Non-Creator Gods and their Worshippers

Are there any anymore?

Are there any people who worship a god or goddess but don't consider them all-powerful or as an aspect of an all-powerful deity?

I'm thinking of how in the past people would worship a goddess of the hearth, or pay homage to the nymph of a stream. Today it seems that everyone, even pagans, are monotheistic to a degree in that they in general consider their gods and goddess as manifestations of aspects of a greater monist deity. Or have I got that wrong?

Halcyon said:

Are there any anymore?

Are there any people who worship a god or goddess but don't consider them all-powerful or as an aspect of an all-powerful deity?

I'm thinking of how in the past people would worship a goddess of the hearth, or pay homage to the nymph of a stream. Today it seems that everyone, even pagans, are monotheistic to a degree in that they in general consider their gods and goddess as manifestations of aspects of a greater monist deity. Or have I got that wrong?

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You got it wrong ^_^, well for the most part. Sadly it seem that's all anyone ever hears about even when it comes to Pagans. There are many (Hard) Polytheist out there that believe that each god and goddess is there own being.

Azakel said:

You got it wrong ^_^, well for the most part. Sadly it seem that's all anyone ever hears about even when it comes to Pagans. There are many (Hard) Polytheist out there that believe that each god and goddess is there own being.

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Cool. So, in these Hard Polytheist belief systems, is it usual to have one creator god/dess or supreme deity like Zeus as king of the gods or are there systems where the gods are nothing to do with creating the universe?

If there are examples of the latter, what are these gods considered to be, like are they believed to be trans-dimensional beings, creatures from a higher plane etc?

Sorry if these are silly questions.

Halcyon said:

Cool. So, in these Hard Polytheist belief systems, is it usual to have one creator god/dess or supreme deity like Zeus as king of the gods or are there systems where the gods are nothing to do with creating the universe?

If there are examples of the latter, what are these gods considered to be, like are they believed to be trans-dimensional beings, creatures from a higher plane etc?

Sorry if these are silly questions.

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I think there's all was a creature like being there. But in most Polytheist it seem to be the Universe and then it just seems that it's the creature of all the gods/goddess, spirits and all that, while we are then create by them. And has for what there are I thinks that it depends on the person. I myself belief that they are ether Trans-dimensional and creatures from a higher plain. But that's just me ^_^

None of my gods or goddesses are omnipotent, and a large majority of them had nothing to do with the creation of the world.

Zephyr said:

None of my gods or goddesses are omnipotent, and a large majority of them had nothing to do with the creation of the world.

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What would you consider them to be Zephyr, i.e. are they natural, did they evolve, are they from a higher plane of existence, part of the universe, external to the universe?

I'm monist in that I think all of the gods are ultimately a part of one divine unity, but I'm fully monist in that I think you, me, and my kitchen table are also parts of the same divine unity. But that's just my philosophical outlook.

Practically, I treat the gods and goddesses like they are individuals, just like I treat human beings like they are individuals. Because philosophical ultimate unity aside, people sure act like they're individuals.

Halcyon said:

What would you consider them to be Zephyr, i.e. are they natural, did they evolve, are they from a higher plane of existence, part of the universe, external to the universe?

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Well Odin and his brothers created the world, but the universe existed even before them. I consider the 9 worlds to be sorts of "planes of existence" I guess. Asgard could be considered "higher" I guess, but really given the way we humans treat the idea of the afterlife, even Niflheim (traditionally depicted as lower) could be seen as a higher plane of existence.

The gods are very much a part of the greater universe, as even they were created. That's the beauty of Germanic mythology. There's no real beginning or end. The myths begin midstory, and even Ragnarok isn't the end because there is a whole new cycle of humanity and gods.

Edit: Whoah, didn't realize how old the post was.

I would have to say that I am polytheistic. Then again, I don't worship any specific gods or goddesses.
I do believe there are different planes of existence and that there are some cases were they interact and even overlap. An example would be 'heaven' and 'hell'. While I don't agree with the Biblical portraits I can believe there is a place of purity and one of evil. I happen to subscribe to a balance theory. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but it would be possible that if our world exists with purity and evil then there must be another alternative to balance it. Or it might be that our plane is where these two other extremes of the scope overlap and interact. As I said, I haven't figured it all out as of yet, and I don't see much reason to rush.

there are hundreds of small gods....

thoth, Beli, Merlin, set, Minerva, Tarranis,

Halcyon said:

Are there any anymore?

Are there any people who worship a god or goddess but don't consider them all-powerful or as an aspect of an all-powerful deity?

I'm thinking of how in the past people would worship a goddess of the hearth, or pay homage to the nymph of a stream. Today it seems that everyone, even pagans, are monotheistic to a degree in that they in general consider their gods and goddess as manifestations of aspects of a greater monist deity. Or have I got that wrong?

Click to expand...

when I was a pagan I hardly ever interacted with Gods at all....

more lesser beings.....although some were rather "powerful" so maybe lesser is the wrong word

I worship all spirits, as a form like "god". It's like the Japanese way of thinking about it.
Where some lesser spirits and ancestors can be "gods", but that "gods" also means a "more powerful spirit". I'm reminded of Kannagi, a minor tree spirit could be called a "kami" too, but Nagi does not want to be confused for such a thing. Obvious there is quite a hierarchy of spirits, and Kami or gods, being at the top.

I believe and respect all the gods, but I obviously have focus. Like a person who goes to mostly the Amaterasu Ise Shrine would be Amaterasu focused. I also have a very tutelary way of interpreting their nature.

I sometimes contemplate the spirit world giving birth to the current multiverse. But I do not believe in a creator God. I believe that gods, are a spiritual matter, largely connected, to the matter around them. And have importance, are a pillar of sorts. The god of the area will defend and protect the minor spirits of an area. They can also be hindered by the destruction of land and lack of support by humans and other animals.

It's a very complicated matter. I could go on for hours about gods and what I believe their nature to be. But I don't believe in a creator God. Even as a Theist. Even as a Pandeist.

Again, it's a very complicated matter. And I could go on for hours.

The multiple gods idea is something that hasalways fasinated me and something that really resonates in my mind. I must admit that so far in my Wiccan "career" I've only worshipped the Goddess and God however I do believe that there are other gods or, to use a video game term, sub-god (read "bosses") for things like art, creativity, mystery, the woods, water etc. But then I also think that these sub-gods are aspects of the Goddess and God.

Another way I've looked at it is that the Goddess created the Earth, the forests, the trees, the sky, and so on. Over time these things developed their own being or spirit and that these spirits are the sub-gods. So, the God of the Woods is simply the woods spirit made manifest (in a spiritual sense).

Well, it makes sense in my head anyway.

I worship the Gods and Goddesses of Egyptian Mythology. I consider Them to be individual Gods and Goddesses. (If you believe the myths you could never think otherwise.) Although I am guilty, thus far, of playing favorites.

enchanted_one1975 said:

I worship the Gods and Goddesses of Egyptian Mythology. I consider Them to be individual Gods and Goddesses. (If you believe the myths you could never think otherwise.) Although I am guilty, thus far, of playing favorites.

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many would argue otherwise, that the Egyptian faith was many aspects of one "God"

although the egyptian faith changed over time... it laregly depends on which period in history we are examining

Mr Cheese said:

many would argue otherwise...

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A trait that Pagans tend to take on in America today is that we don't care what others think or argue against our faith. Our hearts are where they belong and our hearts are true.

Ok I take that back. We care, but we are so used to the negative way that Christians act around us that we let it roll off our shoulders.