God/Goddess/The Universe/The Divine - which word do you all use?

[Emily]

Just curious. I guess I use all of those, depending on what I'm talking about and who I'm speaking with. They all show up in my journal.

I used to shy away from the term "God" because it's such a loaded word that calls up so many associations - some very negative - in so many people.

Now I'm mostly cool with the word God, on a personal level, but I don't use it in conversation much unless I know that's the word that whoever I'm talking to uses to describe the indescribable.

Same thing with "The Universe" though. Some people hear that and think, "New-agey mumbo jumbo."

It really is hard to try to put the infinite into words. :) "The name that can be named is not the eternal name." - Lao Tzu

[Peni]

I was raised Christian, but somehow developed a sense of feminism anyway;), and when I learned there is a FEMININE aspect to the Divine, I immediately resonated better with that than with the male-oriented, patriarchal God I was raised with.

[Emily]

Oh, and I love how the 13th-century Sufi mystic poet Rumi calls the Divine, "The Beloved," and "The Friend." Every time I read those words, I smile inside.

Book recommendation: Essential Rumi

[Richard]

"Every beauty which is seen here below by persons of perception resembles more than anything else that celestial source from which we all come..." ~Michelangelo

I resonate and use "the Source" ever since I read Wayne Dyer's, "The Power Of Intention". But, I'm not very hung up on names as Emily pointed out from the Tao, "the name that can be named is not the eternal name".

[Peni]

Oh Richard, would be nice to read your comments on our Tao Te Ching discussion!

[Starr]

Great point, Richard! I do like that Wayne Dyer isn't married to call the diving "the source" either. Just like everyone's relationship is different with their divine energy, so is the name that they choose to call the presence.