MYSTICISM

I, like William James, see personal religious/spiritual experience having its roots and center in mystical states of consciousness. If, like me, you've had this (belonging to the universe feeling of Oneness?) experience, you'll respect my characterization: 1) it can't be adequately described in words, 2) it provides insight into fundamental Truth—perhaps that perception of discrete objects and the passage of time are illusions, 3) it can't be sustained for long, 4) it makes me feel passive—as if grasped by a superior power (God?) Not sensing distinct gods or deities, in rare perfect moments I feel union with an undifferentiated whole.

POLYTHEISM, ANIMISM, PAGAN

I believe in the existence of many gods. While not all of these deities are thought to have physical bodies or even be worthy of worship, some certainly are. Like humans, these deities are seen as having their own personality traits, needs, desires, etc, but with additional powers and, in some cases, supernatural attributes.  Many of us worship gods associated with particular objects (Sun, Moon, water, etc,) events (birth, death, etc,) or character types (hero, trickster, muse, etc.) Animists talk of gods inhabiting special places. For them nature is alive, with spirits animating both living and non-living things.