RE: The Paganism Elevator Speech
I know some metaphysical Christians, and some who think the Christian God is a She. I think spirituality is such a personal thing, and those who are threatened by others' ideas are really just insecure in their own ...book burning hubby was afraid that if his beliefs were challenged, he wouldn't be able to defend them. He didn't actually have "faith," he had a house of cards, and that's sad.
I was raised Catholic, almost became a religious, and studied theology at a Jesuit university. Hoooo baby does it piss off those types of Christians when the Pagan has studied their book better than they have. I've had more than one get all haughty, "Well how do you know, you're not Christian, you don't know what it says," and then I drop that bombshell, and SUDDENLY, they have nothing to say. It's like they can't imagine someone could be told "the greatest story" and not think It's The Best Thing Ever. It's the same arrogance that goes along with evangelism and missionary work, thinking once people hear their version (important caveat, because usually evangelizing types are of the "only my interpretation is the right one" bent), OF COURSE they'll convert, the fact that everyone isn't the same as you MUST only be because they haven't heard your message.
Just ...sigh. It's so disrespectful.
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.