Download - Calum Carlyle - The Holy Gobbledybook

8/8/2019 Calum Carlyle - The Holy Gobbledybook

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The Holy

GobbledybookBeing The Handbook for Integrational

Polytheism

by Calum A Carlyle


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FOREWORD

Religionsareaboutrules,partially.Youwillfindsomerulesinthisdocument,butnota

lot.Therearesomeguidelinestoo,buttheyarenotrules.

Anotherthingthatareligionhas,andithinkalotofpeopleforgetthis,istheyhaveaphilosophyaswell.Generally,areligionexemplifiesaparticularwayoflookingat,and

reactingto,theworldwelivein.Thisreligiondoeshaveaphilosophytoo.Thephilosophyof

thisreligionissimple.Perhapsitissosimplethatvolumeshavebeenwrittenaboutit.

Volumesalreadyhavebeenwrittenaboutit.ThecentralpillarofIntegrationalPolytheismis

this:begood.Dogoodthingsthatmakeyouandothersfeelgood.Themorepeoplebeing

good,moreofthetime,themorehappinessandgeneralgoodtimeseverybody'sgoingto

have.

Anddon'tmakeabigdealofitifyouletyourselfdown.Noteverybodycanbegoodallthetime.You'renotsuperhuman.idonotsaythisinanywaytojustifydoingbadthings,

thingswhichwillharmoradverselyaffectanotherlivingbeing,butisaythisbecauseitis

bettertoputyourenergyintoenjoyinglifeandhelpingothersenjoyit,thanitistoputyour

energyintoworryingaboutthebadtimes.Thismaymakethebadtimesworse,itmaymake

themlastlonger.Timeonlytravelsinonedirection,thedirectionwelivein,andwemustlive

ourlivesasfullyaswecan,doingthingswhichareofbenefittoourselvesandotherswhilewe

liveit.

Everythingelseinthisdocumentissecondarytothatphilosophy.Thephilosophyis

notuniquetoIntegrationalPolytheism,ibelieveitisalsothephilosophyoftheQuakers,many

BuddhistsandalsoithinkitisthephilosophyoftheChristiangospelsofThomasandQ.

It'sprobablythephilosophyofmanyotherschoolsofthoughtalso.Therestofthisdocument

tellsyouabitmoreaboutIntegrationalPolytheismandindirectly,aboutme.Youcanbean

IntegrationalPolytheistifyouwant,butitisnotsomethingyoucanusetodistinguish

yourselvesfromothers.Ifyou'reanIntegrationalPolytheist,you'renotinsomethingthat

othersareoutof.We'reallinthistogether.ihopeyouenjoyIntegrationalPolytheismandi

hopeitgivessomesortofstructureifyouneedthat,orfreedomifyouneedthat.Mostofall,i

hopeithelpsyoutoenjoyandihopeyouultimatelyenjoytohelp.


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PARTONE

IntegrationalPolytheism ANewPointofView

1 IntegrationalPolytheismisanewreligionistarted.Moreorless.Tobefair,many

othershavecometothiswayofthinkingontheirown,soratherthanbeinganamazing

innovation,itseemsthatIntegrationalPolytheismissimplyanideawhosetimehascome.It

doesn'tactuallyaddanythingofsubstancetothereligiousquestion.Itdoesnotadvocate

extremeactionsuchasrighteousterrorism.IntegrationalPolytheismsimplyadvocatesanew

pointofview,andopenmindednessinallthings,specificallyinreligion,spiritualityand

freedomofword,thoughtanddeed.

2IfyouareanIntegrationalPolytheist,youwillagreethatallreligiousandspiritual

beliefsareinsomewaytrue(thisrequiresafairlyopenideaofwhat"truth"is),andyouwill

alsobelieveactivelyinapersonsrighttosay,thinkanddowhatevertheywant,solongasit

harmsnoother.

3That'sbasicallyit.Therearenoregularceremoniestoattendunlessyouwishtogoto

theceremoniesofotherreligions(whichidorecommend)andtherearenolibationstobe

offeredup(althoughidorecommendmakingofferingsasyoufeelinclined).Thereareno

specialcommandmentstokeepotherthanthosealreadymentioned,althoughithinkyouwill

findthatthoseareallthatarerequiredanywayforresponsibleliving,andthereisno

requirementtoconvertthosearoundyouortotreattheminanyspecialwayiftheydonot

believeasyoudo!

4Imightaddthati'mnotlookingforconverts.IfyoudodecidetobeanIntegrational

Polytheist,itwouldbeniceifyoucouldletmeknowusingwhatevermeansareatyour

command,butit'sentirelyyourchoice.IntegrationalPolytheismisnotsomethingthatyou

havetohaveinordertoattainsalvation.Itismypersonalbeliefthatopenmindednessmay

besomethingweneedmoreofasaspecies,orasociety,buttherearemanyroadstowards

thatgoal,ofwhichIntegrationalPolytheismisonlyone.

IntegrationalPolytheism WhoItIsandHowItCameToBe

5Religionisusuallyafairlyexclusivething.Youdon'tusuallyget'religionenthusiasts'.

Whatimeanbythatis,ifsomeoneisenthusedaboutonereligion,theyareoftenpretty

closedaboutanyotherreligions.Ifyougo,forexampletoawebsiteaboutfood,youmight

expecttoseeitemsaboutmanykindsoffoodsandifyouvisitawebsiteaboutamphibians,

youcouldreasonablyexpecttofindinformationaboutawiderangeofdifferentcreatures.Not

sowithreligions.Ifyouvisitareligiouswebsiteyouwillusuallybeconfrontedwithonesetof

doctrines,onesetofrulesandonepantheonofgods(ormorefashionablyjusttheonegod).


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6ThedevelopmentofIntegrationalPolytheismtookquiteafewyearsformeinactual

fact.Ithasbeenputtomethatmyreligionisafadandthatitiseasyfor'someguy'tostarta

religion,butthatittakesadifferentsortofcalibretohavefaithinone.Thesecommentsand

othershaveledmetobelievethatpeopledon'treallyknowwhatIntegrationalPolytheismis

allabout.Perhaps,ithought,ishouldletpeopleknowhowtheideaofIntegrational

Polytheismstarted.Maybethentheywouldstarttoseetheideathroughmyeyes.So,hereitis thegenesisofIntegrationalPolytheism.Firstletsquicklyexplorewhatiactuallymeanby

IntegrationalPolytheismandtheni'llquicklyletyouknowhowipersonallycametobelievein

usingIntegrationalPolytheismtoframemyspiritualoutlook.

7Theword'polytheism'referstoareligiousbeliefsystemwhichallowsfortheworship

ofseveralgods.Thisideaisnot,ofitself,anewone.Infactpolytheismhasprobablybeen

aroundlongerthanmonotheism(asystemwherethefollowersbelievethatonlyonegod

exists).TheancientGreekshadapolytheisticreligion,asdidtheNorseandtheRomans.All

thesecivilisationswereeventually"converted"enmassetochristianity(amonotheism)inonewayortheother.Hinduismisanexampleofapolytheisticreligionthatisstillupheldinmany

partsoftheworld.Religionswhichcastheavenlybodiesornaturalphenomenaasdivine

spiritsarepolytheisticaswell,sincetheyallowfortheworshipofmorethanoneentity.

8IntegrationalPolytheismtakestheconceptofpolytheismonestepfurtherthanother

polytheisticreligions.Thesereligions,whileallowingformorethanonegod,andinsome

casesallowingforthediscoveryofevenmorenewgods,stillmaynotallowfortheexistence

ofallgods,althoughitseemsasthoughsomemodernandreconstructionistpaganismand

polytheismtypebeliefsystemstakeamoreliberalapproachtothissortofthingthansomereligionsmayhavedoneinthepast.Nowletshearthepersonaltestimonyofhowicameto

IntegrationalPolytheism...

9Wheniwasalittlekid(yes,it'soneofthosestories)ihadavarietyofconfusing

religiousinfluencesinmylife.Tobeginwith,bothmyparentswereagnostics,withmydad

possiblyerringtowardstheatheistside.Thissituationconvincedmygrandmother(a

protestant,butonewhobelongedtoahighlyunusualcongregationofthetambourinewaving,

speakingintonguestype)thatineededsomesortofreligiousguidance.Sheintroducedme

tothechurchshewasapartof.Thisgavemetheoriginalbasisforformingreligiousopinions

ofmyown.ApartfromthisigrewupinOrkneywherethereareplentyremnantsoftheNorse

empireandofanotherprehistoricpeoplewhobuiltmanyhengesandtombsaboutwhichwe

nowknowverylittle.

10Thenextsignificanteventwasthatwheniwasnine,mygrandmotherdied,soitgoes,

whichwasagreatshocktome,andalsomeantthatinolongerwastakentoanychristian

meetings(atthispointiama"bornagain"christian,howeverineverfeltcomfortablewith

beingbaptised,andsoineverhavebeen).Mymothershortlyafterwardsbecameachristian,

andjoinedthesamechurchmygrandmotherhadbeenpartof,laterdefectingtotheChurch

ofScotland(aprotestantdenomination)duetocertaindenominationaldifferencesregarding

thechurch'sattitudetowardswomen(derivedfromthelettersofStPaul).Mydad,inthe


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meantime,hadanupliftingexperienceinaforestwitharainspirit,whichconvertedhiminto

whathecallsa"bornagainpagan".Asfarasicanmakeout,thisinvolvesbelievinginallthe

elementalspiritsandhavingagenerallyreverentattitudetothenaturalthingsinhisvicinity.

11Whatwithallthisreligiouschangegoingonaroundme,ibegantowonderwhatsortof

thingsishouldbebelievingin.Itseemedtooimportantathingtojustleavetohabitorcircumstance.Themainconcernformewastheideathatmyeternalsouldependedupon

makingthe"right"choice,andifichose"wrong"thenwhammo!thatwouldbemyfatesealed

foreternity.Thiswasaharrowingconceptforanelevenyearold.ialsohadtoconsiderthe

factthereweremanyotherreligionsintheworld.Whatifoneofthemturnedouttobe"right"

andbothofthereligiouspersuasionsthatiwasfamiliarwithwere"wrong"?Allthereligions

seemedtohavetheirowncompleterulebook,likealongcontractthatyouhadtoagreewith

tojoin.iwascertainthatiwouldnotagreewithalloftherulesofwhateverreligioniultimately

chose.Thisdidnotseemidealtome.However,ichose,aftersomedeliberationandadivine

experienceortwo,tojoinmygrandmother'sex churchagain.ithinkthismayhavebeenlargelyasawaytoputsomesortoforderandcontinuitytothewholeaffair.Whilstallthiswas

goingon,mymothergraduallybecameaQuaker(officiallyknownastheReligiousSocietyof

Friends,andaveryfriendlybunchtheyseematthat!).

12Thiswasnottheendofthestorythoughofcourse,istoppedbeingachristiansome

timeafterilefthome,andthereasonwasthaticouldnotfindachristiandenominationwhose

doctrinesiproperlyagreedwith.itriedseveralbutallthedenominationsseemedtocomewith

anentiresetofthingsthatyoualsohadtoagreewithtotrulyfitin.Ofcourse,allofthese

rulesweredifferentfromtherulesofmostoftheotherdenominations,andinaddition,christiansfromalldenominationshadwhatiperceivedtobeapompouscertaintythatthey

were"right",eveninthingstotallyunrelatedtoreligionorspirituality.Thiswasunacceptableto

meandseemedtoruncontrarytothespiritofchristianity,andindeedreligion,soididnot

attendanymorechristianmeetings,althoughistillconsideredmyselfachristian.Youcould

saythatthechurchdrovemeawayfromgod,bystraininggnatswhilstitpassedcamels.At

thistime,ialsohadalotoffriendswhohadtheirownversionsofpaganism,basedonvarious

differenttheologiesorphilosophies,andthey(andi)wouldconstantlybediscussingvarious

aspectsofspirituality.Thiscommunitypromotedactivedebateanddiscussionaboutthe

natureoftheworld,thespiritsthatlivethereinandthereonandgenerallyanythingwhichthere

couldbediscussionaboutwasdiscussedopenly.Thiswasdirectlyinoppositiontothe

christianpositionthatthebiblewasultimatelycorrectandthatnoargumentordiscussion

couldbeallowedwithoutacceptingthefinalauthorityofthebible(ormoreimportantlythe

churchsinterpretationofthebible).Thispromotedinmeaquestingmindsetthat,ithink,

christianitycouldnotreallysatiate.

13Thisstory'sgettingquitelongbutwe'vegottotheimportantbitnow,havingfinally

dispensedwiththebackstory.Thelastnailinthecoffinformeandchristianitycameonenight

whenisawaTVprogramme.Nowidon'tanddidn'twatchverymuchTVandithinkihadnot

watchedaprogrammethewholewaythroughforafewmonthswhenisawthisparticular

documentary.Itwasatwohourprogramaboutsomesmallpiecesofevidencewhichhad


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beenfoundthroughoutthelasttwothousandyears,butmainlyduringthetwentiethandlate

nineteenthcenturies.Thegistoftheevidencewasthatchristianityhadoriginallybeen

pioneeredbyStPaulandStJames.Inanutshell,StJames'followingfizzledoutearlyinthe

secondcentury,accordingtotheTVshow,whileStPaul'sfollowingbecamewhatwenowcall

christianity.ItturnedoutthatJameswasabloodrelationofJesus(andsomighthavehada

betterideaofwhatchristianitywasallsupposedtobeabout)whilePaulseemstohadalotofpoliticalagendasandmayhavebeenbendingthephilosophyofchristtosuithisownends(all

altruisticiamsure,butnotpure,oratleastthiswasthefeelingigot)suchasunitingthe

JewishpeopleagainstthehatedRomans.StPaulnevermetJesusinfact,andclaimedhis

authoritytoteachfromvisionshehadhadwhereJesusappearedtohim.TheTVshowcame

totheconclusionthattheoriginalideabehindJesusteachingswasnottorecruitanarmyof

righteoussinnerswhowereallabsolvedfromblamebutsubjugatedundergod'sheel(which

ishowiviewmodernchristianity)butrather,thewholepointofJesuswords,ironically,may

originallyhavebeenanattempttogetpeopletobetolerantofeachother.

14Atthispointirealisedjusthowficklereligiontrulywas.Onetwistofhistoryand

christianitycouldhavebeencompletelydifferent(andatmanyotherpointsinhistorytoo!think

ofCromwell,orAugistine,forexample),anothertwistandchristianitymayneverhaveexisted

atall.ifeltthatStPaulhadcheatedmeandmanyothers,andthathisveryteachingswould

protecttheevidenceofhismisinformationfrombackfiringonhisideaofchristianity.To

summarise,StPaul(the"managingdirector",ifyouwillofearlychristianity)mayhavebeena

verygoodpoliticalcampaigner,buthewasnot,inmyopinion,agreatspiritualleader.

15 Sonowwhat?Inmymindthishadprovedthattherewassomething"outthere",butitwassomethingthatwaswillingtolethumanitydoitsownthing,killeachotherandtelleach

otherconvincinglies,withoutanydefinitivedivineintervention.Peopleofalltypesofreligion

claimedtohaveseengod,andangels,whowasitosaythatoneorotherofthemwasmore

rightthantherest?ihavehadmorethanoneenlighteningreligiousexperiencemyself,andso

havesomeotherpeopleiknow.Thesnagisthatalloftheseexperienceswererealtothose

whoexperiencedthemandyettheseexperiencesseemtoberepresentingdifferent,and

apparentlyincompatible,religiousphilosophies.Thisclearlywasntright.Ifthesereligious

experienceswereallvalid(whichihavenoreasontodoubt),thenthesereligiousphilosophies

mustalsobereal,andsothismeansthatintheuniversetheremustbeasystemwherebyall

ofthesereligionshasitstruth.Itiscommonforpopularreligionstodisclaimotherreligious

positionsasbeingwrongormistaken.Thisisunderstandable,giventhehumandesireto

knowthedetailsofanystoryliterally.Wehaveatendencyasaculturetoimaginethatoncea

versionofeventshasbeennaileddowninwordsonpaper,thatthereisnootherpossible

interpretationofeventswhichcanbetruewithoutourownaccountbeingautomaticallyfalse.

Also,disclaimingotherreligionsisagoodwaytogainprominenceinthepubliceye.Ifyoucan

stirupabitofrighteousindignationamongthefaithful,basedonsomethingthehereticshave

claimedwhichisincompatiblewithyourreligionsdoctrine,thenyoumaywellendupswelling

theranksabit.Religionisallbasedonadvertising.


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16Sotogettothepoint,istartedmyownlittlereligioninmyhead,whereikeptanopen

mindaswellasicould.I'llprobablyneverknow,ithought,whattherealtruthis,andifidie

andmeetmymaker,atleastitriedmybesttokeepanopenmind.Amakerthatdoesnotlook

kindlyuponthatisnomakeriwanttohavemuchtodowith,andbesides,keepinganopen

mindisagoodideawhilewearestillonthisworldanywaysowhatharmcanitdo?

17Somepeoplemaytothinkistartedthisreligionandpublishedawebsiteaboutitjustto

drawattention,orforalaugh,butthatissimplynottrue.Thestoryyouhavejustreadisthe

truthofthematter,fromstarttofinish.imadeupthereligionformeandmealone(althoughi

havelaterlearntthatmanyothershavedonethesame,moreorless),andthisdocumentis

forinformationalpurposesprimarily.iamnotaimingtoconvertanybody.Thisisnotafireand

brimstonereligionofapocalypticconsequences.Itcontainsnothreatstotheunbeliever.

Neitherisitacult.Itdoesnotreexaminesomesmallerpointofanotherreligioninorderto

createanewdoctrine.YoucanbeanIntegrationalPolytheistifyoulike,andifyoudo,theni

willnotcommandyoutodoanything,ortellyouwhotobeorhowtoliveyourlife.Therewillnotbeaholyzero hourwhenistarthandingoutthepoisonedkool aidandleadeverybody

intothedesert.Attheendoftheday,youareanIntegrationalPolytheistbecauseyouare

whoyouare,andnottheotherwayaround.

LiteraryInfluences

18Itmightalsobeofinterestforyoutoknowwhatiwasreadingthroughallthis,since

myreadingformedmythoughtsintheordertheyendedupbeingarrangedin.Firstand

foremost,TheSandmanbyNeilGaimanhasbeenanenormousinfluenceontheactualwayi

imagineIntegrationalPolytheismtobesetup.Itwasoriginallypublished(asfarasiknow)as

seventysixcomicbooks,threeshortstoriesandtwoillustratednovels.Itiscurrentlyavailable

aselevenortwelvebooksandispublishedbyDCComicsGroupintheUSAandbyTitan

BooksinBritain.Thisseriesexploreshumanconsciousness,particularlydreamsandstories.

Itmanagestoexploretheideaofmultiplegodsverywellalongthewayhowever.SmokeAnd

Mirrors,acollectionofshortstoriesbyNeilGaimanisimportantreading,asitexploresthe

natureofmultipletruthsandmythmaking,amongstotherthings.Anotherhighly

recommendedbookbyNeilGaimanis"AmericanGods".Itwaspublishedin2001anditisa

novelwhichusesIntegrationalPolytheismasoneofitsmainthemes(althoughobviouslyit

doesn'tuseanyofmyterminologysinceNeilGaimanhasneverheardofmeormyreligion!).

ItisveryimportanttomentionthatthisnovelprobablypredatesmyconceptofIntegrational

Polytheism.NeilGaiman,asfarasiknow,hasneverheardofmybrandofIntegrational

Polytheism,andhehashimselfbeeninventingithimselfasaliteraryconceptforyears.i

stronglyrecommendyoureadMrGaiman'swork

19Ofcoursetherearealotofotherbooksandtextsishouldmention,forexample

AldousHuxley's"TheDoorsofPerception"whichbeginsasanaccountofanexperiment,

whereHuxleyimbibesaquantityofmescalininaglassofwaterandwriteshispersonal

accountoftheexperience.Thebookveryquicklymovesontodiscussmanyaspectsofthe


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worldandofconsciousnesswhichHuxleyhasbeenpromptedtoseeinanewlightsincehis

mescalinexperience.SlightlylessrelevantbutnolessilluminatingisHuxley's"BraveNew

WorldRevisited".Really,youshouldread"BraveNewWorld"first,since"...Revisited"isa

nonfictionalessaywrittentwentyorsoyearsafter"BraveNewWorld"waspublished,

analysinghowaccurateorinaccuratetheoriginal(fictional)novelwasinitspredictionsabout

futuresocietaldevelopment.Readingitnow,anotherfiftyyearsdowntheline,providesanextradimensionofinsight.

20PhilipK.Dickhaswrittensomeexcellentnovels,somearerelevantinawayto

IntegrationalPolytheism.iparticularlycite"Ubik"and"ClansoftheAlphaneMoon".theformer

remindsusverywellofthefragilityofreality,whilethelatterasksustoquestionwhyweview

somethingsasrightandsomethingsaswrong,italsoraisesthequestionofhowmuch

poweronecanwieldpurelythroughbeliefs.

21 KurtVonnegutJnrhaswrittensomerelevantbookstoo.Mostnotably"SlaughterhouseFive",whichdealswiththedifferencebetweentherealityinourmindsandtherealityinthe

mindsofothers,and"Cat'sCradle"whichaskshowareligionwhichadmitsitiscompletely

falsecanhavesomuchinfluenceandpower.

22RobertHeinleinsJob:AComedyofJusticeaddressestheconceptofaJehovah

typegod,aspartofamuchbiggerarrangementofgodlyfigures.Itexploresanunusual

courseofthoughtforitssubjectmatter.EyeInTheSkybyPhilipKDickisanothergoodone

alongsimilarlines.

23MichaelMoorcockhasbeenwritingfictionfordecades.Hecontinuestoturnout

seeminglyunrelatedstories,howeverwhenexaminedclosely,allofhisnovelstietogetherin

anetherealtypeofsupernaturalway.Moorcockreferstothisashismultiverse.Asfarasican

tell,everythingthatcouldeverhappenhashappenedinthemultiverse,andanypointinit

couldbeaffectinganyotherpoints.Youcouldreadhisnovelstofindoutwhatiamgoingon

about,andirecommendit,butbepreparedtoreadatleastacoupleofdozenbeforeyoustart

tofigureitout.Agoodonetostartwithis"TheDreamthief'sDaughter".Mostparticularly

though,istronglyrecommendthatyouread"BeholdtheMan"whichisMoorcock'sHugo

awardwinningnovelaboutthelifeofJesusChrist.Itcontainsauniquelyoriginalaccountof

thegospelstory.

24OtherbookswhichirateveryhighlyareTheProphetbyKahlilGibranwhichcontains

alotofsensiblewisdom,andthingsforcontemplationandTheLostGospel:TheBookofQ

andchristianOriginsbyBurtonLMack.ItisinevitablethatIntegrationalPolytheistswillbe

challengedbychristians.Thisbookpresentstheresultsofextensiveresearchintothenew

testamenttoilluminatethefactsbehindtheformationofchristianity.AnIntegrational

Polytheistmustacknowledgethepossiblerightnessofthechristianpositionofcourse,

howevertheattemptsofchristianstoconvinceotherstojoinupaschristiansthemselves

meansitisbesttobeinformedbeforehand.ThusBurtonLMacksbookisverygoodreading,

asarethevariousbooksinthenewtestament.TheGospelofThomasisalsoahighly


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recommendedread.Itappearstoshowaverydifferentoutlookofearlychristianity,often

usingfamiliarJesussayingsfromthenewtestamenttomakesomeveryunfamiliarpoints.For

thatmatterallholyandreligioustextsofdeadorlivingreligionsorphilosophiesshouldbe

consideredvalidstartingpointsforthoughtanddiscussion.Andletsfaceit,theymightallbe

right!

25Iwouldalsorecommendfamiliarisingyourselfwiththestories,legendsand

backgroundassociatedwithvariousworldculturesandreligions(suchas,butnotlimitedto,

Australianaboriginal,ancientGreek,Roman,Norse,Celtic,Maori,ancientEgyptian,Asianor

indigenousNorthandSouthAmericanbeliefs.Theseareusuallyveryinterestingtoresearch,

sincetheycomefromdifferentcultureswithdifferentattitudes.Themoreyoureadfrom

differentsources,themoreinformedyouwillbetomakeyourownchoices.

TheDoctrinesofIntegrationalPolytheism

26IntegrationalPolytheismhaswhatipersonallyfeelisauniquepositionasregards

policyanddoctrines,sinceoneofthemainpointsofIntegrationalPolytheismistoavoid

havingpeoplebetoldwhattodo!Thismeans,ofcourse,thatanydoctrinesandrulesilay

downhereshouldrightlybetakenasmypersonalopinion,andnotascommandmentsor

conditions.Youyourselfwillhavetodecidewhatyouagreewithanddisagreewithasfaras

my"teachings"areconcerned(and,bytheway,agoodplacetoexpressyourpersonal

opinionsonthose"teachings"istheIntegrationalPolytheismdiscussionforumsonthe

website).iwilllayoutguidelinestoillustratemypersonalideaofwhatIntegrational

Polytheismisabout,anditshouldalsoberememberedthatunlessyouacceptthateverybody

mightberight,andlivebythecodeofnothurtinganyone,thenyoucanttechnicallybecalled

anIntegrationalPolytheist.Thisisnobigdealforanybodyconcerned,butitisahelpful

definitionofterms.

Okaythen,herewego,GuidelinesandTalkingPointsforIntegrationalPolytheists:

27Thinkwhatyoulikeandbelievewhatyouwant.

Ithinkthisoneneedsalittlebitofexplanation.Whatimeanbythisisthatyoumust

thinkaboutnewinformationthatcomestoyou,anddecideforyourselfwhatyouropinion

aboutitis.You,asanIntegrationalPolytheist,mayhaveadifferentsetofbeliefsfromany

otherIntegrationalPolytheistonthefaceoftheplanet!Thisispurelybecauseyouwillhave

tailoredyourbeliefstofitinwithyourpersonality.

28Thisdoctrineissimplyawayofsayingthatyouhavefreedomofchoice,andyou

shoulduseitwheneveryoucan.Inmyopinion,alotofpeoplewantfreedomfromchoice

ratherthanfreedomofchoice,butthenIntegrationalPolytheismisnotforeverybody.


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29Allowotherstheirfreedomofchoice,andgivethemachance

Nowthisonemaypourabitofcoldwateronthewholeaffairforsomepeople.

Basicallywhatthismeansisthatit'salrightforanypersontosaytheyareanIntegrational

Polytheist,butthismeansthatpersoncannolongercriticisesomeoneelse'sreligion,

philosophyorlifestyleasbeinguntrue.IfyouareanIntegrationalPolytheist,youmustalwayskeepanopenmindtothepossibilitythateverybodyoranybodycouldberightorwrongabout

anything.Forexample,atthemomentthereisalotofanti MuslimthoughtintheWestern

world,howeveranIntegrationalPolytheistcannotbeoftheopinionthatIslamissomehow

lessrightthananyotherreligionbecausethisissimplynotfair.Thereligionitselfcannotbe

heldresponsiblefortheactionsofindividuals.

30AnIntegrationalPolytheistmustalsoallowforthepossibilitythatanyreligionscan

have"theanswer".Even"primitive"tribalreligionshaveasmuchrelevanceintoday'sworld

asanyotherreligion.Evenlongdeadreligionswithnolivingworshippershaverelevance,anditmaybethattherearesomecrucialpointsbeingoverlookedwithinsuchreligionspurely

becausetheyarenotthereligionswhicharecurrentlyfashionable.AnIntegrationalPolytheist

mustaccept,then,thatwisdomcancomefromanysourcewhatsoever.Themostimportant

pieceofwisdomthatyoumightreceiveinyourentirelifemaycomefromthemouthofafour

yearoldchild,theshapeoftheclouds,orsomethingyouhearontheradio.Thisiswhyitis

importantnottodismissanythingoutofhand,andsincewecanneverknoweverythingabout

anything,wemustkeepanopenmindatalltimes.

31 Thisalsomeansyouaccepttheexistenceofanyandallgodsandgoddesses,even

oneswhichyouconsidertobesillyorjokegods.Afterall,whatsthedifference,ultimately,

betweenarealreligionandajokereligion?(jokeanswer:jokereligionsaresupposedtobe

funny!)Thetrueansweristhatitsentirelyinthemindsofthoseinvolvedwhethersomething

isajokereligionornot.Itcostsnothingtotreatotherreligionswithrespect,andsothisis

whatiurge,eveninthecaseofallegedlyhumorousreligions.Youcanstillhaveajokeabout

them,butafterall,theycouldberight.

32Happily,thissetupalsoallowsyoutoneverhavetomakeyourmindupabout

anything.IntegrationalPolytheistscanalwayschangetheirmindsaboutsomethinginlightof

newinformation,anewperspectiveorjustbecausetheyfeellikeit.There'snoshamein

changingyourmind.Nobodyexpectsyoutoknoweverything.Ifyoudidknoweverything,

therewouldbenopointinkeepinganopenmind!Infactifyoulookaroundyou,alotofthe

peoplewhodonothaveopenmindsseemtothinkthattheydoknoweverything.

33Sothat'sit.Youjusthavetoconsciouslyconsideranyassumptionsyoumightbe

makinginthecourseofyourlifeandkeepyourmindandattitudeopenabouteverything.A

healthyinterestinassortedreligionsandphilosophieswillalsohelpyougaintheskillstolive

bythesedoctrines,butitisnotnecessary.Ofcourse,asihavebeensayingthroughoutthis

wholepage,anybodyismorethanwelcometobeanIntegrationalPolytheist,ornottobe

one,whichevertheyprefer.


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BeingaResponsibleAdultinTryingTimes

34Bytheverynatureofthefactthatistartedareligion,iadopta"leadership"typeof

role.I'mnottoocomfortablewiththatbutican'tdenyit,asseveralpeoplehavepointedout.

Basically,whatisayinwritingwillbereadbypeople,andtheymayactonitsoihavetotake

responsibilityforit.That'sfine.Takingresponsibilityforouractionsandwordsissomething

thatiwanttobeanintegralpartofIntegrationalPolytheismanyway,butthisdoesposea

quandaryofsorts.

35Youseeithoughtthatpredominantly,peoplewouldreadwhatihavetosay,thenthink

aboutitandthenmaketheirownmindupaboutwhattheywantedtothinkorbelieve,ormore

likelytheywouldmakethedecisioninternallyonasemi sub consciouslevel.Maybethatis

whathasbeenhappeningbuttomydelight,peoplehavecomebackwithmanythoughtsand

opinionsusingwhatiwriteastheirstartingpoint,andoneofthethingstheyhavebeensaying

isthatineedtobecarefulinwhatisay(andtakeresponsibilityformywords)becausenowi

amtheleaderofareligionandmywordsmightinfluenceothers'behaviour!

36Well,that'salltrueisupposeanditcomeswiththeterritory,andasyouknowihave

beentryingtoberesponsibleanyway,butthere'salwayssomewaytobemisinterpretedin

theend.Allicandoistrynottobemisinterpreted.iwouldhateforIntegrationalPolytheismto

becomeoneofthosereligionsorcultsthatresultsinhardship,bullyingorevendeath.That's

exactlywhatIntegrationalPolytheismisnotabout.

TakeResponsibilityWithYouWhereverYouGo

37Soanyway,sincestartingthewebsite,iamfindingthatpeoplesometimesreally

misunderstandwhatiamsaying(inmyopinion).Resultantly,ihavetriedtobeasclearas

possibleonthewebsite,hammeringoutthedetailsonthediscussionboardandamendingthe

pagesonthesiteitselfasnecessary,butattheendofitall,peoplewillstillfindawayto

misreadsomethingiftheyreallywantto.JustlookattheQuran,theBible,theTorahandthe

Sutrasforexample!iwilljusthavetoacceptthisfactanditrytokeepthateffecttoa

minimumbybeingasconciseaspossible.Whenitcomesdowntoitthough,ifihavea

followingofsheep(inthejudeo christiansense)insteadoftruethinkersthenihavefailed.In

thiscontext,IntegrationalPolytheistshavetothink.Theyshouldbelikepuppetswho,when

theirstringsarecut,theymustbecapableofmovingaroundthestageallbythemselves.So

manyreligion joinersthesedayswanttobefollowersbutiwouldlikeIntegrationalPolytheists

tobeleaders,ofthemselves,andtotakewhatisaymyselfonlyasastartingpoint.Toagood

extentithinkthisisindeedwhatishappeningjudgingbysomeofthefeedbackihave

received.

38 Sothereitis,ithinkthereligionofIntegrationalPolytheismisfineasitis,because

peoplearescepticalaboutthingstheyreadontheinternetwhichproclaimthattheyareanew


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religionsotherearenotalotofpeoplereadingthesitewhoblindlyandsimplyacceptitatits

apparentfacevalue.Eveniftherewere,idon'ttellpeopletodrinkpoisonorsacrificetheir

parentsoranything,soweshouldberelativelysafe...


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PARTTWO

FrequentlyAskedQuestionsaboutIntegrationalPolytheism

Eachpersonisuniqueandsoeachpersonwillhavedifferentquestionsabout

IntegrationalPolytheism.Herearetheanswerstosomeofthequestionsihavebeenasked

aboutIntegrationalPolytheism:

1.Isthisreligionajoke?

Noitisn't.It'sthereligionibelieveinmyself.idon'tneedtoconvertanybodysoifyou

don'twanttobeanIntegrationalPolytheist,thendon'texpectmetotryandforceituponyou,

ortojustifymyownpersonalpositiononanyissuebeyondthedegreetowhichithinkitis

necessary.

2.'Believewhatyouwantanddowhatyoulike'?Aren'tyouadvocatinganarchy?

Ami?Well,ifyoudefineanarchy,thenmaybei'llbeabletoanswerthequestion!If

yourideaofanarchyinvolvespeoplehavingaterribletimeduetoalackoforganisationthen,

no,thatisnotwhatiamadvocating.Thisisareligion,notapoliticalmovement.If,onthe

otherhand,youseeanarchyasarelaxingoftherules,asituationwherepeopleareallowed

tobethemselveswithoutfearingthattheywillnotbeseenasnormal,thenthatisexactlywhat

iamadvocating.Peopleshouldbeallowedtoexpressthemselvesfreely.Trueanarchy

meanslawinthehandsofthepeople.Thiscanonlyhappenwhenthemajorityofpeopleare

responsible,andcanbetrustedtodealwith"criminals"fairlyandjustly.

3.What?Sopeoplecandowhattheylike?Whataboutmurderers,rapistsandchild

molesters?Surelyyoudon'tthinktheyshouldbeallowedtodowhattheylike?

No,idonotthinkthatpeopleshouldbeallowedtodoallthosehideousthings.Asi

said,peopleshouldbeallowedtoexpressthemselvesfreely.ithinkifyoumurdersomebody

orrapethem,thenyouareinfringingtheirrighttobefreelythemselves.Killingandraping,

stealingandhurtingarealltotallyagainstallthatIntegrationalPolytheismstandsfor.Letme

makethisclear.IntegrationalPolytheismiscompletelyagainsttheconceptofpeopleharming

eachotherinanyway.

Peopleshouldbeabletodoastheylikeunlessthatinvolvesstoppingotherpeople

fromexpressingthemselves.Peoplewhostopothersfromharmlesslyenjoyingandbeing

themselvesgoagainstthepolicyofopenmindednessandtolerancewhichallIntegrational

Polytheistsshouldadopt.Personallyithinkthissystem,ifitwerelaw,wouldbeastricter

systembyfarthantheonewecurrentlyhaveinplace.


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4.Okaythen,sowhydoyoucallitareligion?Sofarallyou'vebeentalkingaboutislaw

andorder.

I'mgladyouaskedthat.Mostotherreligionsihaveencounteredhavetwothingsthati

amnottookeenon.Firstly,theyofteninsistthatyoudisownallreligionsotherthanthemas

heresyorblasphemy.Thisstrikesmeasconceitedandinsecure.Secondly,manyreligions,eveniftheydoallowyoutokeepanopenmind,stillrequireyoutoadheretoasetofbeliefs

anddoctrinesthatyoudonotfullyagreewith.Somereligionshappentothinkthatwomen

shouldaccepttheir'properplace'forexample.Whatifyouareawoman,andyouareopento

acceptingyour'properplace'inthereligionyouplantojoin?Youmayjoinandquitesoonyou

maydiscoverthatthe'place'allotedtoyouisnottheplacethatyouexpected.Evenworse,

youmayfeelthatthesacredtextsthatarebeingquotedtokeepyouinyourplaceactually

meansomethingentirelydifferent.Youseetheproblemsthatcanarise?WithIntegrational

Polytheismyouarenotobligedtoassumeany'place'ortoacceptanyparticularslanton

reality.Thisseemstobesomethingnootherreligioncanoffer,andsothat'swhyIntegrationalPolytheismexists.

5.Wellifyoucandowhatyoulike,thenwhycan'tyoujustdowhatyoulikewithoutbeing

anIntegrationalPolytheist?What'sIntegrationalPolytheismgottooffer?

Wellasisaid,youcandowhatyoulike,andinthatcaseyouwouldn'tneed

IntegrationalPolytheism,fairenough.Goforitinfact,bemyguest!Howeverthereissome

substancetoIntegrationalPolytheismwhichiwilltrytoexplaintoyou.Basically,ifyouchoose

nottobepartofanotherreligionbecauseitistellingyoutoshun'falsegods'thenyouwillprobablybeopentotheideathatmanygodsexist.IntegrationalPolytheisminfactisa

religionthatinsiststhatallgodsexist.Youmust,ifyouareanIntegrationalPolytheist,believe

thatallthegodsthatwereeverconceivedof,orthatevercouldexist,doexistinsomeway.

Thisisthesamethingasbelievingthateverybodymightberight.Itisnotaconceptualthing,

whereeverybodyhasthepossibilitytoberight,butonlyonereligionultimatelyis.Itisactually

averyrealbeliefthing,whereeverybodysreligionnotonlycouldberight,butisrightinsome

way.Toputitsuccinctly:Everythingsalwaysallgoingon,allthetime.Thisisn'teverybody's

cupoftea,butthereitis.Takeitorleaveit.ObviouslysinceIntegrationalPolytheismhas

moregodsbyfarthananyotherreligion(bydefinition!),ihopeitsfollowerswillbemore

diversethanthefollowersofanyotherreligion.It'squitepossiblethatsomebodywillbean

IntegrationalPolytheistwithoutknowingit.Alliamdoingisputtinganametothispointofview

whichisalreadyexistinginsomepeoplesmindsandhearts.

6.Wait,soyoubelievethatallgodsexist(oratleastmightexist)?Whataboutatheism?Do

youbelieveinthattoo?

Wellnow,atheismdoesn'thaveanygodsofitsown,samewithagnosticism,however

idon'tthinkatheistsandagnosticsareoutoftheloop!Most'atheists'havegotsomesortof

religiousorphilosophicalviewpoint,mostofthemhavereasonsfornotbeinginvolvedina

formallyacceptedreligionandthatinitselfisareligiousopinion!Sobasically,iftheyhave


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theirownopinionsthentheycouldberight!Afterall,iftherewerenopossibilityofthose

opinionsbeingright,whywouldthosepeopleholdthem?Onthesubjectofwhetherornot

atheismisareligion,true,atheismhasnogodsofitsown,butthenneitherdoesIntegrational

Polytheism,anditclaimstobeareligion!

7.SotobeanIntegrationalPolytheistyouhavetobelieveallgodsexistinsomeway...andthat'sall?

Moreorless.Asisay,theessenceofIntegrationalPolytheismisaboutkeepingan

openmind.Thismeansthatpeoplemustbeconsideratetoeachotherandnotbeprejudiced

againsteachotherandsoon,aswellasjustacceptingeachother'sbeliefsinanabstract

way.ThesearetherealrequirementsofIntegrationalPolytheism.Youhavetotreatother

peoplewithconsideration.

Also,ithinkthatthesortofpeoplewhoarereadytobelievethatallgodsdoactuallyexistareusuallypeoplewhoareinterestedinthehundredsandthousandsofinteresting

gods,religionsandstoriesthatareoutthere.Tothisend,theloreandhistoryofIntegrational

Polytheismincludesstoriesandlegendsfrommanydifferentplacesandtimes,andit'supto

youwhatyoutakefromthedifferentavenueswhichyouchoosetoexplore.

8.Doyoubelieveintheresurrection/rapture/reincarnation/Greekorromangods/

anythingelse?

Yes.ido.Asmentionedabove,iwillbelieveinanythingsinherentabilitytobetrue.Morespecificallyibelieveintheexistenceofallgodsandgoddesses,aswellasanyspirits

andsoonwhichhavehadanysortofcultorfollowing.ialsothinkthattheteachings,rules

andguidelinesofthosegodsandgoddessesarevalidtoo,insomewayorcontext.

9.IsIntegrationalPolytheismaformofsyncretism?orWhataboutsyncretism?

IntegrationalPolytheismdoesnttakeasyncreticstance,no.Itdoeshoweveraccept

syncretismasavalidwayofmakingsenseofeverything,andofcourseanIntegrational

Polytheistwillalwayskeepanopenmindtotheideathatthesyncretistmightberight.

Syncretismattemptstoplaceallbeliefsintoabiggerworkingsystemreconcilingconflicting

truthstoachieveaholisticpictureofhowitallworks.Thisisfine,butIntegrationalPolytheists

dontneedtoknowwhatthebigpicturelookslikeinordertobelieveinsomething.Youcan

believethatAllahcreatedhumansinhisownimage,andyoucanbelievesimultaneouslythat

Odin,ViliandVecreatedthefirsthumans,AskandEmbla,fromlogs,whilstsimultaneously

believingthatBaiamecreatedhumansfromthedustoftheridges.Maybeallthesethings

happenedintheirownrespectivepartsoftheworld.

Maybetheyhappenedfiguratively,ormaybethetruthofeachaccountistruestwithin

itsownsphereofreality.Imagineahugejewel,cutwithmanyfacets.Turnthejewelinthe

lightandyouarelookingatacompletelydifferentsight,andyetitisstillthesamejewel.This


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analogycoulddescribesyncretism.ItcouldalsodescribeIntegrationalPolytheism.The

generalideaofIntegrationalPolytheismisthatyoudon'truleanythingoutasapossibility.It's

notamatterofsaying"rightthen,let'sgetallthesegodssortedout,forastart,it'sacaseof

honestlyentertainingtheideathatanyofthefactions(ormorethanoneofthem,perhapsall?

whoknows?)mightberight.

10.WheredoesIntegrationalPolytheismstandonthesubjectofpolygamy,or

vegetarianism?

Theseareweightyissuesindeed.Thisstartstogetdeeperintothetenets,foundations

andbasicassumptionsofareligion,inthiscaseIntegrationalPolytheism.Illsayfirstofall

thatIntegrationalPolytheismisnotbigonactuallystatingsomethingoutrightonanissue

otherthanbelieforfreewill.ThosearethebasicplatformpointsforIntegrationalPolytheism.

Withtheseinmind,iwillbrieflycommentonbothoftheaboveissues.

Withregardtopolygamy,tomethisqualifiesasaliveandletliveissue.Basicallyif

everybody'sconsentingandunderstandswhat'sgoingon,where'stheproblem?Themain

problemiseeislegislationalandsocietal.Asalways,peoplepracticingpolygamyshouldbe

awareofthesituationaroundthemsotheycanavoidcausingharmtoanyone.Inpractice,i

notethatpolygamyoftencausesharmtopeople.

Regardingvegetarianism,thisisalsoaliveandletliveissue.Thosewhoeatmeatare

notlivingandlettinglive.Asiseeitvegetarianism(andultimatelyveganism)isthebestway

foroursocietytogooverthelongterm,anditisalsotheonlywaytotrulyliveandletlivewithregardstoyourdiet.Imnotsayingthatyoumustadheretoaspecificdietaryregimeinorder

tobeanIntegrationalPolytheist,butwhatiamsayingisthatiwouldimaginethatIntegrational

Polytheistswillcometothesameconclusionusingtheirownlogicalfaculties.Also,thereare

uncountablehealthandhygienereasonsfornoteatinganimalproducts,butiwon'tgointo

thathere.

11.Whataboutcreationandevolution?WhatdoesIntegrationalPolytheismsayabout

that?

Nothingatall!Personally,iamarecentconverttothepositionofevolution,howeveri

donotthinkthisisanybasistostatethatotherpossibilitiesmightbealternativelyor

concurrentlytrue.Unlikemanyotherreligions,IntegrationalPolytheismallowsyoutobelieve

whatyoulikeabouttheoriginsofthespecies',andtheworld(s)solongasyouadmitthat

otherpeople'sviewsmayberight.


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PARTTHREE

1Thissectioncomprisessayings,phrasesandothermaterialwhichi(Calum)thinkare

appropriateforinclusioninthisdocument.iwontincludesayingsherebypeoplewhoarenot

involvedinIntegrationalPolytheisminsomeway.Youshouldbeseekingthoseoutand

readingthemintheiroriginalcontextsanyway.Thesayingsinthispartdonotconstitutesolidrules.TheyaretobetakenincontextwithpartOne,whichcontainstherealrules,andpart

Two,whichtalksabouttheserules.PartThreeiscompletelyopentointerpretation.

(Everythingiscompletelyopentointerpretation!)Thecontentsofthispartareallfairly

relevanttotheconceptandpracticeofhowtoliveintheworldanddoindicatean

IntegrationalPolytheisticstandpointingeneralalthoughthesayingswilloftenreflectmy

personalopinion,orsomethingsimilartoit.

ASummaryofIntegrationalPolytheism

2Basicallythereislittleorganisationalstructurewithinthisreligion,whichiswhyithink

peoplestrugglewithit.Peoplewholookforareligion,iamfindingmoreandmore,arelooking

forinternalstructureandorganisation.Bycontrastthiswasoneofthethingsthatrankledme

aboutreligionssinceidonotlikehavingtoaccepta"packagedeal"religionthatimaynot

100%agreewith.idontthinkIntegrationalPolytheismwilleverneedanorganisational

structureeither.

3IntegrationalPolytheismissimplyanattempttoallowpeopletohaveareligion,but

alsotochoosetheirownbeliefs,andchangethemastheythemselveshavenewexperiences

andgrowaspeople.

4Thebasicfoundationisthateveryonecouldberight.ThisincludesChristians,Hindus,

Muslims,Buddhists,andworshippersofallotherreligionsand/orgods,includingall

polytheists,monotheists,agnostics,pagans,orwhateverspiritualpeoplechoosetocall

themselves.Torephrasethis,thefirst"rule"ofIntegrationalPolytheismisthatyoucannot

proclaimsomeoneelse'sbeliefstobewrong.

5 ThesecondcornerstoneofIntegrationalPolytheismisthatyoumustallowpeopleto

practiseinreallifewhattheybelieveintheirhead,andtheymustallowyouthesame

freedom.Thismeansthatpeoplecandowhatevertheylikeinthenameoftheirreligion,

exceptforinfringesomeoneelse'srighttodothesame.Forexample,ifmyreligiousbeliefs

callformetopartakeofaparticularinfusionorotherherbalpreparation(notablypeyotl,

psylocybinormarijuanaforexample)thenicandoso,usually,becausethiswillnotstepon

anybodyelse'smetaphoricaltoesbypreventingthemfromdoingtheirownthingthemselves

(unlessiamresultantlyrenderedincapableofdoingsomethingthatipromisedtodoetc).

Howeverifmyreligioncallsfortheslaughterofpeopleoranimalsthenthiswillimpairthe

abilityofthosepeopleandanimalstodotheirownthing,andinfactitwillinhibittheirabilityto


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doanythingatallexceptdieandgoontowhatevertheyhaveinstoreforthemafterwards,if

anything.Thisisintrusiveanditdoessteponsomebodyelse'smetaphoricaltoes.

6Thissecondoneisalotmoreambiguousthanthefirstandforittoworkitrequires

cooperationandcommunication,twothingsithinkwecoulddowithmoreofanyway.

7Thosetwofoundationsaremoreorlessit.Astowhichgodsyouchoosetohonour,

worship,givegiftsto,mournorcelebrateisuptoyou.Whenyoudoit,howlongfor,andso

on,istotallyuptoyou.Howseriouslyyoutakeitisuptoyou.Personallyihaverespectfor

manydifferentgodsandiadoptacasualandoccasionaltimetableofrespectandhonour

towardsthemwhenandwhereican.Thismaychangeovertime,oritmaynot.

ObservationsandExpostulations

8 Oncewheniwasonmywayhome,thesunstruckaparticulartuftofgrassandit

mademerealisethatdarknessandshadowarenothingbutanabsenceoflight.Ifaplaceis

inshadow,thenaddinglightwillmakeeverythingeasytosee.Bycontrast,ifaplaceisinthe

light,itisnotpossibletoaddshadowordarkness,inordertomaketheplaceappeardark.

9 Deathisapartoflife.Weshouldcontemplateitfreelyinthesamewayasother

aspectsoflife.Weshouldnotwaituntildeatharrivesinallitssplendourbeforeweaddress,in

ourminds,theissueofdeath.

10 Truefriendshipisnotmeasuredbyactions,orbygifts.Truefriendshipismeasuredin

genuinefeelingfromonepersontoanother.Truefriendswillsupporteachotherandwill

remainreasonableandaccommodatingwhencircumstanceschangeunexpectedly.Friends

willnotdeceiveoneanother.Ifpeoplearedoingthesethingstoeachother,theyreprobably

notfriends.

11Iscornpitybecausepitylosesyoutherespectofothers,andofyourself.

12Pietyandstrictreligiousadherenceshouldnotbeconsideredaworthygoal.Neither

shoulditbescornedorderided.Beingbetterthanothersatthepracticeofareligionorfaith

doesnotmakeapersonbetterthananybodyelseinanyotherway.Oneschoiceofreligious

positiondoesnotmakeapersonbetterorworsethananybodyelseeither.

13Conflictistotallyacceptable.Conflictofideasstimulatesfreethought.Itisperfectly

healthytodiscussopenlyandheatedlyonmanysubjectssincemanysidesofanissuewill

cometolight.Thiskindofconflictisnotthesameasphysicalconflict,orinternationalconflict.

PhysicalconflictandoppressionaretotallyunacceptabletoanIntegrationalPolytheist.Any

kindofviolation,forcedoccupationorinvasionofaregion,country,territoryorpeopleclearly

violatesthepolicyofnotharmingothers.AnIntegrationalPolytheistwillnotsupporttheidea


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ofapeace keepingforceoranysortofmilitaryaction.Instead,sheorhewillsayliveandlet

live.

14Whoamitotellotherpeoplewhattobelieve?Whoareyoutotellotherpeoplewhatto

believe?Makeupyourownmindandallowotherstomakeuptheirs.

15Thereasonwe'vehadsomanywarsandgeneralculturalmisunderstandingoverthe

millenniaisthatpeoplearetooquicktomaketheirownlistofwhat'strueandrightatthe

exclusionofanybodyelse.Everybody'struthisdifferent.

16Sentienceisthemotherofmorality.Withoutconsciouschoice(iefreewill),thereisno

conceptofrightorwrong.Oncesentiencehasgivenbirthtoasenseofmorality,itcannotbe

disowned.

17 Ireallydon'tthinkscienceeverdisprovesitself,ithinkmanypeopleusecontrarydatatocomeupwithdifferingtheoriesonwhat'scorrect.Theninsteadofsayingtheyaretheories

theysaythingslike"ofcoursetheearthisflat","ofcourseheavierthingsfallfasterthanlight

things","ofcourseweallevolvedfromfish","ofcoursewecan/can'ttravelfasterthanthe

speedoflight!"etc.Infacthumansaresoconfusorythattheyfrequentlyhavedifferentsetsof

humansgettheirhandsonthesamedataandtheneachgroupcomesupwithradically

differentconclusions.Inthesecases,thehumansaretheoneswhoarevaried,notthe

scientificfactsthemselves.Infactsomemightthinkthatscienceishavingagoodoldlaugh

aboutitall.Perhapsthegodshavegotsomethingtodowithhowsciencealwaysseemstobe

blowingraspberriesatusasitdisappearsaroundthenextmetaphysicalcorner

18Iadvocatekeepingtheheadandfindingevidenceratherthanclosingourmindsto

otherpossibilities.Openmindednessratherthanblinkerednessistheonlywayintothefuture,

unlessweareaimingforaculturaldeadend.

19Justiceisimaginary.ibelieveinjusticeanditsapplication,butitmustberemembered

thatjusticeresidesonlyinthemindsandheartsofthepeopleinvolved.Justiceisdifferentfor

everysituation,andallattemptsshouldbemadetoavoidforcingonepersonsjusticeonto

someoneelse.ibelievethatcommunicationandcooperationcanreducetheproblems

causedbytryingtomakeeveryonehappyinanunjustworld.

20 Ialsosay(unlikesocalled"hard"polytheists)thatitispossiblethateachgodislikea

facetofamanyfacetedjewel,turningthejewelslowlyinthelightwillhighlightdifferentfacets

andgiveadifferentoverallimpressionofthejewel.Eachgodmayhavemanyfacetsoftheir

own,ormaybeafacetofsomelargerthing,orbothorindeedneither!Theremaybemany

uniqueanddistinctjewels,eachwithmanyfacets.Wejustdon'tknow.

21 Tobaccosmokingisexpensive,unhealthyforthesmokerandunpleasantaswellas

unhealthyforthoseinthevicinity,ithasnonoticeablemoodrelatedeffectsandasfarasi


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knowitisnotusefulinanyspiritualorreligiousceremony.Thisisntacommandmentagainst

smokingoranything,butijustthoughtyoushouldknowthosethingsaboutit.

22 IntegrationalPolytheismisreallyaboutlettingpeopleknowthattheycanmakeuptheir

ownmindaboutthings.Takealltheissuesandthinkproperlyaboutthem,andyouwillhave

yourownhonestopinion.Everything'spossible.Beopenmindedandfair.Maybei'mjustcrazilyoptimisticbutithinktruefreedomofchoicewouldbeastepinthedirectionofreal

peace.

23 Youcanleadahorsetowater,butyoucan'tmakeitthink

24 Wearewhatweareandwedowhatwedo.

25 Largelyithinkyouwillfindthatratherthansaying"dowhatthouwiltisthewholeofthe

law"iamactuallysaying,inthewordsofBill,"beexcellenttoeachother".(AndinthewordsofTed,partyondudes!)