Buddhism & Pantheistic/Monistic Eclectic Wicca

[WickedMolasses]

So anyone who knows me knows that I am basically Atheist, but unlike many christians i've met seem to believe, that doesn't mean that I have no beliefs. I have a personal philosophy; it is a working process that evolves from day to day, but generally I know what I believe. I continue to study other belief systems however in an attempt to a) give a more strict definition to my beliefs, and b) if I find a system that seems compatible, use to help guide my own philosophical/spiritual development. Spirituality is not necissarily theistic - I believe it can exist without a great supreme being lording over us with a host of angels however.Anyways, for a while actually I've looked into buddism, and lately I've become very strongly interested in it. It has also led to me explore similar religions. I recently started looking at the more panthestic/monistic form of the wiccan religions (so no, I am not the teen goth looking to ride broomsticks and cast love spells :P ), which acutally has many basic ideas similar to buddhism - with perhaps more focus on the spirituality of nature. The pantheistic interpretation, as I understand thus far, may still refer to a "god & goddess", but they are used more as symbols of earth - in essense, the Earth itself (nature, life, energy, etc) is a "god", if you will. This god & goddess, therefore, are creators insomuch as everything comes from the earth; but not in the sense of these outside dieties looking down and manipulating our world.And now that I've rambled on; my point is that I've decided to undertake a serious study of these two religions/philosophies (depends on how you define each, I suppose). Perhaps I'll settle against both once and for all, or perhaps I'll gain a specific definition of the belief system I hold now. I guess I'll find out.