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As more and more people struggle to find their spiritual path many are leaning towards being eclectic, much to the dismay of many who follow "traditional" paths. Do you believe that mixing and matching of pantheons in spiritual paths is a good thing and an effective path or do you believe that a person should study one path and stay true to that?

Personally what I see a lot of is people who try to cover as many bases as they can. However it is not always for spiritual reasons, in most cases it is just a social gimmick. The more groups one identifies with, the more social functions that person can potentially attend.

It's just beings discovering themselves. In this world and age it is difficult to follow a strict path, unless one has tremendously strong Will. The Immortal Spirit in us grows and dies, is resurrected and goes through it all again. I believe this life is about the quest of immortality. What that is I am not sure.

There is a saying in Zen that says something like, "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!"

In other words, you can't rely on gurus or spiritual masters or so-called spiritual paths, you must find enlightenment (whatever that is) on you own, experience it for yourself. The words of another are just words, fingers pointing at the moon.

Well, the story is somewhat helpful, I suppose, except that Buddha never said anything about any gods, or a soul, or reincarnation, or any of the other beliefs common to the Hinduism of his day, except to shoot them down. (But he did, according to the tale, establish orders of monks and nuns, i.e., followers)

Like the Buddha, I'm an atheist (educated monks view him as such, and see the Buddhist 'gods' and 'demons' as projections of the human psyche), so I am interested in 'spiritual' paths only from an academic (psychology, history, etc.) point of view, or for any practical advice that can be gleaned.

I would not venture to speculate as to why people adopt the religious views they say they believe in, and as for myself, I am content to be entirely on my own in these matters. Holy books, teachers, gurus, priests, churches, etc., none of these mean anything to me at all, because I find no real evidence for their claims.

If you are looking for "eclectic," then I suppose the so-called "New Age" movement will provide you with ample material. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet, so just pile your plate as high as you like!

Well it depends on what you mean as New Age. Not everyone falls under that umbrella really. It is just used as a derogatory word for groups who believe in certain things that others don't agree with. It amazes me how many fell into Eastern thought and take it like it is gospel. They have mixed it into metaphysical views. Some other things have been absorbed in favor of westernization such as Yoga which is an integral part of the spiritual path of Hinduism. There was a lawsuit in San Diego by Christians over adding a yoga class to gym. They said it was part of a religious path and should not be allowed in public schools. They lost because the judge didn't see it that way but he was wrong.

There are so many things we take for granted that are popular now that no one was even talking about when I was a kid in the fifties. Most of the eclectic following I see is connected to Wicca which wasn't even heard of when I was a young adult following the spiritualist movement in Southern CA. Now so many are involved in that including a lot of vampires which I have always found rather amusing. You don't know what they believe because it is just as described...very eclectic as is magick these days. I have always been interested in Traditional witchcraft but not Wicca for some reason. I don't equate the two as being the same. I believe one is inspired in some ways from the other but simply overall are nothing alike. The views on what they are vary as well.

I saw it coming with what I call the fads. I saw all the metaphysical people doing a Book of something or other. I don't even remember now I think it was called "miracles" and then it was NLP and then Reiki and a list of other things. When I went to a Reiki demonstrtion by someone trying to get students I said no way. After the first level it cost $10,000. I'm all for paying for someone's time but that was too far over the top for me and I lost total interest. Having been a massage instructor and involved in body work, I felt it was a fad and just that and now that even has a zillion different forms which it did not back in the 70s. People like to incorporate things together. I think that is their nature. That is why even in the vampire community you see people using gaming words like Sire and now people just look the other way and say nothing.

I agree "eclectic" has come to mean non committed, and faddishly interested in. Everyone using isms as accessories seriously detracts from the basic tenants of the belief. However some isms allow people to take liberty with their system/dogmas/teachings.

..as the eyes of the followers become open about the hypocrisy within the path, the most easy will be to change it. every path is the wrong path if the free will to follow it is blocked by rules and regulation, created by the elder, so they control, the outcome of the congregation...

I think that it is very difficult to define ourselves since spirituality is always evolving like we evolve in the course of life.... I know a lot of people who assume such title simply because they feel that their spirituality is always evolving as they continue their life path, something which I associate myself to even though I don't assume titles. As long as the person is OK with the way they are living their lives and there is always respect, well why not.

I think people becoming eclectic is because there are so many hypocrites in all religions that they think why should I follow them? I am what I call a Nordic Christian. Just like my uncle I have intertwined the Nordic religion and Christianity, which I do not believe to be a religion (I have many reasons for this and I know many of you will try to prove me wrong or what not. But know that I don't care and if you know what I do then you might agree. I will gladly explain myself just ask me). At any rate I have given the personalities of the main nordic gods to the christian god because the christian god is not a pussy as other make him out to be. and that valhalla is my heaven but above all I am a christian and proud of it. Like I said at the beginning there are so many hypocrites that even I struggle with it. But because others have ruined the christian name doesn't mean I should let it ruin my faith. That's my two cents and the change do is 32.82 in change.

good thing in my opinon, i rather be happy and try alot of different things, than to try one thing and be miserable for the rest, adventure is key, go with the flow life is short

every individuall is different and their own will.my religion is small and getting smaller but its the one i beleive it

So far as a path there is the seeking at first but I think one needs to settle on something sooner or later,I've felt the power of an egregore and that takes a certain amount of commitment.Traditional paths seem to have more power behind them.So far as magical technique you do what works and discard what doesn't.From an absolute point of view there is no path,there are no methods."That which I am seeking I am."