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Lv 4

Is there such a thing as fundamentalist Gaianism?

I've recently been having a little think about this. The name "Gaianism" is a bit a convenience label admittedly.

Most people don't really understand what Gaia was to the ancient Greeks; for some reason people think of Zeus and his assorted siblings when they think of Greek religion. This is probably because these guys were bratty kids and like young princes/princesses went out and about getting into trouble (at least metaphorically). However, at the top of this was Gaia, she was the mother of the entire pantheon, she was the ultimate judge of the gods, and her name was the most honored by both gods and humans. I'm only saying this because the Greeks were technically the last people that believed in a female creator being; the Romans got this bit wrong, being more into the shenanigans of the grandchildren and placing Terra into a minor role.

The reason I'm saying this is because it is completely at odds with abrahmic religions, in fact it is diametrically opposed to it.

Think about it, the very first lines in their bible talks about their god just mumbling things into existence: "let there be light" and suddenly an unprecedented type of electromagnetic radiation appears, it seems unlikely. It's somehow easier to imagine that all of creation as a pregnancy.

When I think about it, it makes far more sense than anything that any christian can spout at me. The Universe started as a single point that rapidly expanded and grew more complex with systems added as time goes on: just like gestation. Things like Evolution aren't even debated because it is a simple fact. Evolution is a built-in process that develops not only more complicated life forms but, because of this complexity, more complicated consciousness's as well. In other words evolution allows for greater apprehension of creation. This also applies to technological innovation, which is a kind of evolution.

I'm still thinking about all this so maybe I'll provide updates as I go, maybe not. All I'm trying to get to is a viable alternative to the masculine beard-mumbling creator with something that people can at least relate to. I guess that people who can't relate to a mother figure should be pitied.

Of course, like all religions, none of this is true. It is only true for me.

Update:

@Corey; Yeah, me.

Update 2:

@jl: I've read up on Gaia Theory and agree. The difference is that it relates to the physical while I'm talking about the metaphysical, just saying.

@Phoebe: two things: (a) I'm not really interested in exchanging ideas, pretty much like you aren't. (b) You say that your god transcends gender, but this idea is only a modern one: an attempt to appease people. I note that later in your own paragraph you say "His wondrous creation", it seems old habits die hard. Face it, the only way your god can transcend gender is to be transgender.

Update 3:

@jl: with whom are you trying to contact?

3 Answers

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  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Gaianism is no longer connected to the Greek Gods. It is a modern concept called Gaia Theory (yes, an actual theory that was formerly a hypothesis). It states that the Earth is a living thing in it's own right and we are merely a part of this super organism. It maintains homeostasis through negative feedback systems just like all organisms.

    As for a religion, our aim is to be aware of a greater purpose, and perhaps get individual "contact". This can be done through meditation and/ or ritual or even prayer.

    Source(s): "Gaia Theory", "daisyworld", "James Lovelock"
  • ?
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    When you use mocking imagery like "beard-mumbling", you demonstrate an unseemly prejudice that precludes respectful meeting of minds and polite exchange of ideas. We can just as easily encumber your Gaea narrative with ridiculous snarky images of bitchy mood swings and cravings for Gorgon pickles and ambrosia fro-yo.

    Names are many, but God is One and transcends gender, whether you call Him or Her, by name of Brahma, Gaea, Quetzalcoatl or YHWH. I call Him God and I acknowledge that all the creation-stories ever are just human attempts to make sense of His wondrous creation. Some myths are primitive and some sophisticated, some glorify matriarchal values of relationships and essence while others glorify patriarchal values of artifice and action.

  • Corey
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    The etymology of "fundamentalism" is a fundamental interpretation of some particular scripture. Is there some particular scripture you get that from? It's been a while since I've read Hesiod, but but what you describe doesn't sound like what he wrote. It sounds more like someone in the 20th or 21st century CE came up with it.

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