So, any comments or critiques? Can I make this better?
While thinking of the Creation myth told by the Judeo-Christian patriarchy, I had to laugh, because while contemplating the Goddess, and her fertility, the image that popped into my head was that of a wizened old man jerking off, and the Earth growing up out of the resulting gooey mess… Primordial stew indeed. I don't remember what I had originally been thinking about, because the mental image was so funny and distracting that it became thought provoking. Irreverent? Maybe, but I for one prefer a deity that represents life, both the good and bad, and the silly.
Because magick is a major part in pagan religions, and the fundamental premise of magick is manifesting a specific result in the world through will. Those who've studied and practiced magick use different components as focuses for their will. This in turn reminded me of the Judeo-Christian Creation myth, in which God says, "Let there be light", manifesting light. God goes on to create the world by saying "Let there be" whatever he wills there to be, and it happens. These statements of God's will are reminiscent of the prayer ending of "Amen", which literally means "so be it", or "let it be so". These statements of will are eerily similar to the pagan "So mote it be", which accomplishes the same purpose; to end the ritual and allow intent to manifest.
While in the initial process of creating the world and its inhabitants, God does not use any materials or focuses for his intent. However, when he moves on to the task of creating humanity, "the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life" (Gn 2, 7 [The New American Bible]). This echoes the use focuses in magick, and more specifically that of poppets in sympathetic magick. This is ironic, because historically, the Christian religion, and Catholicism in particular, has been vehement in its efforts to eradicate, or at least discredit the use and viability of magick. And yet, the use of magick can be seen in its most sacred text, and even today, where Christians will light candles when petitioning saints to intercede on their behalf. This use of candles is another focal point, and one that has survived since pre-Christian days, when people would petition their gods in much the same manner. This conception of God may be seen as reminiscent of early man's first comprehension of the world around him. This might also demonstrate the Catholic Church's adoption of pagan gods and goddesses as saints and the allowing of some of the old rituals that were used, a technique used often when attempting to convert people.
