 I honor them regularly, appropriately. To go off your example, if I were ill, I would still see a doctor, but I would pray to Brighid to heal me, to guide the doctor to the right diagnosis/treatment, etcetera. I don't see physical action and religious action as being mutually exclusive; I can do both.
That's a very thought-provoking question. For me, I suppose it brings purpose to my otherwise boring life. I'm sure there are deeper reasons for why I believe and/or worship, but currently this is the only one I can come up with.
I don't see belief as something that has a point. The question doesn't make sense to me. Belief is not something I can choose to do or not do; thus, it neither has nor requires a point. It just is. There might be a reason to it, in the sense of "these are the factors that have convinced me that the Gods exist", but not in the sense of having some sort of point.
Beyond that, I'll simply refer to Juni's post, as I think she's expressed my thoughts on the question itself pretty well.
Why bother with friends or family? It's the same type of question to me.
If I'm sick I go to a doctor. If I need legal advice, a lawyer. If I want to feed my soul, I spend time with things that do that...friends, family, my gods, music, tai chi......
Having a relationship with the gods is not about "what can they do for me?". I wonder, do you feel the same way about other relationships in your life; based on what you get out of it?
Well, as I said, I was just playing Devil's advocate and no I don't have the attitude of what can you do for me. I think I should have phrased the question a little differently. What I was really getting at was the things we do in the physical seem to have a much more profound affect on us, for example, the doctor is a surer bet than a spiritual being.
As you said, I would imagine the one thing the physical world has a hard time of doing is "feeding the soul" so maybe that's the answer.
How do you know that the deities in question wouldn't cure you?
Agreed, which reminds me to add: Or that they aren't guiding the hands of those humans who would, or the research that led to the cure being discovered, or etc. etc. etc. I'd suggest that human involvement in solving a problem (medical or otherwise) doesn't exclude divine involvement in some way.
Ah, I missed the Devil's advocate reference. I am not unused to the voices of skeptics around me, but I am also a little sensitive to certain comments.
Unlike Scientology and some other more....... exclusionary.....belief systems, most people of faith have a balanced life, incorporating religious belief with their everyday life. So, we go to the doctor AND light a candle. In my experience, those who seek contact with deity draw comfort from them in times of need.
It is entirely possible too, that the physical world seems so much more profound because that is where your focus and energy is.
You bring up a good point though regarding balance. I was raised in a environment where if you did get sick, went to the doctor and got better, it was still God that got the credit. Which I think brings up a larger balance issue, I've known so many people that are so focused on their religion they do nothing else.
Now as for me I've been pretty stagnant spiritually, wrapped up in the immediate physical. I'm working on a balance though.
I am at this time agnostic, and have been agnostic or atheist for years. I periodically feel attracted to paganism, however. I think it means that I sense something missing within myself at certain points in my life, or something which needs attention or development or nourishment. Spirituality can feed the soul in a world where we feel disconnected.
But..maybe..they would cure the cause of your ilness?
If you heal the physical body, there still can be left hidden illness in the emotional body and even higher.
dis-ease will show itself somewhere else and maybe even stronger later on.
you can get rid of the cause and get rid of all of the symptoms at once.
But, naturally, cooperating with the doctor and supporting your body is a good idea at that time.
The same reason I bother writing and spending time with my mom. I wouldn't physically die if I stopped writing and spending time with people I love, but I'd rather die, because these are fundamental things that give my life meaning.
And the part about the doctor is very funny to me, because I rejected most forms of modern medicine years ago (for mostly non-religious reasons). If I were sick, I would ask the Goddesses and Gods to either heal me or guide me to the cure. If Hecate absolutely commanded me to go to a doctor I might consider it, but she'd have to threaten me pretty good.
11 certain conditions.
28 53A-6-501. Disciplinary action against educator.
39 related administrative action and provide findings and recommendations to the board.
41 opportunity for a hearing.
49 findings and recommendations.
51 required under this section.
61 (B) enrolled in a school where the person is employed.
64 against a minor child or] has exhibited other behavior which the board finds to be irremediable.Cancer Research UK's Race for Life returns to Lincolnshire this week. The event will take place at Lincolnshire Showground this Saturday, May 7.
Runners can choose from 3k, 5k and 10k events at Lincolnshire Showground this weekend. There is also a chance to take part in Pretty Muddy - a mud-splattered obstacle course - along with a Pretty Muddy Kids option.
The race helps raise money for Cancer Research, which continues to do vital work. Every year, around 29,400 people are diagnosed with cancer in the East Midlands and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime, according to recent figures.
Money raised at Race for Life enables scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer - helping to save more lives. Marianne Olier, Race for Life Lincoln spokesperson, said: “Everyone can play their part to help beat cancer.
"So, we’re asking people across the city: ‘Who will you Race for?’ Our Race for Life events are open to all.
"For some people, the Race for Life is literally a walk in the park - slow and steady still wins. For others, it’s a jog.

You can find out more about how to enter and fundraise here.
Press releases exist to let print, Web and broadcast editors know what’s going on in the community or an industry, so they can disseminate news to their audiences. A recent example was medical research that showed a decline in the obesity rate of young children. The CDC issued a press release, and the story made national news.
Sending a press release to local media outlets can lead to publicity on radio and TV newscasts or in articles for print and web publications. There is no guarantee the material will be used, of course, because of several factors, including timing, space availability and topic suitability. For instance, Business Lexington, being a monthly publication about business in central Kentucky, is not going to publish press release info about a new bakery opening up in Walla Walla, Wash., no matter how well that release was written.
Adding media outlets to your weekly e-blasts or monthly newsletters is different from sending a press release. The content written for websites and marketing materials is protected by copyright; trained journalists will not copy and paste that information into a story. By sending a specific email with the phrase “for immediate release” at the top, you are releasing — granting permission for — any of the ensuing words to be used verbatim.
Releasing also means letting go. Once you’ve hit “send” on the emailed press release, let it go. It will arrive in the intended editor’s inbox or not; it will be used or not. Following up with a phone call does not garner any brownie points.
The principles of writing a press release haven’t changed in a century. They consist of, in no particular order: Who is sending this information and why? What is newsworthy? When and where did it or will it happen? How can the community help or respond?
The logistics of sending a release, however, have changed dramatically. They were once mailed, and then faxed, often with an embargo date to give print publications time to catch up with broadcast outlets. Those technological days are behind us; magazines and newspapers can distribute information online as quickly as anyone else can.
During the past decade, press releases were often emailed at all hours of the day and night, because people would open email the next morning when they got to work. With the advent of smartphones and tablets, today’s best practice is to email a release — in the body of an email, with no attachments — during regular business hours.
Attachments are bulky and awkward, and no longer technically necessary. An email with the message “Please see the attached release” is often another way of saying “Please hit the delete button.”
If you have high-resolution photos or images available, upload them to an FTP or file-sharing program and include the link within the press release.
It doesn’t matter whether you call it a press release or a news release, because neither phrase will appear in your email. The