Exploring path/s

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[RedLori]

the classic beginner's question!     

I certainly want to know a lot more about many aspects of Paganism. 
but I also feel that its important [for me] to choose a path and focus on it, at least for a while.  if it doesn't seem like the right path I can always explore something else, but surely if I cannot focus well on something I am never going to learn much about it?  and it's only by learning that I can find out if something is right for me or not?

so, in a nutshell, I would like to study more intensively and I recognise that will take a lot of reading (!!  ) and finding out, but if I'm serious about it then I have to put the work in.
I don't fancy my chances as an eclectic, because although it sounds attractive I fear to fall into cherry picking trap.  maybe in years to come if I become more knowledgeable about different religions then I might be in a position to take an eclectic line, but not right now.

to date:

• I feel a relationship with 'the Christian god' which I am not going to deny (since I am a newcomer and am not going to presume anything); however to me that does not preclude belief in, and relationships with, other deities.  part of me kind of feels like 'they are all part of one' (or all different aspects of one), sort of thing, which maybe says that I am not Pagan at all, but nevertheless I don't really see that as a stumbling-block because I believe that deity/ies will make themselves known in whatever way they choose regardless of my opinions about it.
  (perhaps, given the above, you could say that any Pagan element of my beliefs has more in common with Vodou than other Pagan religions, yet somehow Vodou is a path that I feel the opposite of drawn to; of course that could change in the future but I have to work in the here and now.)
  In a manner of speaking, I guess 'the Christian god' is kind of like my 'patron', but that doesn't necessarily mean that other god/desses don't require attention too.
  I'm interested in Celtic recon, but wonder if that is too much of a hard polytheism, or should I investigate first?
  I'm also interested to an extent in Wicca and in Heathenry...
  ... but I'm a little scared of recon religions in general as they seem to me quite intellectual and demanding!     (also maybe I'm worried about getting too obsessed with getting factual past exactly right and ending up with the correct letter but not the spirit.  if that makes sense!)

I don't think I can face the thought of researching every defined Pagan religion there is (!) especially as I'm no great shakes at the reading malarkey!    I'm happy to put in the graft but would like to start off on something at least remotely resempling the right direction!

I have definitely had communication in the past with Loki, which is why my idea of to research Heathenry or at least the 'nordic' connection.  (I have also researched into runes in the past to some depth and worked with them, although that's something I haven't done for several years so am a bit rusty now.  but I have never had a relationship with any other god/dess from that pantheon.)

I tend to feel more communication with local spirits, rather than being thwapped.  I know that a goddess has protected me in the past, but I have no clue which one!   

[gorm_sionnach]

• I feel a relationship with 'the Christian god' which I am not going to deny (since I am a newcomer and am not going to presume anything); however to me that does not preclude belief in, and relationships with, other deities.  part of me kind of feels like 'they are all part of one' (or all different aspects of one), sort of thing, which maybe says that I am not Pagan at all, but nevertheless I don't really see that as a stumbling-block because I believe that deity/ies will make themselves known in whatever way they choose regardless of my opinions about it.
  (perhaps, given the above, you could say that any Pagan element of my beliefs has more in common with Vodou than other Pagan religions, yet somehow Vodou is a path that I feel the opposite of drawn to; of course that could change in the future but I have to work in the here and now.)
  In a manner of speaking, I guess 'the Christian god' is kind of like my 'patron', but that doesn't necessarily mean that other god/desses don't require attention too.
  I'm interested in Celtic recon, but wonder if that is too much of a hard polytheism, or should I investigate first?
  I'm also interested to an extent in Wicca and in Heathenry...
  ... but I'm a little scared of recon religions in general as they seem to me quite intellectual and demanding!     (also maybe I'm worried about getting too obsessed with getting factual past exactly right and ending up with the correct letter but not the spirit.  if that makes sense!)

It has been my experience that CR is predominently polytheistic in its approach to the nature of deity, so I have not come across anyone claiming to be CR and not a polytheist, but that is simply my experience of it. If you still feel quite atatched to YHWH but are interested in some aspects of Celtic cultures, you may find Celtic Christianity interesting.

There are also Canaanite Reconstructionists as well, since there is a good deal of speculation that YHWH is cognate with El, and that he was a member of a pantheon prior to the adoption of monotheism, there could be something there as well?

[TisiphoneSeraph]

the classic beginner's question!     

To be honest, I've never studied Jewish history much but I have been told that early Jews were more polytheistic than monotheistic. Personally, when reading the early parts of the old testament I've always gotten the vibe that they recognized that other gods existed but their G-D was THE god of their people. It might be something to consider.

Total UPG here, but I've talked with the Christian God (which I don't consider to be the same as the Jewish God but again, that's UPG) since becoming Pagan and He said in no uncertain terms that I was never His, that I was always the Morrigan's, and that He still protected me because it is my mother's prayer. So, in my experience, even the monotheist gods recognize they aren't alone.

[RedLori]

Thank you gorm_sionnach and TisiphoneSeraph for your help!

To be honest, I've never studied Jewish history much but I have been told that early Jews were more polytheistic than monotheistic. Personally, when reading the early parts of the old testament I've always gotten the vibe that they recognized that other gods existed but their G-D was THE god of their people. It might be something to consider.

Interesting!  It had never occurred to me.  Actually I had a dream the other week that I was Jewish, how weird is that?!    LOL.  (I mean that it's strange I should dream such a thing... not that being Jewish is weird...! *blushhh*)

Anyway I shall continue my investigations in a range of directions as best I can!   

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