Thesis for Bachelor of Sacred Religious Philosophy

The Divine, God and Goddess

The Divine

Growing up in the Roman Catholic faith, then being married to a Southern Baptist woman, the concept of The Divine, of God, of a Supreme Being and Intelligence or Higher Power, was not something that was or is foreign to me. My understanding was along traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs.

It was through rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous that I discovered it was not necessary to consider other's concept of The Divine or Higher Power. All that was necessary was my own conception and understanding of the existence of this Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe, underlying the totality of all things. The Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all-inclusive and never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek it.

As I stated, with a Judeo-Christian background or foundation, I had an understanding of this Divine as a being called God. Throughout the pages that follow because they have been written at various stages along this present Earth-journey, you will find I will frequently use the terms "The Divine" and "God" interchangeably. Yet in some of my latter writings I will use "God" in a different context, and will leave that to your discernment.

Throughout the world there are many names associated with The Divine. All referring to a supreme and inclusive, universal and eternal, essence and energy, visible and invisible, tangible and intangible. The Divine is all that is, and all that is not. It exists in all things, past, present and future. It is organic, as well as inorganic. "It Is" can just as well describe The Divine, as "I Am" is spoken of within the Old Testament of the Bible. The Divine has no beginning and no ending. It has no form or shape, but is present in all things. It can also be called The Source of all things.

As my studies have transcended beyond traditional Christianity by coming to an awareness or understanding of both Native American and Celtic/Druid beliefs, I now personally call The Divine ... "Spirit". The use of Spirit is consistent with all belief systems that have a divine Higher Power. Furthermore it is consistent with my personal awareness and understanding.

Within Biblical scripture, the Infinite and Eternal being is revealed as God. Purely spiritual, Supreme Personal Intelligence, the Creator and Preserver of all things, the perfect Moral Ruler of the universe (Unger's Bible dictionary, p. 410).

Here is where I depart from traditional Judeo-Christian teachings and doctrine. The Divine in Native American beliefs is known as "Great Mystery" and within the Celtic/Druid beliefs is known as the "Sacred One." For within Judeo-Christian doctrine, The Divine or "God" is often referred to in the masculine tense. Yet the perfection of The Divine transcends masculine and feminine, and is the embodiment or essence of harmony and balance.

Therefore, The Divine, as the Supreme Being, Creator and Preserver of all things, the perfect Moral Ruler of the universe then must be the union of that which is masculine and feminine, enjoined as One.

Of God & Goddess

The Divine, as the Supreme Being, Creator and Preserver of all things, the perfect Moral Ruler of the universe then must be the union of that which is masculine and feminine, enjoined as One.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)

Blessed Lady and Ancient Lord, enjoined as the Sacred One.

Earth Mother and Sky Father united as the Great Mystery.

Now the Judeo-Christian faith originated from a region of the world that is predominantly patriarchal or male dominated society. This dominance is often sited as being Biblical by using Genesis 3:16 to support it's claims ... "and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall have rule over thee."

At issue however comes the separation of the attributes of The Divine, The Sacred One, The Great Mystery, into masculine and feminine, of God and of Goddess. Through the ages, non-Judeo-Christian doctrines have identified the Goddess with the Earth and the Moon, and God being identified with the Sun and the life cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. I am not advocating "Feminine Spirituality" here, but rather the simplicity and balance of God and Goddess who are enjoined as The Divine. Just as my left arm and right arm are enjoined as parts of my physical body.

A perfect or complete knowledge of The Divine, of Spirit, is not attainable by the finite rational reasoning of the human kind upon this earth. The completeness of The Divine may be closer understood and revealed by an understanding of the godhead ... Spirit, God, and Goddess. For we cannot completely know Spirit, The Divine, unless we are able to experience Spirit. Yet by experiencing and understanding God and Goddess, as the masculine and feminine attributes of Spirit, we can become closer to the complete knowledge or understanding of Spirit.

As I previously stated, Spirit, The Divine, exists in all things. The Divine created man and woman in its own image, God and Goddess. Thus both God and Goddess are then also in all things, including us humans.

In non-Abrahamic descendent beliefs, the Goddess is often identified as I stated with the Earth and Moon. The Goddess is often called the triple Goddess of Maiden, Mother and Crone of whom the three aspects are related to the cycle of the Moon. The waxing New Moon is the Maiden, the Full Moon is the Mother, and the waning Old Moon is the Crone. God is often identified as stated with the Sun and life cycle of birth, death and rebirth. In certain beliefs, God is not only the spouse or mate of the Goddess, but also is Her offspring representing unbound fertility and is often crowned with the horns of a wild buck.

The existence or non-existence of God and Goddess can not be proven by scientific or technological methods any more than can The Divine or Spirit be proven or disproved. Thus the question I must present, "Is not the acceptance of a masculine and feminine, God and Goddess, essence of a Supernatural, Creator and Protector by any name in balance with the Natural Order of All Things? For in order for they're to be balance and harmony within nature, do not all-living things exist in a male and female? In science are not the flows of energy addressed with a positive and negative polarity? From the previously quoted Genesis 1:27, does it not stand finite human reasoning that there is both God and Goddess as part of the Divine, of Spirit, if male and female are created in their likeness. In concert or connection to my understanding of Native American and Celtic/Druid teachings that God/Father and Goddess/Mother are aspects of what is called Great Mystery or Sacred One or Spirit.

Then if we can accept, believe in "I Am" from biblical texts as "God", can not the same be said for the aspects of "Goddess"? Furthermore, I would ask ... Does it truly matter what we call The Divine or it's attributes of God and Goddess? For they truly know who they are, as well as they know to whom we are referring to in prayer and meditation? Do they not?


Silver Eagle