Pagan Academic Network:Forums

[paul]

1. Omniscience -- do you believe that divine entities know all things? past/present/future? The hearts and minds of followers? of others?

I don't think that omniscience is a viable description for a deity. Since I've found that each object/organism has an energy signature, it might be possible to a deity to read those signatures. But it's not really practical.

2. Omnipresence -- is deity everywhere, watching everything?

Again, all organisms and objects have an energy signature. Deities count as organism in my book, therefore they can't possibly be omnipresent. Unless you count the universe itself as a deity and see us as mere figments of that deity's imagination, like a dream or something.

3. Moral/Amoral/Immoral -- Is there a divine mandate about the way that people should live their lives? Do they prefer "good/positive", "neutral/equilibrium/chaos/randomness", "evil/negative", or do they simply not care?

There isn't really any moral code that was created by any deity. It's more like the humanistic values that surround us as a species, values that help us to survive and perpetuate ourselves.

4. Intelligence -- is the divine whatever intelligent? like humans? are humans capable of comprehending divine intelligence?

Never met a deity, so I can't speak for their intelligence.

5. Guidance -- does the divine whatever intervene in the world? only in particular cases? only when asked? do they expect anything for helping?

Sometimes they use their sick sense of humor to nudge things in whatever direction they choose. Sometimes they just sit there and do nothing, maybe laughing at us or not even paying attention. Other times they might step in and help us out somehow, whether or nto we asked them to.

6. Determinism -- are all actions pre-set (i.e. your life is a pre-programmed "ride") or do our choices shape the future? Is there fate? destiny? Do gods determine these?

Take a look at those choose your own adventure books. The decisions we made in the past affect the decisions we can make now, which in turn affect those in the future. Like "do I go south on I-65 or north on I-65?"

7. Immanance/Transcendance -- does divinity exist in the world, or is it outside the world? if outside does it ever enter? if inside does it ever leave? is it partly in the world and partly outside? to what degree?

Again, the universe just might be the imaginary concotion of some large entity that we have dubbed a deity. A dream whilst this large entity sleeps, perhaps. We might also be in a little bubble created by some alien scientists as part of an experiement on their own world of micro-biology (or maybe even nano-biology). Maybe we're in their world and not the other way around

8. Creation -- is the world the product of some divine action? if so is there a design in the world? were the gods created by the same process as the universe?

I'll refer to my last answer for this. Though it's also possible that our universe is just a freak occurance.

9. Purpose -- is there a purpose in life? something we should strive for? something we should learn? something we should provide to deity? reverence? supplication? entertainment? service?

What do we get pets for? Why do we bring other animals into our homes? Is it for companionship? Another creature to talk to? Or perhaps for our own entertainment? Some people get pets that can help them with their tasks. The police departments and the army both use dogs for security and partol. Blind people get dogs and horses to see for them. People get cats to keep them from feeling so alone in the world.

As for there being something to learn or strive for, all I can say is that there's nothing to it but to live. You live your life, you learn stuff, you die, youre reborn, the cycle continues.