I can think of places it's not allowed into: a courtroom, an operating theatre. Is that the kind of thing you're talking about?

Not exactly. I was thinking more in terms of actual worship, rather than everyday life. I'm really only coming at it from a western Christian perspective, where worship takes place in a church, but the God is everywhere. I was wondering if sometimes (say in polytheistic religions) the God(s) are entirely associated with one place, and not thought to be present away from there.

Crap. Now I have to leave work early as I'm getting a lift. But I will read people's ideas when I get home! Assuming people care about my ridiculous theoretical questions...

What's really interesting to me is that it would never have occurred to me to think that the Divine is limited in any way...especially by place...and I'm not even particularly bought into the western Christian model. But I guess growing up in the USian culture means being steeped in the notion, regardless.

When I teach classes at the church though, one of the things I have to remind the very Christian participants over and over again is that, if they believe in a Plan, the Plan must be in place all the time. The classic, 'when is God ever on a coffee break and why does it always seem to be when YOUR stuff is up for review?"

I guess my best stab at the actual question though...albeit from a pretty ignorant stance, would be the only place I've ever seen Divine held to place was in Tokyo. Shrines on many corners, never entered unless for weddings and funerals. The rest of the time, very, very little spiritual inspection of any kind. At least among the people I met.

So, here's a random - Are we allowed to confine the divine in any way? Liminal spaces within which the divine resides and is not allowed out of?

Some wise old Presbyterian Minister said to me once that "The only blasphemy is underestimating the diety." I wish I could remember which one or knew where he got it.

I was wondering if sometimes (say in polytheistic religions) the God(s) are entirely associated with one place, and not thought to be present away from there.

I know there is a concept of household gods (Rome maybe?) but I don't know if they protected you IN the household or members of the household regardless of where they were.

Jars, I don't think humans can limit the divine to any one space--I know there are "holy places" and churches, etc. But I think that's a more human need to define or worship or confine activities, or even to prove how much you love your god or how rich your community is (in the case of cathedrals, etc.) and to draw others into it.

When a miracle happens somewhere and a shrine springs up, it's not that the divine is limited to that space, but it helps the humans to know it's there and to worship there.

It's an interesting topic to think about, though. When you consider the time, effort and expense put into places of worship. But you can't restrict an omipotent, omnipresent being, right?

The divine doesn't have to be omnipotent and omnipresent, though, does it?

Any creative ideas for finding house cleaning service employee candidates?

The Union?

Well, that's the big question. If the divine is omnipresent (and I think in many traditions that might be true) than it is not able to be confined? I think I'm confusing myself.

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The divine doesn't have to be omnipotent and omnipresent, though, does it?

No, definitely not. IM(limited)E, for example, there's Changing Woman, who lived in a hogan in my backyard. Literally in my backyard. I lived at the base of Huerfano Mountain (Dzil na'odilii), which is where she was supposed to have made her home.

For a while. She was clearly not limited in other ways, grew up in four days, hit puberty, married the sun. She aged, but could regenerate. But she was supposed to be in a very specific geographic location for a time.

I don't think of the god of the sea as omnipotent or omnipresent--s/he has their domain of power.