There’s a difference between believing that the gods (or God) is a different type of entity and thus operates on a different plane and believing that God (often a paternal figure) lives “on high” and looks down upon you. It’s a class difference that influences your worldview, including how you view your fellow humans and the creatures which share this planet. It creates a hierarchy whereby some people are “closer” to God than others and some people are above others because of God’s “favor”. It also means that at least part of the deity to which they pray doesn’t have the same human experience of being embodied on this planet. The deity cannot comprehend what it is like to live “down in the dirt” as it were and deal with the struggles of daily life such as food, shelter, healthcare, income inequalities, and everything which plagues our existence.
However, when that worldview shifts to having deities which walk among you, not just for a limited time, but for all times, then the dynamic changes. When we believe that we’re divine, that there is a spark of the universe within us, then we aren’t beneath the gods. We’re simply different from them, and in them we can see ourselves, and conversely, within us, the gods can see aspects of themselves.
It also means that we change how we treat our fellow humans and all the creatures. If the gods walk among us, then that stranger we meet on the street carries a spark of divinity within them. This we believe. It also means that stranger could be an embodied deity. We don’t know. I am a firm believer that we should honor the inherent dignity of all humans regardless of our spiritual views or lack thereof. That’s part of honoring the worthiness of each person, of believing that everyone is deserving of human rights. For me, it also happens to be part of my spiritual practice.
When we work within a framework of the gods walking with us, we can tap into our own divinity. We have helpers, partners in the journey. We move into a vision of freedom and liberation which sees the deities as friends, rather than as a parental or master figure. This doesn’t mean that the deities will always be kind to us. Just as a good friend can tell you some tough truths out of love, the deities will also provide hard lessons and reminders. But if it’s a relationship built on an understanding and coexistence, rather than a submission to a mighty ruler who acts in their own interests.
I encourage you to think about the gods walking with you, rather than above you, and think about how this will affect your own relationship with yourself, with others, and with the gods.