Naturalistic Paganism
Archives
“‘As the gods pour, so do mortals’: An alternative conception of divine reciprocity” by John Halstead (Part 2)
PART 2: AN ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTION OF DIVINE RECIPROCITY In Part 1 of this essay (published last month), I critiqued a popular understanding of divine reciprocity. But there is another conception of divine reciprocity. It is rooted in the notion of…
Read More“‘As mortals pour, so do the gods’: A critique of divine reciprocity” by John Halstead (Part 1)
As I pour out the water or wine or honey on the earth, I create, in the form of the stream of liquid, a living connection between myself and the earth. It is a visual and visceral representation of my connection to the earth. And in so doing, I experience both an “emptying” and also simultaneously a “filling”, as if I am both emptying the vessel of myself and filling myself at the same time, as if I am both the cup that pours and the earth which receives. In this act, I restore in a small measure that sense of sensual connection I have to the world. This for me is the true meaning of divine reciprocity.
Read MoreHow I finally “got” ritual: A dialogue with DT Strain and B. T. Newberg, part 2
Today, we begin our late spring theme, Practice, with DT Strain, director of the Spiritual Naturalist Society, who shares how he learned to “get” ritual as a naturalist, and he asks B. T. to share his understanding in turn. Click above…
Read MoreDE NATURA DEORUM: “The Mystic Demystified: Making theistic language serve the religious naturalist” by John Halstead
De Natura Deorum is a semi-seasonal column where we explore the beliefs of Naturalistic Pagans about the nature of deity. For the rest of this month, the theme here at HP is “Inspiration”. Some of our contributors have shared their…
Read More“How I became a naturalist”: DT Strain & B. T. Newberg, part 1
Today we continue our early winter theme, “Beginnings”, with an a dialogue between B. T. Newberg and DT Strain, where they discuss how how they became Spiritual Naturalists. Click above to listen. In this audio piece, more of a dialogue than an…
Read MoreBuy Godless Paganism (paperback)
Buy Godless Paganism (ebook)
Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 