I need help choosing a pantheon of gods and goddesses! How does someone studying to practice The Craft choose one? Is it even necessary?  My big thing is that I like some of the Roman dietes, the Greek dietes, and Egyptian dietes, but I read somewhere that one should not mix pantheons. Is this true?
129886
I think it's a matter of personal preference. I know many Pagans who don't choose specific deities and others who do. Personally, I worship Bast as my patron Goddess simply because, in most things, she most closely represents my personal beliefs and preferences. That doesn't mean that I haven't asked for assistance from others, or paid them tribute, at different times. I tend to think of the Green Man as my patron God just because it feels right, and I find that a lot of the time you should end up doing what feels right. I don't think it's something you should worry too much about since most Pagans believe that all of the Gods are aspects of the same, and all the Goddesses aspects of the same. For that matter, most Pagans tend to believe that they are all aspects of the same deity and we simply think of a male and female being because it's easier for us to comprehend that way. So do what's right for you. Pick a pantheon, don't pick one, mix pantheons... They'll be there for you regardless.
427908
Try reading some books by Zecharia Sitchin or check out his website. Lots of great insights on the gods and their history.
560375
If the links between myths and religion are of interest to you the  PBS interview series "The Power of Myth" (with Bill Moyers) based on the writings of Joseph Campbell is a must.  There is a book by the same title, and my public library in a town, pop. 5000, has both the series on VCR and his books.  \n\nCampbell has many other writings from a lifetime of fascination with myth.  He taught for many years at Sarah Lawrence\n\nI taught religion for several years, and was ignorant of the common threads between what is now called mythology and today's religions until I explored his writings.  It was truly a life altering experience and one of the finest elements of my education.  \n\nYour  perception of  "Mythology" will evolve and 'write-off' won't be meaningful if you delve into this subject, so I can't answer the question you posed except to say that the peoples of the world have had religion forever.\n\nBe prepared to be addicted, and transformed.\n\nPS \nCharlie Rose  interviewed Bill Moyers and his wife last night.\nThey will present about 13 persons of all religious persuasions on a new program about religion tonight on PBS
561825
I am pagan, not Wiccan....but since Wicca is a branch of paganism I'd love to answer any of your questions. Wiccans don't believe in Satan....which makes it kind of hard for them to be Satanists. The two main beliefs are harm none and what you do comes back to you threefold. As to which Gods/Goddesses Wiccans believe in, it depends on the person. I'd love to answer any more questions you have...so feel free to email me!
666674
hmmmmmmmmm.  Is it culturally acceptable to love a guy if that guy is a god?  Do I have to love a guy if that guy is a god?  I'd prefer not to.  And I'm also not sure about that hot sweaty thing either.
133956
I think they should continue with the Greek/Roman God tradition. I'd put my vote for Hera (in greek) Juno (in Roman). She might as well have one.
64453
all have good and bad parts... ou u choose :)\nAphrodite - Goddess of beauty and love.\nApollo - God of the light, music, healing, prophecy, and poetry\nAres - God of war.\nArtemis - Goddess of the hunt and the moon\nAthena - Goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war.\nDemeter - Goddess of agriculture\nHephaestus - God of fire and the forge.\nHera - Goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus.\nHermes - God of travel, thieves, and commerce. Messenger of the gods.\nHestia - Goddess of the hearth. Eventually replaced by Dionysus (god of wine).\nPoseidon - God of the sea.\nZeus - King of the gods.\n\nmy fav one.. hmmm i think...Dionysus (the "party" god :) )\n\n\namon and isis ???? they are egyptians lool
99800
May I have an incense recipe?  I don't think you would consider me pagan.  I don't know what to consider myself.  I usually answer all of the Mormon questions because I am close to some members of the church and I don't like to see it talked about so terribly (which happens A LOT here).  Other than that, just wantin' some incense ;-)
52088
Why is this question in the mythology section?\n\nI recomend a search engine.
364133
I like this one I heard about the watch. If you found a watch on a rock in the middle of a field, how do you know someone made it? If you are like most these days, you'd point to the manufacturing mark on the back (or inside the cover if it was a pocket watch). So, how do you find proof of God or the Mother Goddess? If she is a creator wouldn't she continue to create? What on earth continues to create through a means which they really don't fully control? Life of course. So, we ourselves are the watch. Now what about ourselves proves that there must be an intelligent creator? Maybe our own intelligence (or lack there of at this moment in history) and maybe own uncanny ability to 'hear' inner wisdom. This wisdom has led many to extraordinary things. So, I disagree with Carl (Goddess I never thought I'd ever do that) that claiming the existence of Goddess is extraordinary. I have seen her work miracles in countless lives and there is record (yes, verifiable record) of millions more. I think the real miracle of this age isn't in finding Goddess, but in realizing how common she really is. Just as common as every watch still built with a crystal movement. I'm sorry, I think it is a small miracle that a tiny quartz crystal would be willing to vibrate that regularly so that we can all keep time.
237831
*laugh* I'm sorry, but this struck me as funny. I'm not sure if you're serious or not. But try http://www.beliefnet.com, maybe the Belief-O-Matic (First link on the top left) will give you a starting point. \n\nYou don't have to travel. The Gods are everywhere and in all of us. It is simply up to each person to select which one(s) to pay homage to, or not.
112382
I'm Asatru.  Have been for years.  I'd recommend the following sites:\n\nThe Asatru U Beginner's Course at http://www.asatru-u.org/beginner/asau-beginner-outline.htm   A lot of the links are out of date, but the rest have some good basic information on basic concepts.\n\nErich's Hall at http://www.erichshall.com/  Erich is a knowledgeable, charismatic heathen who is able to explain things concisely but accurately.  In particular, read his brief essay "What is Asatru?" at http://www.erichshall.com/whatis.htm\n\nThe Beliefnet Asatru Community's Intro & Resources Thread at http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?boardID=4681&discussionID=302252 has a number of links to useful and informative sites.\n\nI'd recommend staying away from Wikipedia;  there's been an editing war going on there for at least a year between people (including one guy who absolutely hates the religion) who have some very different ideas on what Asatru is, and they keep deleting and modifying each others' writing.\n\nThere are a number of sites out there with faulty or poorly researched information;  when possible, be sure to check the sources for any strange or brazen statements made on a site.  Generally, the false information either Wicca-fies Asatru or tries to make it "the religion of white supremacists" (since some morons think Germanic = Nazi).  They're usually pretty easy to spot because they'll devote pages and pages to lost peoples of Atlantis or the glory of the Aryan race or some such silliness, but occasionally they're more subtle.\n\nGood luck.
472563
Yet everyone claims that exact same God is the all-loving God of the New Testament. Why the 360 split personality? Also, there is no middle ground between the two. I find it very hard to believe that Gods of other cultures were the same.
665482
Pick one..."god" is the "source", pick an image, any image, as long as you connect with god, that all that matters. God is male and female, it takes both to create life! God/dess is the life force of nature, way beyond our comprehention, so just find an image you can connect with, I like the Goddess, mother aspect. I'm a mamas boy. Hahahaha
364085
It's called a pantheon.  There's an old one in Rome.
152649
Well, the Greek and Roman mythology that we still have around today is about archetypes.  Carl Jung was the most famous philosopher/scientist on this subject.  He made the point that the gods and goddesses of the pagan pantheon represent eternal truths about the human condition, but that it is necessary to do some interpreting.  \n\nBut you can't count on them too much for morals and values; they were pretty bloodthirsty, some of them, and definitely had flaws.  Jealousy and dishonesty are well represented, for example.  We use them now mostly for a vocabulary; a way of expressing what we mean that we would not have if it weren't for Venus and Mars, for example.
329437
I've done research on all three.  This sounds interesting but the details of the project are slightly vague.  What aspect are you covering precisely?  Demonology, Speaking of Tongues, Existence of God, diverse religions- there are so many topics.\nI can help you if you need especially since I'm not working right now because of my pregnancy- it would certainly give me something to do.  I'm definitely creative!\nE-mail me with more details since giving an answer here is \npretty limited.