Out of habit, convenience, and to avoid confrontation, I generally refer to the Divine as 'God.' I don't mean it in the Christian context however; that's just far too limiting for what I believe the Divine is.
In company or conversations such as this board (spiritual in nature) I frequently refer to 'Spirit', a moniker I picked up from my favorite spiritual author Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Depending on my mood and the context of what I'm writing, I'll often capitalise key words such as Nature, Fate, Goodness, Love... to indicate Divinity.
Occasionally I'll refer to Goddess, if the person I'm posting/talking to is someone that I know would be receptive to or more comfortable with the name. (While I see Spirit as being beyond gender--and for that matter, beyond our human minds' capability of truly understanding--in the past several years I've related more and more to the feminine aspect.) My prayers are usually addressed to 'Blessed Holy Mother' or some variation.
And finally, in conversations with one particular friend, I'll refer to a specific Deity by name because that Deity is my friend's patron, which in MY mind means that archetype is the one my friend most relates to. Confusing huh? LOL The answer to that is that I see all gods and goddesses and various faces of the Same while my friend sees them as all distince entities. Out of respect to my friend, I call his patron by name.
I just simply use "god". I havent' really put much thought into it, really. Brought up Catholic, "God" was the word we used....I don't see any reason to change it, it's just a name, right? But truthfully, as I think about it, "spirit" would probably be more accurate, as I see divinity in just about everything... but many people say "god" is everywhere too...
Yep, till I feel a strong pull to use a different word, "god" works for me - and makes the most sense to those around me.
I do the same as you, ginger.cookie. I believe in the God and Goddess. Sometimes I go by Mother and Father God, Nature, The Divine. God is just usually God to me, but sometimes I call the Goddess the Sacred Feminine.
When I think about the whole picture, it use to be God. now that I read a book from Slyvia Browne called Mother God. When I pray it;s to Mother, Father God and Jesus Christ and always ask my Guide to be there too. I know it may seem funny to some. But it works with me and feel comfortable with it. I was for awhile trying to get to know more about Wicca. I say and read things that sound like two go hand and hand pretty much. I know there will be others out there that can't seem to think of it. But, theres just the the whole nature and that for example. Mother and Father believe in all that. Anyways, I just thougt that I would put in the topic of discussion.
I usually refer to Him as God, the Lord, God the Father, The Father, Father in Heaven, or Heavenly Father. But His actual name is Elohim (may have spelled that wrong). I also do not believe that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are the same person. I believe in a Godhead. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three seperate people working together for the same cause. Jesus Christ is referred to as Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ, The Christ, The Lamb of God, The Savior, and when speaking of the Old Testament, Jehovah. The Holy Ghost is referred to as The Holy Ghost, or The Holy Spirit, of The Still Small Voice.
I call Him, God. Or God the Father. Or, the Holy Spirit. Or Jesus. Three in One, as the Holy Trinity.
Anna
Edited 5/30/2005 12:34 pm ET ET by anna-w
Out of habit, convenience, and to avoid confrontation, I generally refer to the Divine as 'God.' I don't mean it in the Christian context however; that's just far too limiting for what I believe the Divine is.
In company or conversations such as this board (spiritual in nature) I frequently refer to 'Spirit', a moniker I picked up from my favorite spiritual author Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Depending on my mood and the context of what I'm writing, I'll often capitalise key words such as Nature, Fate, Goodness, Love... to indicate Divinity.
Occasionally I'll refer to Goddess, if the person I'm posting/talking to is someone that I know would be receptive to or more comfortable with the name. (While I see Spirit as being beyond gender--and for that matter, beyond our human minds' capability of truly understanding--in the past several years I've related more and more to the feminine aspect.) My prayers are usually addressed to 'Blessed Holy Mother' or some variation.
And finally, in conversations with one particular friend, I'll refer to a specific Deity by name because that Deity is my friend's patron, which in MY mind means that archetype is the one my friend most relates to. Confusing huh? LOL The answer to that is that I see all gods and goddesses and various faces of the Same while my friend sees them as all distince entities. Out of respect to my friend, I call his patron by name.
I just simply use "god". I havent' really put much thought into it, really. Brought up Catholic, "God" was the word we used....I don't see any reason to change it, it's just a name, right?
But truthfully, as I think about it, "spirit" would probably be more accurate, as I see divinity in just about everything... but many people say "god" is everywhere too...
Yep, till I feel a strong pull to use a different word, "god" works for me - and makes the most sense to those around me.
Shyla
I was for awhile trying to get to know more about Wicca. I say and read things that sound like two go hand and hand pretty much. I know there will be others out there that can't seem to think of it. But, theres just the the whole nature and that for example. Mother and Father believe in all that.
Anyways, I just thougt that I would put in the topic of discussion.