#misotheism

[grimmstar-grimmoire]

Varieties of Theism

Agnostic Theism Whereas atheism and theism deal with belief, agnosticism deals with knowledge. The Greek roots of the term combine a (without) and gnosis (knowledge). Hence, agnosticism literally means “without knowledge.” In the context where it is normally used, the term means: without knowledge of the existence of gods. Since it is possible for a person to believe in one or more gods without claiming to know for sure that any gods exist, it's possible to be an agnostic theist.

Monotheism The term monotheism comes from the Greek monos, (one) and theos (god). Thus, monotheism is the belief in the existence of a single god. Monotheism is typically contrasted with polytheism (see below), which is a belief in many gods, and with atheism, which is an absence of any belief in any gods.

Polytheism Polytheism is the belief in the existence of multiple gods. The prefix ''poly'' means many, so polytheists believe that there are multiple divine forces in existence. The Greek and Roman pantheons are excellent examples of these, as they consist of many gods that govern different aspects of nature and essences of humanity. Some argue that Christianity is a polytheistic religion because of the worship of the Trinity. However, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all aspects of a single God, making it a monotheistic religion.

Deism Deism is actually a form of monotheism, but it remains distinct enough in character and development to justify discussing separately. In addition to adopting the beliefs of general monotheism, deists also adopt the belief that the single existing god is personal in nature and transcendent from the created universe. However, they reject the belief, common among monotheists in the West, that this god is immanent—presently active in the created universe.

Henotheism and Monolatry Henotheism is based upon the Greek roots heis or henos, (one), and theos (god). But the term is not a synonym for monotheism, despite the fact that it has the same etymological meaning.

Another word expressing the same idea is monolatry, which is based on the Greek roots monos (one), and latreia (service or religious worship). The term appears to have been first used by Julius Wellhausen to described a type of polytheism in which just a single god is worshiped but where other gods are accepted as existing elsewhere. Many tribal religions fall into this category.

Pantheism The word pantheism is built from the Greek roots pan (all) and theos (god); thus, pantheism is either a belief that the universe is God and worthy of worship, or that God is the sum total of all there is and that the combined substances, forces, and natural laws that we see around us are therefore manifestations of God. The early Egyptian and Hindu religions are regarded as pantheistic, and Taoism is also sometimes considered a pantheistic belief system.

Panentheism The word panentheism is Greek for “all-in-God,” pan-en-theos. A panentheistic belief system posits the existence of a god that interpenetrates every part of nature but which is nevertheless fully distinct from nature. This god is, therefore, part of nature, but at the same time still retains an independent identity.

Impersonal Idealism In the philosophy of Impersonal Idealism, universal ideals are identified as god. There are elements of impersonal idealism, for example, in the Christian belief that "God is love," or the humanist view that "God is knowledge."

Autotheism The term ''autotheism'' is composed of two parts: the prefix, ''auto,'' and the root/suffix combination, ''theism.'' ''Auto'' means ''self, one's own, by oneself.'' So, autotheism is the belief that one is a god themself. It has also been described as someone who mistakes one's inner voices as God's voice within them.

Kathenotheism The belief that there are many gods, but only one deity at a time should be worshipped, each being supreme in turn.

Ditheism (or Duotheism) The belief in two equally powerful gods, often, but not always, with complementary properties and in constant opposition, such as God and Goddess in Wicca, or Good and Evil in Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. The early mystical religion Gnosticism is another example of a ditheistic belief of sorts, due to their claim that the thing worshipped as God in this world is actually an evil impostor, but that a true benevolent deity worthy of being called "God" exists beyond this world.

Misotheism The belief that gods exist, but that they are actually evil. The English word was coined by Thomas de Quincey in 1846. Strictly speaking, the term connotes an attitude of hatred towards the god or gods, rather than making a statement about their nature.

Dystheism The belief that gods exist, but that they are not wholly good, or possibly even evil (as opposed to eutheism, the belief that God exists and is wholly good). Trickster gods found in polytheistic belief systems often have a dystheistic nature, and there are various examples of arguable dystheism in the Bible.

Animism Animism is the idea that all things—animate and inanimate—possess a spirit or an essence. First coined in 1871, animism is a key feature in many ancient religions, especially of indigenous tribal cultures. Animism is a foundational element in the development of ancient human spirituality, and it can be identified in different forms throughout major modern world religions.

Totemism Totemism is a system of belief in which man is believed to have kinship with a totem or a mystical relationship is said to exist between a group or an individual and a totem. A totem is an object, such as an animal or plant that serves as the emblem or symbol of a kinship group or a person. The term totemism has been used to characterize a cluster of traits in the religion and in the social organization of many primitive peoples.

[thecouncilsinsideblog]

I just recieved an advertisement for religion and I am... amused (/derogatory).

Ah yes, let's give the demonic alter with religious trauma a message praising the thing that helped form it (/sarcasm).

It isn't any of my business what others do or believe in; I do not care as long as it doesn't hurt my headmates.

But I am... displeased with the irony.

[dwarfiarty]

If I could, I would curb stomp God til my foot was a flesh bag of broken bones

[apenitentialprayer]

If there are gods to listen, they are monstrous gods who torment us for their sport. Who else would make a world like this, so full of bondage, blood, and pain? Who else would shape us as they have?

Tyrion Lannister (George R.R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons, page 835)

[vampiretheology]

On the Nature of God

TL;DR: People read the made in God's image thing to mean humanity is good. The far more reasonable interpretation is that God isn't.

Gen 1:26 - Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

This differentiation of image and likeness conveys the idea that mankind is made deliberately similar to God, not just in physical body, but in action and function (and yes, the difference exists in the Hebrew as well). Where God claims dominion over the world, mankind claims dominion over all animal life. In so paralleling, scripture informs us that we can get a glimpse of the nature of God simply by looking at ourselves.

Mankind has great capacity for many things, but not all are good. Sure, we may have great capacity for love, but if God were only love we certainly couldn't be called his likeness. We have spectacular capacity for becoming overly controlling, manipulative, jealous, abusive, and deceptive. Many of which are traits we see God openly exhibit in scripture.

I find it odd how little capacity those who claim to follow the Bible have when it comes to accepting that their god might not always be truthful with them. He might not always have their best interest at heart. Even from the first chapter of the first book we see the subtle warning that all the evil man might do, God might just do as well. And one of those evils, in fact arguably the first one man displays, is deception.

My best and only response to a biblical literalist is simply this: "Yes, but he could very well have been lying." Do I know that he was - no, but neither can you be certain he wasn't. If the question itself is God's honesty, no scriptural refutation is possible, only blind faith. I do not doubt that your god exists - I doubt that he is good, that he is truthful, and that he is alone. He could have literally said everything you quote - but who's to say he's being honest? You've experienced his voice, even his miracles - great, I never refuted his existence, I never doubted his ability to grant miracles, but I also have no reason that his motives are noble, or even to believe he is alone in the capacity to grant miracles. The only evidence is that of his own hollow words, and I do not accept them.

You wish to dedicate your life and your soul to him - more power to you, I certainly won't get in the way. Just don't try to force me along for the ride.

[mumblingsage]

Each Moment a White Bull Steps Shining into the World

If the gods bring to you a strange and frightening creature, accept the gift as if it were one you had chosen.

Say the accustomed prayers, oil the hooves well, caress the small ears with praise.

Have the new halter of woven silver embedded with jewels. Spare no expense, pay what is asked, when a gift arrives from the sea.

Treat it as you yourself would be treated, brought speechless and naked into the court of a king.

And when the request finally comes, do not hesitate even an instant—

Stroke the white throat, the heavy, trembling dewlaps you've come to believe were yours, and plunge in the knife.

Not once did you enter the pasture without pause, without yourself trembling. That you came to love it, that was the gift.

Let the envious gods take back what they can.

-Jane Hirshfield 

[doctor-seamonster]

Yaldabaoth is a dickhead and you're a fool for showing him any deference at all.

You heard me.

[kyliaquilor]

Anxiety is evidence for the case against the existence of a loving god.

[twatkcox]

[TWATKRant 19]

This post may not be for everyone. Read at your own risk. Just don't sue me for blasphemy, all right?

It's bad enough that I was born into an extremely dysfunctional family, but putting me through the worst challenges and having to deal with a toxic family is just way too much. My anxiety increased with each passing day, and God doesn't really care much about it, as long as he's enjoying seeing me suffer. Makes me want to raise my middle finger to him and tell him to disappear. If I have those religious items (luckily, I have none), those would end up in the trash. I have no regard for those.

Yes, I officially did become a misotheist, because God keeps putting me in an extremely difficult situation, without any sign of hope or restoration. All he does is put people in the most difficult situations and won't do anything. See, that's the reason why some people hate God.

Yeah, the good things that happened in my life are basically just flukes. In reality, God is nothing but a bully.

So I'm about to turn 33 in a couple of months. I'm not really excited about this since I couldn't enjoy the things I used to. Again, middle finger to God.

Is it really necessary to celebrate birthdays? Well, I don't feel like celebrating it. I don't need your f***ing birthday greetings. Just leave me be.

Adding another number to my age makes me want to curse this life. I'd had enough. I'll just treat my birthday as an ordinary day from this point forward. After all, my life isn't worth celebrating. I'm tired of it already. Besides, I won't probably last long, anyway.

I hate myself, I hate my family, I hate God, I hate the Catholic Church... and of course, I hate my life. Oh, and that sign of the cross thing whenever I passed by a church? It's just for show.

I don't understand how some religious people are more judgemental than those who aren't. I mean, posting bible quotes and anything related to God or that JC doesn't make you a good person after all. You guys are more than hypocrites, in fact, you are all disgusting.

Is it bad enough that I keep suffering like this? To hell with whoever is making my life miserable. You f****ing inconsiderate people should be put on trial for emotional and verbal torture.

I'm proud to be irreligious, and I'll keep it that way. Who needs a (fake) savior like God, anyway?

That said, I'm hoping for the passage of the divorce bill (f***ing Catholic Church always gets in the way despite the separation of church and state), and I support the LGBT+ community. I've probably been excommunicated anyway, so there's no need for me to hold back.

Having my say, I guess I should just take some time off from all of the negativity in life. And no, I don't need your birthday greetings less than two months from now. Just f*** off already.

My life totally sucks. It's just that I was born into the wrong family, still living with an unrepentant old fart who should've died a long time ago, and my brother who doesn't seem to care about my well-being and treated me as a worthless slave. I'm not sure about my sister-in-law, though, but I'll just believe what my mom says about her. Besides, I trust my mom a hundred times more than the ones I'm living with right now. I wish I could've lived independently from them, that should make things a whole lot better.

I should've just killed myself years ago, but I couldn't. Something tells me that wasn't the right time yet. Maybe soon. Maybe not. But I can only say that I absolutely hated my life as much as I hate God or the Catholic Church. Or my f***ing dad who is nothing more than a bad influence on my brother and is a real bother to everyone in the house. If something happens to me, I hope I wouldn't wake up. F*** it all, I'm done with this bull**it!

P.S.: My life is too messed up to come up with such disturbing thoughts. I hope what you've read won't compel you to seek help for me. I'm doing fine, at the very least.

[blood-orange-juice]

""On Phanes, or The Primordial One" The Primordial One may have been Phanes. It had wings and a crown, and was birthed from an egg, androgynous in nature. But for the world to be created, the egg's shell had to be broken. However, Phanes, the Primordial One, used the eggshell to separate the "universe" and the "microcosm of the world.""

If it reads like an Utena reference that's because Utena is too a manual on Gnostic heresies. A demiurge creating a fake flawed/evil reality that needs to be transcended in some way. The world's shell needs to be broken.

(also the sky being fake, the hole in the sky in Canotila's book, etc. the legend is pretty much confirmed)

And then we have the Festering Desire lore.

This was a story from long ago… Unborn life, unfulfilled wishes, Tragic dreams at the edge of the universal darkness that could never come true, Indwell my body, and descend unto this world.

And I can't help but feel like it's somehow connected.

Was the act of creating Teyvat somehow harmful to the universe outside of it? I keep thinking how everyone who descends to the Abyss comes out with a story of some unimaginable wrong, something unfair (that they never describe), and maybe that's the unfairness in question?

That wouldn't be very gnostic but hey.

Also from the Travails trailer (translated from Chinese):

"Yet smoldering remains lie buried underneath the foundations of reality"

So either something was destroyed to create Teyvat or some catastrophe (Ḩ̶͖̪̣͍̤̩̰̠̻̙̤̑̾ȏ̵͔͓̄̆̏͆͐̚ń̷͔̦̜̞̂̓k̸̛͕̣̯̦̻͈̘̬̻̰̩̟̹̏̍͌̑͒̍͒̊͝͝ͅͅȁ̶̙̘̻͓̳̱̈́̿̽̉̽̂̉̈̆͌͘̕͠i̸̡͉̣̗̟͕̳̠̪̽̈́́̑̂̔́̇͒̐̐̋) happened in the outside world and Teyvat is just a dream of the dying.

[apenitentialprayer]

So anti-Catholics will literally make anything up to make us look crazy, won’t they?

[puissantveil]

Re: Tarkat disease

CW: fictional genocide (albeit in an unconventional manner)

At first I thought "oh, that's a clever reference to Mileena's past Tarkatan genetics" and left it at that. But people smarter than me have brought up the possibility that Liu Kang turned the Tarkatan people, with their own culture, their own set of values, their own sexual practices even...and turned them into a literal disease.

What a swell dude.

Bastard didn't even think to spare Mileena.

I really hope this isn't the case, and it's just a coincidence, but if it is they better not play it straight. I hope they approach this from a dystheist (i.e. the supreme being isn't completely good and sure as shit isn't perfect) perspective, or reveal that some things are locked in stone by fate, or that Liu Kang fucked up real big when he made this wonderful decision /s

I hope we see some Tarkatans in MK1, if only to put such a horrible idea to rest.

[ceasarslegion]

Im an atheistic satanist myself but christians who think god would be anti-abortion are either stupid as fuck or havent read their own holy book

First off, how many cities and tribes and people in general has god smited from existence for one reason or another? Dude's not exactly into the sanctity of life or whatever when it's someone he doesn't like

Second, if an anti-abortion god created all of human biology, you'd think miscarrying wouldn't be a biological failsafe to save the pregnant person's health or life in the event of a potential problem with the embryo. You'd also think that billions of sperm wouldn't be doomed to perish after an egg gets fertilized or that that same sperm wouldn't be constantly purged and recycled in the testes to keep them fresh and in good shape for someone who doesn't ejaculate regularly. And what the hell are stillbirths if your god is so anti-abortion?

Plus I thought he was omnipotent and could see all including all of time, do you really think he'd be bamboozled by sending the cure for cancer in the brain of an embryo he knew would be aborted? Fuck off

[dawndelion-winery]

Tell Me I'm Enough

Scaramouche × GN! Reader

Warning: Misotheism?, sort of angsty, Scara's self deprecating, heresy, unhealthy coping mechanisms, unhealthy relationship dynamic, isekai'd reader

Scara often looked at how the people of Inazuma (or any of the seven nations, reall,) fawned over their archon; how they would readily entrust their lives to their god, believing the seven to be all powerful and capable of solving all their worries. Oh how he scoffed at them all.

Powerful though they were, the archons of Teyvat were hardly the all loving gods their people seemed to believe they were. They're doing what they think best? They're trying? Well it wasn't enough. Not to Scara, at least. God...God was someone perfect...someone devoid of any flaws, capable of overseeing their devotees with faultless precision. God wasn't someone who let their people suffer.

Of that much Scara was absolutely certain. It was only fair given the devotion and adoration the people had for their god. He'd definitely never be so careless if people put their unwavering trust and belief in him.

Yet...despite his disdain, he didn't quite fault the people for their faith. After all, he too had been one of them once, wandering blindly, hoping his creator - his mother - would guide his way, for surely she must have had a plan for him to have brought him into the world. He'd clung to the desperate hope that as bleak and empty as he felt, having been abandoned for not being ethereal enough, his god might pity him enough to nudge him on the right path. But she didn't.

Day by day, his hope dwindled, his faith turned to resentment - a bitter, vengeful resentment, stemmed from a feeling of deeply rooted betrayal. How could the being who had created him, the one responsible for his existence, be so cruel? So careless with him?

It seemed like a slap in the face, a dunk in freezing water, an ice shard shredding through his torso the day he'd finally met you. Scara was on his knees, his pretty, porcelain face streaked with tears like cracks, the light in his eyes all but extinguished. He resembled a broken doll, and that very well might have been what he was. He looked so helpless when you'd reached a hand out to him and he'd looked at you with such anguish you felt your heart crack. He was cold, untrusting at first, for why wouldn't he be? But the longer you stuck around, the more it felt like you were the greatest constant in his life.

He found you strange. You hardly slept, and when you did, you seemed to hibernate for weeks. You seemed so close to him, so attentive, and yet so unreachable. In all his pursuits to become a god that'd surpass his mother, they never quite came close to the way he viewed you. Your touch, so light and warm on his hair and cheek, your voice like the pattering drops of rain, and your smile, so fulfilling and heart stopping it couldn't be real...surely this was the solace he sought? The "god" he'd begged for over the centuries?

You'd thought nothing of his clinginess at first, enjoying the attention your favourite character lavished upon you. However, even your delusions couldn't hold up under his persistence. He seemed obsessed with being deemed worth your attention and care, like it was all he had left. Like it was all he was good for.

Of course, you had to ask him about it.

"You're my god. My religion-"

You cut him off right off the bat. "I'm not."

And with that, it was like he'd been lied to all over again. But not by you, of course not you; the fault could never be yours. Yes, it had to be because of him, of his foolish naivety. Had he upset you? He hoped not. What else had he to turn to? Who else had he to hold on to? You'd never been anything short of patient with him, even in the early days when he'd treated you with nothing but caution and suspicion. If nothing else, that mercy alone was enough.

"It doesn't matter if you aren't...I've no one else...so let me be enough for you...please..."

Taglist: @myluvkeiji @aqui-soba @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @gensimping-for-all @irethepotato @almond-adeptus @mx-kamisato @chaosinanutshell @heizours @haliyamori @callmemeelah @sadlonelybagel @plinkuro @thevictoriousmoon @mastering-procrastinating @missesclaus @cxlrose @miss-fantazmagoria @astrequa @kokomist @lemonswriting @eowinthetraveller @ajaxstar @boundedbyfate @the-lost-anime-dad @ash-astrophel @moonbyunniee @greyrain23 @heavenlyfloof

[melit0n]

Something that irks me within The Oh Hellos fandom (and Half·Alive because I'm gonna talk about them too) is people who listen to their music, mainly starting off with Solider, Poet, King because that is arguably their most popular song for multiple different reasons, say they really like it, and then find out The Oh Hellos' are Christian based (similar to Half·Alive), and then suddenly they say they hate it.

(ranting and explanation under the cut)

Like yeah, Solider, Poet, King is originally written about Jesus (and his supposed second coming) and or about Judas, Mary Magdalene and Jesus (Judas=soldier, M.M=poet, Jesus=king), but I don't underestand why that has an effect on people liking it (A). Or even religious people getting straight up mad about others misinterpreting Soldier, Poet, King, or misinterpreting the song themselves in general (B).

(A). This is like, one of the hundreds of comments I scrolled through on just a lyric video for Solider, Poet, King. Like come on.

(B). Taken from @lovejoycdinnit post which inspired this rant.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why some people are adverse to Christianity, coming from someone who was raised on Catholic Christianity, I can easily understsand the traumas that revolve around the religion, and, considering how many Christians act, the general hatred towards them as well. But instead of denoting the song, just because it's Christian and you've got issues with the religion, think about how many layers that adds. In The Oh Hellos' music, they constantly preach about forgiveness, kindness and loyalty, especially in their newest albums (I mean, take a listen to Soap from Zephyrus).

Same can be said with Half·Alive's Creature. People will listen to it, say it's really good, immediately put it into their character playlist (either OC or fandom character), maybe even find themselves in that song and then find out Half·Alive is based within the religious faith held by the main singer, and suddenly people don't like it.

Further, people need to stop being hypocrites when it comes to religious bands and or musicians who take ideas from the Bible for their work and say they like them, but not others. It's impossible to say Hozier and Ethel Cane for their religious ideals and ideas they take out of different Holy Books, but then dislike The Oh Hellos and Half·Alive for the pure fact of being religious.

Just because the songs are religious (either about general faith, or Jesus Himself) doesn't mean they can't be about your blorbos anymore! Solider, Poet, King can still be about your DnD characters, your group of friends, your own OCs or just fandom characters in general. Creature can still be about your DnD characters, your struggle with being human in a mental and physical sense, your own OCs or fandom characters. It legitimately doesn't matter. I get finding out the true meaning of a song can make people dislike it, but when it's specifically religious that's just straight up wrong. At that point it's just misotheism.