The Pageless Book

Everyone ought to worship God according to his own inclinations, and not to be constrained by force.
- Flavius Josephus, 37 AD - 100 AD.

Omnitheism. It’s one of those words I like to throw around that no one quite understands. From an etymological standpoint the word is no different then pantheism in that both “pan-“ and “omni-” means “all” in Latin and Greek respectively. “Pantheism”, which is the worship of all things as collectively being God, is a well established word in the English language. This is in contrast with “Omnitheism” which can only be found sparely used by a handful of people on the internet and does not have a definition from an authoritative source.Why use a word that has so little history to describe my religious inclinations? It may seem silly, but I don’t believe any of the other words properly describe how I view the Divine. I’m not saying that there has not been others throughout history who share my particular understanding of the Divine. I’m not saying that I invented the word “Omnitheism” either, as there are currently at least three or four people who could lay claim to that title, none of whom are myself. I am going to work towards giving this word a proper definition that everyone can understand and appreciate, that clearly differentiates it from other religious terminology.

So what is Omnitheism? There are two ways in which you can define this word. One method of defining this word by dropping large theological concepts into the collective laps of my readers and elaborating on them with the eloquence of an 18th century philosopher. The benefit of defining a word this way is appearing intelligent and well educated to the two, or maybe three, readers that might be able to follow my train-wreck of logic. Seeing as I do not yet have a theological degree, I don’t see the point in trying to fool with break-teeth words; I would probably end up using the words incorrectly anyway.

The other method of definition looks at how we relate to the Divine and practice of our spirituality. This method, unlike the other, would give you an idea of what Omnitheism looks like. This is the method I want to use because I want to give you a working understanding of what it means to be an omnitheist. No pretense, no twelve syllable words, and no bull.

As you may have guessed, Omnitheism is a melting pot of religions and philosophies. Omnitheism is the belief that no single religion, philosophy, or science can ever accurately explain or describe in full the nature of reality, the nature of the human experience, or the nature of the divine, yet each contributes to an over-all understanding of such. In addition, Omnitheism encourages constant spiritual exploration and experimentation in contrast to the unyielding belief or dogma of many religions. This may lead to many interesting questions. I’m not going to attempt to answer them all in one post, but I will attempt to touch on what omnitheists believe concerning God, what makes Omnitheism different from other spiritual paths, and how omnitheists worship.

To an omnitheist, the Divine is both distant and personal, a part of creation and apart from creation, many entities and one, intelligent and a force of nature. The metaphors and examples of what omnitheists believe concerning God could very well fill an entire book. I’ll spare you the repetition; the bottom line is, our language and logic are not able fully explain the nature of the Divine. Seemingly contradictory statements made about the Divine could very well both be true in one sense and both false in another sense. Omnitheists don’t pretend to know the nature of God, but still can form their own opinions based upon what is known to be true and their own personal spiritual experience.

One thing that all Omnitheists agree on is that the Divine does not seem to differentiate believers in one religion from the other. Members of all religions and paths have similar profound experiences, although they might be interpreted differently depending on the culture. Omnitheism takes that observation and brings it to a logical conclusion. It doesn’t matter how you define the Divine, all that matters is that it is experienced by all people.

How is Omnitheism, then, different then deism or spiritual atheism? It is how omnitheists relate to the collected wisdom, practices, and stories of other religions. Unlike deism or spiritual atheism, Omnitheism still finds validity in the holy texts, practices, and the ideas of other religions. Omnitheism teaches that the Divine speaks to different people in different ways. Just because the Divine reveals itself to one person in one fashion and other people in another fashion does not mean one must be true and the other false.

As already discussed, our language and understanding are not fully able to comprehend the Divine, so what the Divine gives us are allegories and symbolism. While this makes all holy texts inherently flawed, through attempting to understand what is being said and the essential truths behind the words and practices, we begin to be able to realize more of those truths. That realization and work cannot be done by someone else; it has to be done by each individual for him or herself.

That leads us to the issue of worship. The problem, if you can call it a problem, is that Omnitheism is a belief that can manifest itself in a large number of ways. You could almost imagine this faith as an empty white room that you are expected to paint in any color or combination of colors that you desire. This differs from mainstream religions, in that the work of building a relationship with the divine isn’t already done. You must put forth the effort to find what colors, or what means of worship, work for you.

The majority of omnitheists will be those who strive to worship God through the practices of several different religions. It only makes sense; most people would become omnitheists because they see similarity and beauty in more then one religion. Does that mean that the practice of these omnitheists are cobbled together like some strange Frankenstein monster? No. Omnitheism is not only the view that all religions are valid, but also is the view that all religions should be respected. What it means is that omnitheists will try to relate to God in a way that is completely unique unto themselves, making a subtle art out of their own worship. One might find regular prayer and meditation important to their individual worship, while another omnitheist might preform rituals of her own design. Yet another omnitheist may forgo all means of worship, concentrating instead in honoring the Divine by living a life of integrity and joy.

I’m not claiming that Omnitheism is for everyone, nor am I suggesting that this spiritual path is more valid just because it is broader in scope. Each person needs to find their own way to relate to the Divine; no one religion or path can ever satisfy everyone. As someone who has taken a serious look at several different religions and realized that they each have something to offer, I found “Omnitheist” to be the only label with which I felt comfortable. I suspect that there are more than a few other individuals who might feel as I do, but just do not have the word to describe what they believe. Perhaps you feel that Omnitheism fits you, or perhaps someone you know, as well?

First Image by Jared Tarbell. Second Image from John Guano. Third Photo from David Shapinsky. Final Image by Charis Tsevis. Originally Published October 12th, 2007.

Cathy and I will not be updating this week; we are celebrating our second wedding anniversary and will not be in town. However, I couldn’t help myself when I saw this video - I just had to share it. I don’t agree with everything the narrator says, but the core idea of culture being like a flawed computer operating system struck a cord with me. Take a look!

Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine that you are the Republican leadership. The Republicans have had control of the executive and legislative branches of the government for the past eight years. Those past eight years and the policies of your party have embittered the citizenship of the entire United States. Mistakes were made; an unpopular war was initiated under your watch. Your party, the Republicans, supported the most unpopular president of all time, even when his leadership was virtually non-existent. The liberties for which our servicemen are dying to protect were eroded for the sake of security of an increasingly mislead nation. Worse yet, the strong economy which was inherited by your party is now limping along after being trampled by the mismanagement of the past eight years. How can you hope to become the next president of the United States?

There are basically only two choices. You could either save face, distance yourself from the current administration and their policies, expecting to lose this up coming election, and prepare your party for a comeback two years from now. This would take a tremendous amount of restraint and humility. Alternatively, you could lie, cheat, and manipulate in the most desperate of ways to win this election. Nothing less could even bring you close. Can you guess which of these two strategies I am going to suggest that John McCain is using?

The Republicans have proven that they are desperate not to lose this election - and that is their greatest weakness. Because of their desperation, they chose to run a woman with little political experience, Sarah Palin, as the vice presidential nominee. This choice could only be an attempt at syphoning off disgruntled Hilary Clinton supporters from Barak Obama. But it isn’t all about her - it is about how their whole campaign has ran.

Think back to every criticism the Republican party has made concerning Barak Obama; what attacks *didn’t* seem desperate? The controversy regarding his minister? Desperate. The repetitive inference that Barak is of Muslim faith? Also Desperate. The ads comparing Obama to Paris Hilton, claims that Obama will increase taxes, inferring that his support of educating young children about sexual predators is some how perverse…. These acts of desperation know no limits, apparently.

But lets not fool ourselves - we Democrats are desperate too. Desperate to see our troops brought home from Iraq, our military repaired, and our standing in the world as a great nation restored. We are desperate to fix an increasingly failing economy, to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, and to provide adequate health care to the impoverished. We are so desperate that we are afraid to move, afraid to yell or scream, afraid to speak the truth regarding John McCain and his lies. And the recent polls seem to justify these fears: Obama and McCain are dead-even in the race for the presidency.

Well, I’m not so sure if those fears are truly justified. Sure, I’m as nervous as anyone else; I check election news once or twice daily in hopes to bolster my own confidence in the outcome of this election. But there is one thing that we need to keep in mind - keep drilling into our head. There are many more newly registered voters this season, and they are all energized and focused to make one Barak Obama our president. The polls don’t reflect these first time voters. The polls don’t mean anything.

So we should let the Republicans be desperate while we speak the truth unabashedly. Let them be desperate - and we can be hopeful.

First Image by Springhill2008. Second Photo by Derek Nola. Final Photo by Thomas Roche.

God is an alcoholic substance made of fermented grains and hops… No! Seriously! Just watch the video!

I have a formula I’ve been working on. Now, it isn’t a perfect formula, nor is it a particularly original formula, as bits and pieces of it has existed since before the fall of Rome. It is just another iteration of what philosophy, religion, and science has been telling us for hundreds of years. What makes this formula different is its brevity. This is the God Equation…

God = Truth = Life = Love

God is Truth, God is Life, God is Love, and all three of these concepts are also equal to each other. Now, for all those who like to think literally, I’m well aware that the dictionary definitions of these four words do not lend itself to my formula. However, from a philosophical and theological point of view, this formula makes sense.

In the Christian tradition, there are a number of bible verses that support my formula. John 8:32: reads: “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 2 John 1:2 reads “…because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever.” What other truth do these verses refer to other than the Holy Spirit? John 1:4 reads: “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.” In John 6:48, Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” Does it not sound like Christ is equating himself with life itself? 1 John 4:8 reads: “The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” In John 15:12, Jesus said: “My commandment is this - to love on another just as I have loved you.”

Granted, I do not consider myself a Christian, and read into scripture the meaning that I understand as a Unitarian Universalist, and an Omnitheist. As such, I know that Christian readers may not agree with all the conclusions I come to further in this article. I’ve also have utilized only one of the four Gospel writers. What can I say? Guys named “John” tend to be great writers…

What does it mean to equate God with Truth? Does this mean to say that God is undeniable real? Yes and No; it means that our understanding of what God is should be grounded in that which is undeniably real. If I believe that God is literally a great, thunderbolt wielding, old man in the sky, I’m going to have a hard time proving this. To quote Michael Dowd, a fellow UU, God is nothing less, but may be infinitely more, than the totality of reality.

Everything that can be proven to be true reveals something about the nature of God. Science can be and should be viewed through the lens of understanding the creation in order to understand the creator. The God and Truth does not change - only our perspective changes; there are hundreds of religions only because there are so many different ways of relating to God. Even more interesting is how misunderstanding and deliberate falsehood actually reveal more about the nature of the Truth and God than it obscures… At least that is my observation.

What does it mean to equate God with Life? Far too many people concern themselves with the noun “God,” and yet pay little attention to the verb “God.” God is in every moment, every choice, and every outcome of every “thing.” God is a process, just as Life is a process. This is what is meant by “Process Theology.” Every moment of our lives is a new revelation of our God’s glory, as is every moment of all other life. Some would claim that the sum of all things are encompassed by God. I would correct them and say that the sum of all change is encompassed by God.

When I say that every moment of our lives and the lives of others is a revelation of God, I am not being figurative. Even our dreams, hallucinations, and fantasies reveal some part of God that we might not have known of before. Every reaction to our action is a lesson waiting to be learned - a teaching of God. Sometimes the lesson is obvious… other times the lesson challenges us to find meaning in that which seems senseless.

What does it mean to equate God with Love? Think about what love is for one moment; it brings parts into something greater than there sum. Two human beings that share love towards one another, lift each other up, learn from each other’s differences, and become stronger individuals through that relationship. What happens when we apply love to all things? We become one with all things as mystics. We learn from all things, are lifted up by the totality of reality, and become stronger individuals through that relationship.

Through our understanding of Truth, Life, and Love, we gain a better understanding of God. This is far better an understanding than what we could ever achieve through rote memorization of Holy Text or constant theological philosophizing (of which I am just as guilty as anyone else). The God Equation puts all of religion and spirituality in perspective, allowing each human being to follow his or her own path. I think this has the potential of creating harmony between religions while maintaining the viability of all religious traditions… but I’m sure some would differ with my assessment.

First photo by Got Jenna. Second photo by Bart. Third Photo by Alice Cornelia. Final Photo by Jennifer R.

So for the past two weeks or so, I haven’t had a new post. Truth is, I have one post half finished up on my computer screen right now, but I’m just too worn out from work to complete it… I’ve been working quite a bit of over-time; this is the start of the busy season for my company. Despite having sworn off coffee and other caffeinated beverages a few weeks ago, I’m now gargling with the stuff to stay on top of my game. I doubt this is going to change much over the next few months - it won’t be until mid-January that everything settles down at work.

I’ve been thinking a lot about politics recently, and nothing would please me more than to find the time to write a political article. After witnessing Obama’s official nomination as the Democratic Nominee for President, I felt genuine hope and excitement for the future of this country. Since seeing the disgrace of the RNC - both the speeches within and the protests outside - I’ve also never been more fearful. I don’t want to know what four more years like the last eight will do to this country. All the polls show the race as being too close for comfort - it seriously shakes my faith in humanity that so many people think that they would be better off under McCain.

I’ve also been thinking quite a bit about sex, and it’s place within the folds of spirituality. I haven’t written about sexuality on this website, and I think I may never… I personally have too many hang-ups and issues regarding sex to be comfortable discussing it in an honest manner. At the same time, my personal struggles with that particular subject have brought me to new spiritual insights about myself. This is a potential place of growth for me, but it is also too close for me to discuss in detail.

Finally, I’ve been crazy-obsessed with the idea of getting a new tattoo. Next year, I’ll be thirty - and while it is still over nine months away, I would like to celebrate it with a new ink. The only problem is that I have so many ideas of what to get, that I cannot decide… Should I get the image of a pregnant goddess tattooed on the outside of my thigh? Perhaps I should get a half-sleeve done of the Tree of Life, in Celtic-knot style… I’ve also been thinking of getting some Hebrew lettering. I keep changing my mind! I have nine months to decide, anyway.

So, anyway, that is what has been happening with me. I hope to find more time to write over the next few weeks, but if I don’t, at least now you know why. As always, Namaste…

Image by William Murphy.

Sometimes I fear that I come off as being pretentious. Back when I was in highschool, I thought that “pretentious” was the worse thing you could call a person. I took pride in the fact that my friends and I chose to be ourselves, in direct contrast with the jocks, preps, and wanna-be thugs. We - we were different and genuine. I wonder what my 16 year old self would say about me today…

When I write for this blog, I have this habit of slipping into this voice that seeks to use large words and prove his own intelligence. Its very me, but it is the left-brain me. The words that I use seem solely for the purpose of satisfying my egotistical need to reaffirm my own brilliance. I believe I am smart, but I am far from a genius. The right-brain me doesn’t come out to play here on this blog as much as I’d like.

Did you know I like web comics? I read them most every day. Currently, my favorite web comic is Flipside. It is a story about Maytag, a nymphomaniac female jester, and her struggle to stay true to the love of her life, a sword welding warrior by the name Bernadette. I also enjoy Misfile and Khaos Komix. It is kind of funny how all three of these comics feature homosexual romantic relationships… and no, I didn’t plan it that way.

Getting a little off track, here; my point is that I wonder if I couldn’t be more like my whole self and a little less… pretentious. God how that word stings. I want to feel more connected and invested in this little venture of mine. Yes, I want to think of myself as a good writer and a smart person, but I need to remind myself that I don’t need to be a great writer or a brilliant person to be a great blogger.

Image by Mike Kline.

Rev. Michael Dowd was the guest speaker at the UU church I attend this Sunday. He’s the author of a book entitled Thank God for Evolution, which has been endorsed by five Nobel Laureates, all of whom have were awarded the prize in science related fields. Rev. Dowd considers himself an Evolutionary Evangelist; he and his wife have been traveling the U.S. for the last six years preaching Evolution Theology. It’s worth a look-see…

So… look and see already!

I have an admission to make; for the past twelve or so years of my life, I have studied and been involved with occultism. Let me be clear of what I mean by occultism - I’m not talking about Wicca, the New Age movement, or rampant Harry Potter fandom. When I talk about occultism, I’m referring to Enochian Magick, The Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magick, as well as the study of personalities, practices, and history that go along with the Western occult tradition. I am talking about the “hard stuff” that paranoid fundamentalists only dare speak of when they are brave enough to condemn it. I know that nothing stirs as much controversy among the religious as the subject of the occult.

I also know that nothing infuriates atheists and rationalists more than the idea that it just might be possible to alter reality with a thought. It seems to be the very pinnacle of human arrogance to believe that manipulating reality in a way that is currently beyond science is within the ability of a man waving his arms around and chanting in some foreign language. It is an insult to any discerning and sane mind. This isn’t to mention the fact that to accept the proposal that the occult may indeed have some effect on reality, you would have agree that there may be more to reality than what can be empirically proven.

Most people are uncomfortable with the subject of occultism. Understandably so, as popular opinion has it that the occult is either a damnable offense, evidence of utter delusion, or incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. I’m not going to try to convince anyone otherwise because, quite honestly, it can be all three of these things - even if not exactly in the way in which you would imagine. In my experience, though, it also can be a tool for a greater good. What I will do is attempt to explain exactly what I understand of occultism.

First of all, it is important for me to point out that, to my knowledge, there is no massive global network of occultists seeking to take over the world. The simple fact of the matter is that those who study the occult are far too individualistic, egotistical, and/or eccentric to form cohesive organizations strong enough to infiltrate or overthrow governments - yes, even small ones. The largest of occult organizations weigh in at about 1,000 members. Most occult organizations are lucky if they have over 50 members. Don’t get me wrong, it makes for great Hollywood fiction, but that is all it is - fiction.

While we are on the subject of paranoia, I should mention that occultists are not interested in corrupting your children. I am well aware of the use of occult symbols in television, movies, games, and fiction. There is also an abundance of Asian characters and mythology in television, movies, games, and fiction - yet no one seems to think that Buddhists are interested in corrupting children. Our entertainment industry simply has a love affair with anything that is exotic, foreign, or abnormal. The mythology surrounding occultism is also exotic, foreign, and abnormal to the majority of Western society. It stands to reason that television, movie, game, and fiction writers would abuse the stereotype of occultism, or any stereotype for that matter, to sell products. If you want to blame anyone for “corrupting” your children, blame the entertainment industry.

I’ve also learned that the occult is the an amalgamation of religious beliefs and mystical practices driven underground by the persecution of the Catholic Church. The majority of what constitutes occultism is a blend of the remnants of Christian movements deemed heretical by the Catholic Church, the scraps of lore left over from extinguished polytheistic religions, and Jewish traditions. Occultism is a direct outcome of the persecution of Pagans, Jews, and other Christians by Christians. Those groups persecuted includes the Order of the Templar Knights (widely believed to have latter become the basis for Freemasonry), Christian Gnostic sects and Qabalah. In other words, Occultism is a direct result of the persecution and intolerance of the Medieval/Renaissance Catholic Church. I know that is a bold statement, but in reading ancient grimoires, I have frequently been amazed to find the corrupted names of Greek, Roman, Germanic, and Celtic Gods, references to gnostic teachings, angels, and obscured bits of Jewish lore.

Those who practice the occult also often assert that their practice is scientific. Occultists are prone to referring to the chaos theory and quantum mechanics, and often take special interests in scientific developments. In fact, Aleister Crowley defines ritual magic as the “art and science of change.” The irony is that many of the earliest scientists and mathematicians were occultists as well. It is already well known that the science of chemistry evolved from the occult science of alchemy, and that astronomy evolved from astrology. What isn’t well known is that scientists, well into the 18th century, believed in or practiced some form of occultism. I’m not talking about a few isolated individuals dabbling in occult practices; at one time science and occult knowledge went hand in hand. The most notable example is Sir Isaac Newton’s research into astrology.

Finally, it is important to understand that occult practices are deeply psychological. Whether or not you accept the premise that ritual can affect the fabric of reality, there is no question that occult ritual affects the mind in profound ways. Ritual has the potential to reach deeper into the subconscious then prayer or meditation alone. It may even be possible to alter your subconscious with the use of occult ritual. This aspect of the occult, in my opinion, can be a useful tool for self exploration and improvement, but for those who are unstable, this can be dangerous. The majority of occultists are well adjusted individuals, but within any group of people there are a few who are not so well adjusted. This is, perhaps, the scariest facet of occultism, and is likely the origin of some horror stories concerning the occult.

My hope in explaining what I understand about the occult isn’t to convince you that the occult should be treated as if it were another hobby, or that all objections to occultism are completely unjustified. I think what I want most is for you to understand that there is vastly more to the subject then supposed experts would lead you to believe. The tendency is to dismiss occultism as a whole based upon assumptions, rather then investigating and thinking for yourself. I find that thinking for yourself is perhaps what is hardest to do when faced with something as polarizing as the occult. I also believe it is most necessary when faced with similar polarizing issues.

First Image provided by FrauBucher. Second Image provided by Edgar Zessinthal. Final Photo by Thomas Roche. Originally Published November 3, 2007.

New Age spirituality is one of those subjects on which I cannot seem to form a solid opinion. It is hard to define, but generally encompasses a belief in angels, psychic powers, energy crystals, reincarnation, aliens, and divination. My knee-jerk reaction is to discount it entirely as a miscellaneous collection of modern myths and superstitions blended together to form a very misinformed, but well intentioned, spiritual path. To be honest, that reactionary opinion comes from a very smug place of intellectual superiority which doesn’t suit me well at all. I may tell myself that I am above such non-sense, but then I put myself in the position of defending my own brand of non-sense.

I also put myself in the position of being a hypocrite – I own several decks of tarot cards and have been known to use them on occasion. Somehow, fool myself into thinking that tarot reading is *different* than the rest of New Age spirituality. Because I’ve studied the history of the tarot and view it more as a psychological tool, I can assure myself that I’m not gullible or superstitious. Yet, is it really about being gullible or superstitious?

How is a prayer for health any different than Rikki healing? On the surface, both practices are attempts to influence unseen forces to the benefit of others. With prayer, you are seeking the blessings of a Divine Source that exists independently of yourself. Rikki healing, on the other hand, utilizes the divine power within the healer. The big three religions in Western culture - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - teaches that humanity is imperfect, unworthy, and unclean. They teach that we are all less than divine, daring only to touch at the hem of God’s robes, as we are not worthy of any closer contact. New Age spirituality seems to challenge this idea, asserting that we are all divine - even the people who seem least divine. In going against traditional religion, it also go against what might be called “common sense.” The truth is that it merely goes against our learned bias.

New Age spirituality also seems to exist merely to thumb its nose at intellectualism. Perhaps it is a direct reaction to our culture’s insistence that everything fit into the small box of what we consider logical? We tend to neglect the emotional and intuitive side in favor of reasoning and proof. While logic holds a special place in being one of humanity’s most useful tools, it represents only a portion of human experience. Sometimes we need to let go of logic and reasoning to understand truth on a more intuitive level. Again, it is a learned bias to believe that this intuitive head-space not serious enough to be considered valid spirituality.

Speaking of “seriousness”, have you ever noticed that constant negativity is always taken more seriously than constant optimism? Because New Age spirituality is consistently optimistic and upbeat, it can be easily dismissed as being silly and foolish. Pessimism, however, should not be given any more consideration than optimism. I believe that pessimism is often more foolish than optimism.

Probably the biggest complaint people have about New Age spirituality is that it seems to be a mish-mash of unproven sciences, superstitions, and the musings of snake-oil salesmen. Even this has a positive aspect to it - no one can deny the creativity of New Age spirituality. Spirituality should be about creativity. These people have fun with their beliefs, and are unashamed to do so.

Does this mean that I will be taking up a crystal waving? No, not likely. I still find it to be too much for me on many levels. What it does mean is that there are several aspects of New Age spirituality that can be learned from and admired. I can learn from it’s creativity and optimism, it’s intuitiveness, and the affirmation of individual divinity. And if I wander into a New Age book store once in a while, it means I don’t have to feel guilty about it… Did I mention they have really cool stuff?

First Photo by Muji Tra. Second Image by Jon Parise. Final Image by Steve Jurvetson.