RE: The Paganism Elevator Speech
In my church it was always "Father-Mother God" but I do tend more to the feminine now. Totally agree that one's spirituality is personal, how someone relates to the Deity (their Deity) is so intimate and shouldn't be judged by anyone else.
My main issue with the Catholic approach is the belief that priests are the conduit to God. Yes, you can pray to God and the saints but only priests can absolve you of sin, and I'm not comfortable using a middleman! My main issue with the Protestants, and most other faiths, is their approach that their way is the only right way and to allow only a narrow set of beliefs. And if you don't check all the boxes you're out!
I should add that I love attending Mass, the closest thing to a Pagan ceremony you can get within an organized religion!
Deep respect for the people who choose the religious life.
I don't know your views about past lives but I'm pretty convinced I've had one or more where I was a monk or a nun. When I visit old Catholic churches I feel so at home and sometimes out of the corner of my eye I 'see' women in old-styled habits.
I have a theory about 'spiritual one-upsmanship', how people use their religion to make them better than other people. Just like driving a better car or having a better house, liking better music or movies, having better political opinions - all so annoying!
Oh, totally. There's that verse in Matthew about doing your praying alone behind closed doors and not out on the street for everyone to see, because that admiration of people thinking you're so pious is alllll the reward you're going to get out of that, but if it's just between you and Yhwh, that's what counts. I see all the showy-offy more-Christian-than-thou people and I just want to make that verse a neon sign and stick it in their front yard. LOL
There is a book by LLoyd C. Douglas, Magnificent Obsession (1929) that is based on that exact Bible quote! (Don't bother with the movie version.) It demonstrates the concept in action. He also wrote a prequel, Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal (1939) along similar lines. Douglas' books had a big influence on me, and that particular one especially so.