"All Gods are one God"... or not? (Wiccan)?

Question

Hello, all:

I am Wiccan, and as I was trained, "all Gods are one God and all Goddesses are one Goddess" -- basically, that there is ultimate unity in the Divine.

Lately I have been questioning my position, or more accurately my theory that all religions can be valid paths to the same destination (that ultimate Divinity).

What are your theories? How do you feel about the "all God/desses are one God/dess" proposition? If it is accurate, can that unified Divinity be approached through different paths, when so many of the paths conflict in their points of view about Divinity and how to reach it?

Thank you to all who take the time to respond.

I suppose I should have clarified... I'm looking for responses from a Wiccan and Pagan perspective, not the Christian perspective, unless you're willing to put yourself in our shoes and try to answer the question from that angle.

Apparently a fair number of Christians can't read. *points up to the details entry above this one*

vitriol for the masses, I'm familiar with the site you've linked to, and most of the points there apply specifically to Christianity (Wicca has different faith issues). But thank you for providing the link anyway; I appreciate the attempt to educate me.

Answer 1

I beleive that there is a force that would be like a monotheistic force [Like the native American Great Spirit] but it does not care about events, so it does nothing. Everything is a part of this. Pantheism in other words.

Once I delve into divinity, I cannot see them as aspects of this. I tend to think of them as beings who have jumped off this thing. While some polytheists are hard, and others soft, I feel in the middle.

I've been [for the last week of actually meditating on it] been finding a lot of trouble with my older theory that all Gods were created by men, and developed their own personalities, to be distinct entities, which man empowered. I am nt finding that to be as truth in my time communing with things. However, I'm still finding the divine within to be important.

I do not like the "All God/ess are one," bit as it demeans deities, by saying they are the same guy as another. Thoth and Hermes are not the same guy, but they would [in a real-world analogy] go to the same bar and and share interests. That is, there are comparisons in culture, but each does something different in personality, or job description.

EDIT: Wow. I've never seen such an inability to read....

Answer 2

What are your theories? How do you feel about the "all God/desses are one God/dess" proposition? If it is accurate, can that unified Divinity be approached through different paths, when so many of the paths conflict in their points of view about Divinity and how to reach it?

Some ride the bus, some take a car, some ride a bike, some walk. Some fly on brooms. The important thing is not *how* you get there, just get there, and learn from the journey. As a Univesalist/Pagan, I believe that there is ultimately one divine mind. But it is just too huge to contemplate in one chunk. So we break it down in to images for examination, and because we invest these images with energy, they take on lives of thier own. If our finite human brains could actually behold the whole shebang in it's entirety, well, you would disintegrate if that happened, it would just be too much for you to handle, while living in the human form. And that is part of the reason why we have Gods, and Goddesses. As a Wiccan, that doesn't mean that you have to honor all the Gods and Goddesses, just because you subscribe to a polytheistic religion. You could determine through meditation which Goddess you feel more in tune with, or often, a Goddess will choose you, and be your "patron". So if you are more comfortable with the idea of worshipping a Goddess, instead of a whole bunch of them, that's fine too. About your comment on how the diverse paths conflict in point of view: Is it the paths that conflict, or some of the people that follow them? It is easy to look for points of contention, and degrees of separation, and get someone or other's panties in a bunch about it, it takes a lot more thought and dedication to look for the universal truths, where the differing traditions overlap. Truth is where you find it. Good luck, and Bright Blessings....

Answer 3

Have you ever noticed that the Christians can't seem to stay away from questions regarding Wicca? You know I don't feel the need to answer every question regarding Jesus or Christianity with some negative response.
But in response to your question I am not Wiccan, but I am (and have been for a very long time) a Witch. So I have no formal training, other than what my mother taught me. I revere many dieties, just as the Amerindians do, with a spirit in everything, I don't feel all Goddesses are the one Goddess, not all Gods the one God. To me it is like a pyramid, the different Goddesses below one, same with the Gods, then the higher Goddess and God to the ONE (who is neither female nor male). But that is just me, and we all must have our own path, one that we are comfortable with. It is not my place to say what is or is not for others.
Hope I have made sense, I tend to confuse even myself sometimes LMAO!
BB
)O(

Answer 4

I'm a hard-polytheist, I do not believe that all Gods are one, I believe each one is separate and unique, each having a distinct personality. Each one is really and truly a God - not just a mask behind which God peaks out at us. I will even go so far as to say it is offensive to claim that Odin, Zeus, and Jehovah are all one in the same God. The Gods and Goddesses are not merely aspects of one greater deity as some proclaim, they are as individual as you and I.

If one claims that all deities are one, then what about Satan...wouldn't he be included as well? After all, Christians have for all intents and purposes elevated him to the status of a deity with all the powers they endow him with. If you take a pantheistic approach then Satan would have to be considered an aspect of God, albeit a shadow side. This is part of the reason I reject the view that all Gods are just one in the same. I don't worship the devil nor some of the other malevolent deities in the world's mythology.

For the most part I believe all Gods exist, I just don't worship them all. Nor do I believe some are as powerful as their followers claim. Case in point: The Christian God, I've been told that he will send me to Hell and torture me for all eternity simply for not worshiping him. I don't believe that he has the power to do that nor do I believe that such a being is worthy worship. I could never see any respectful deity has harboring such malice and hate towards humanity. So again, if one claims that all Gods are one in the same, then this monster is an aspect of God. That's not something I could stand.

I do believe that all religions are valid and everyone must choose their own path, however I do not believe that all are beneficial; some are down right harmful and destructive.

Answer 5

All paths can be The Path. Wicca was born after I. I still have growing pains of knowledge. Already there are sects of Wiccans. Look for God/dess where ever your head and heart lead or accept multiplicity if your path leads there. Religion does not have to be a big group hug or a herd you must fit into.

Answer 6

Disclaimer: I am a polytheist but have never practiced Wicca. I follow a Celtic path.

I see deities as separate individuals. To me, the phrase "All Gods are one God" is similar to saying that all of my male ancestors are one ancestor. Or all of my female ancestors are one female ancestor. I feel that they are all separate individuals with varying strengths, weaknesses, wants and needs. They may share the same bloodline (physical or spiritual), but they are individuals.

I feel that all paths fulfill a purpose for some kind of growth for the individual. But sometimes that individual growth may not be beneficial to others or humanity as a whole. Still, I firmly believe that we are all exactly where we are supposed to be on our journeys.

Answer 7

I...think Blake was on the right track in this regard - all religions are one.
All Gods? Insofar as they exist...although it depends what you mean by "Gods" - I'm inclined to think there are entites that are non-corporeal but are not THE God, if you know what I mean, but people might call them "Gods"....
Is your avvie a raven? I saw my first raven in the wild today - 10 minutes after mentioning that I had never seen one. Ah, co-inky-dinks.
Neato.

Answer 8

First, I think there is truth that is universal. Many see that truth as a God.

I think there are many gods/goddesses in different areas also, and that they should all be honored and not lumped into one.

You can email me if you want.

Answer 9

Apologizing for all the christians who cannot read. Enjoying the answers from people of similar background.

Answer 10

All Gods are one God, theoretically speaking, yes.

But not the body of God is one, but their believes that we should believe what they believe is true and right. Divinities can't be unified because different Gods now exist. The only one God who exist is the one that you believe in, God the Divine.