Sunday’s Homily: “All Paths Lead to the Same Destination”

Thoughts On: “All Paths Lead to the Same Destination”

Earlier today that question was posed on an IMM forum that I’m a member of. My initial response was:

I think everyone has their own view about what that destination is, but I think it’s a true statement. I don’t believe in “God” or “heaven”. So when I say it’s the same destination I think of the Divine Universal Consciousness.

From a non-pagan perspective a Catholic friend of mine said to me once “If God is truly the All; than he/she/it has the ability to be all things to all people. God can be anything, anywhere, anytime and in anyplace.”

Perhaps we all believe in the same thing, but we simply have different names for it. But how it’s applied is still about your own personal perspective from belief and experience.

As the discussion emerged it was clear that there are many views on the phrase and each one seemed to have a strong individualistic perspective that, in some cases, didn’t allow for flexibility. In other words, if you didn’t hold the understanding behind the right path, you could not reach the ultimate destination. So does that mean that not all paths lead to same destination? Or does that mean only certain paths have the key through the Divine doorway?

My Thoughts On “God”
When you say there is only one “God” others may ask which one. Because “God” is a job title, not a name. And there in lies the issue. The one “God” to you may not be the same as the one “God” to another.

Additionally, there are some that will be offended by the categorization of the ‘male’ “God” vs “Goddess”. This is one reason I don’t like using that label for the Divine. The concept of “God” in western civilizations is that we’re referring to “God the Father” or Yahweh. Many people feel a strong resentment to that assumption, along with a measure of persecution.

Oberon Zell wrote in his famous article “We Are The Other People”
(Genesis 1:26): The [Elohim] said, “Let us make humanity in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.” (Elohim is a plural word, including male and female, and should properly be translated “Gods” or “Pantheon.”) (1: 27) The Gods created humanity in the image of themselves, In the image of the Gods they created them, male and female they created them.“

Now clearly, here we are talking about the original creation of the human species: male and female. all the animals, plants, etc. have all been created in previous verses. This is before the Garden of Eden, and Yahweh is not mentioned as the creator of these people.

Within most pagan practices the Divine is the whole, the all, the everything. Pantheon groups (such as the Greek Gods) are attempts to recognize or identify with smaller or specific aspects of that Divine force. Today these pantheons are used to honor those aspects, not worship, as worship applies the Divine is outside the self. By honoring the Divine we are recognizing the part of self within as a representation of the greater Divine force. We are honoring our own Divinity and acknowledging our connection to the greater Divine Universe.

Which brings us to yet another consideration. The difference between the thought that the Divine is a force outside of ourselves. Something separate and distinct from our spirit/soul. Versus the thought that we are part of the Divine already because we and everything, seen and unseen, known and unknown make up what the Divine force/energy is. Without me or you or any part of the “multi-verse”, the Divine cannot exist. We are all Divine because we are all part of what makes up the Divine consciousness.

Now in some context what you call that Divine force in your life can imply not only a perspective of your journey through life, but also a complete framework of understanding of that life and its spiritual connection or path. How you are part of or connected to the Divine, how you interaction with that force on your spiritual path, and perhaps even which path you feel drawn to or feel is the right ‘true’ path for you can all be formed in what label you use to identify the Divine in your life.I think that is ok, as long as you allow others to walk their own parallel path that’s right for them in return. Which could be totally different from yours.

So when we ask the question “What are your thoughts on the phrase ‘All Paths Lead to the Same Destination’?” consider these variations in perspective. How would you answer that question now?