Agnostic

[poliphilo]

My sister-in-law's brother died yesterday. I didn't know him well, but I liked him. He was eccentric and counter-cultural and lived by his own rules. He was 51.

I have reached the age at which it is no longer startling when a contemporary drops dead.

Brandon wasn't religious. I don't know what the family will finally decide, but my sister in law is mildly uneasy at the prospect of having a clergy-person officiate. I did a Google search and discovered something I didn't know before, that it is possible to book a non-religious celebrant through the Registry Office. Excellent. I've let Ailz know that when I get called to the choir invisible I want a Registry Office Person to wave me off.

It's not that I'm Godless. I believe in God right enough. Though Goddess suits me better. No, it's dogma I want to steer clear of. I don't think anyone knows with certainty what happens to a person after death, and I don't fancy having some sectarian breathing his/her personal opinions or party dogma over my sainted remains.

Call me Agnostic. I think of Agnosticism as a positive thing. What's so shameful about admitting you don't have the answers? None of us can actually prove our beliefs. Faith divides; acknowledgement of ignorance unites. I know nuthin and you know nuthin- we all know nuthin together.

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Frequently I am very happy that suzilem urged me to join the lj community. Especially talking about religion, I have always thought myself to be a bit of a non conformist - I'm sure there is an All Seeing Power, but to brand it male or female doesn't seem correct. I think you said, quoting from one of The Books, that all Gods are the same God and all Goddesses are the same Godess. I think all Gods and Goddesses are the same...power? Spirit? I happily left my church years ago, and admittedly miss the choir at Christmas and Easter, but only because I love music. (Felt like a charlitan, because I was teaching little kids stuff I didn't believe)

It's becoming more and more difficult in this country, which was supposedly founded on freedom of religion (but we all know, was not REALLY) to be allowed your own beliefs without a great deal of outside pressure.

So...yes. Agnostic? Maybe. Pagan? Probably. Wiccan? I dunno, probably not but I do like a lot of the nature stuff.

But I also feel that is my business. If I choose to talk about it (here, where I feel *safe*) that's my business as well.

And, when I die, I don't care if there is ANY memorial service. The people who would attend are the ones who will remember me anyway. Is there life after death? NO one has come back and told us. Do we go on to another 'life'? Maybe.

But perhaps we just decompose and become part of the planet, whether we are buried or cremated.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I wish I could remember where that saying comes from ("All the Gods are one God etc....") Maybe it's not from a book at all. Maybe it's Wiccan oral tradition.

I have beliefs, but I don't regard them as sacrosanct. They're my opinions, nothing more, and subject to revision if need be. It strikes me as silly to insist on the truth of something that can't be proved.

I don't like labels. I guess I'd own to being a Pagan if pushed. But being a Pagan doesn't stop me also being a little bit Christian, a little bit Zen, a little bit atheist.

I'm so glad you feel safe in this space. I take it as a huge compliment.

[saskia139.livejournal.com]

I think that saying actually goes back to Dion Fortune and maybe got into Wiccan use through Starhawk. I know Marion Zimmer Bradley had Vivien, Lady of the Lake, quote it in The Mists of Avalon.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I believe you're right.

I'm an admirer of Dion Fortune's. Her book on "The Mystical Qabalah" is wonderful.