Like some other Polytheists, there are times when I doubt the existence of the Gods. I question whether they are only wild imaginings or simply fictional characters. During these times, I feel empty and alone.
Polytheist Dark Night of the Soul(s)
“One sign of monotheistic thinking is regarding the Gods as fiction. Another is believing that there is only “one true living God.” This is the “monotheistic gaze,” which views all Gods as One. Furthermore, the monotheistic gaze insists that there is order in the universe. Since God (or the Single Divine) is the logical authority of the Universe, everything happens according to His Plan. Therefore there is always a logical explanation for every happening, bad or good. This is supposed to answer the question of “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
In contrast, the “polytheistic gaze” embraces chaos since the Gods are diverse and anarchic. For me to regain the polytheistic gaze is to stop expecting meaning and order in everything.”
This is such a great summary of both the polytheistic gaze and the monotheistic cultural lens.
I have, hopefully gently, started to push back on the whole “there is a reason for everything”.
Watch Good Omens and you soon start hearing David Tennant in your ear going “the Ineffable Plan”?
Throughout Good Omens, Crowley and Aziraphale talk often about what they call the “Ineffable Plan”—that is, God’s plan for Earth. According to the Bible, this plan ends with Armageddon and the final fall of humanity.
I refuse to accept a world view that demands that my cancer happened for a reason, and that children dying of cancer, starvation, warfare, famine, disease, is any part of a reason for anything.
I tell people that I believe the universe is chaotic, no one person is that important, and that humans are just very good at classification and pattern recognition, so we create meaning from our experiences so that they are bearable. Otherwise, I have to accept that my cancer happened ‘for a reason’, and I don’t accept that. Even the genetic board doesn’t believe that.
Dig a little deeper and you have that prosperity gospel / law of attraction idea that you attracted it… it’s your fault.
If people can say “It’s God’s Ineffable Plan”, it abdicates them of all responsibility.
“They made that soul contract before birth”: absolute bullshit that excuses all forms of cruelty in the world.
“You must be putting out something that attracts this.” Nope, some people are just assholes and will exploit genuine, loving people.
It’s ultimately trying to create meaning to make sure it won’t happen to you.
“It’s God’s Plan… for them”.
“They must have done something in a past life” (to deserve that).
Nope, nyet, no, !لا خالص
The Universe is chaotic, beautiful, confusing, scary… just like life.
Just like the Gods I know, deep in my bones and soul.
Sometimes we can feel so tiny and fleeting in comparison.
I have a traumatic brain injury, and heard stuff like it was the best thing that happened to me, etc. Blah, blah, etc. For me, it was a random event. Pure and simple. Had to go to court to sue the store where the wall fell on me. But the wall falling was not in anybody’s plan. It was random.
What I have discovered is that some Gods will use the event for their own uses. I ended up being enlisted by Anubis to deal the newly dead. However, before the injury, Anubis had been on my case, but He had nothing to do with what happened.
Yeah, I see it the same way… I definitely think Apollo was around before I got sick but he and Helios definitely used my extended recovery to connect more strongly.