(2 of 6) Does your belief system have an emphasis on experience instead of faith and doctrine?

Question

Or are you encouraged not to rely on your own understanding and experience?

Answer 1

Because every Wiccan is, ideally, a functioning priest/ess, the emphasis is on personal experience and engagement with the Divine presence. Wiccans are encouraged to learn, to test, and to discard what does not work for them. While many Wiccans share common styles of worship and ritual form, customization within those frameworks is encouraged -- at least in the non-initiatory Traditions.

Within the initiatory Traditions, In my opinion, there is a heavier element of doctrine (since that is what distinguishes all the covens within that Tradition and relates them to each other).

Answer 2

I'm Pagan and don't have a concept of "faith," since what I believe in is what is real and tangible. There is some doctrine but it's rather loose and pliable depending on the Pagan tradition and the individual. Having a good teacher (or several) is a good way to learn the basics and get a good foundation for your own reading and experiencing. Some trads have a heavy emphasis on attaining levels or degrees, but most will tell you that those "titles" don't mean much other than that you've spent time studying formally. There are those, however, who define themselves by their degrees and hold themselves to be the leaders and teachers. This can be dangerous, in my view, because it tends to create a cult of personality which takes away from the individual's own needs and intuition in his/her spirituality.

Answer 3

There is no inherent difference. Each person understands through the prism of perception. Perception is changed by experience and by the nature-nurture fusion.
To ignore a person's individuality for the sake of abstraction is not helpful. We aim to achieve a warless world through individual happiness. That means we respect the inherent enlightenment of all, whether they know it, or not.

Answer 4

Encouraged? by Who? I believe that Christians should be infilled with the Holy Spirit, exactly like the first Gentile convert did...the very same experience....Do I depend on experience? No, I depend on the Holy Spirit leading me...not man....

My doctrine is the same as theirs was in the book of Acts...and paying particular attention to Chapter ten....if you don't have what they had, then you might want to rethink your salvation. The way to salvation has not changed since that day...Man has...

They threw out the parts that they couldn't explain....speaking on tongues, the fruits of the spirit....the infilling of the Holy Spirit....It is absolutely for today and it is a part of your salvation. you need to read it for yourself....I don't care what your preacher has told you....

Without his spirit, you are none of his..Have you received the Holy Ghost since you beleived?

Answer 5

I emphasize the human experience, from the deepest depths of depression to the soaring heights of love. No need to bore someone to death with faith and doctrine. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

One who denies his or her own life experience for his or her own understanding is actually missing out on the point of having a life.

Answer 7

Im a Deist so basically i act on my own understanding of everything, there is no set law i need to follow, as long as i act morally i shal be rewarded.

Answer 8

there is no faith and no doctrine in my religion
we are encouraged to learn soley from experience

Answer 9

" 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6
I believe in faith and scripture not my own faulty mind and worthless experience.

Answer 10

Experience and logic.