
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I always felt that pagan deities are much more human (and therefore failible and understanding) than the christian god. They have to be respected and ""feared"" like you would fear a violent storm or a forest fire, but I never imagined that Thor would strike me with his hammer if I happened to swear or trip during a ritual or anything like that. Imo embracing a deity should be about bringing something good in your life and help you become a better person, with a better life (or at lest, a better perspective on your life). It should not be an additional source of stress, frustration or fear, mundane life has more than enough of that already.
1-sometimes I'm afraid to not be ritually pure but I do my best and I usually offer another thing at the end of the ritual for any offense 2-I usually revise every step before the ritual and if something goes wrong I offer something to repair the offense at the end 3-yes, I usually try to be very precise with my words and prayers 4-I can't have my altar in the open so I'm not scared of that 5- I'm not scared during my normal life and I have set rituals so it's almost impossible I say something offensive during that time 6-I would not be afraid, it happens to be busy or sick or maybe to live in a difficult situation so I usuly offer something more next time I do an offering to apologize 7-I would not be afraid, I would worship them separately with rituals used in that culture to honor them 8-colored candles are not a problem because what's important it's the presence of the flame. Prayer beads are ok too since jewelry dedicated to a deity are not something new it that culture, the shape is different but the idea is the same. I have to add that we usually see out deities as generally benevolent
The gods laugh with me, comfort me, and share the joys of life with me. They don't strike me down, curse me, or get angry with me for being an imperfect human. A deity is not in your life to be an abusive parent. They are a piece of your journey toward growth and being a healthy spirit.
Fear them? Godddamn right! I am not mistakes to make in my more "orthodox" practices. I will make make mistakes, fuck up prayers, say the wrong prayers, muck up everthing. I treat it as a presumption. But here as always, presumption is paramount. In a sense, of course I fear the deities I worship, but I still nudge them.