Fear-farsain
December 15th, 2002, 11:09 AM
Taken from the excellent Sandman books by Neil Gaiman.
"I know how gods begin, Roger.
We start as dreams. Then we walk out of the dreams into the land. We are worshipped and loved, and take power to ourselves. And then one day there's no one left to worship us. And in the end, each little god and goddess takes it last journey back into dreams, and what comes after, not even we know."
- Ishtar
I brought this up after reading older topics about 'worldwide dieties' and their like, as well as how gods have 'evolved' for want of a better word since their heyday. Another book which takes the rise and fall of gods into account is 'Mad Merlin' (the author's name eludes me I'm afraid). Living in a country with such a rich heritage of mythology and therefore spirits and gods, it makes me wonder how many of the old gods of Britain have survived. Some became saints, others have been almost forgotten, their names now only in stories and myths. Do new gods become created by the mass consciousness of man? Or do older dieties take heart and power from corresponding things such as the internet (previously discussed as in who would be the god of the net).
My personal belief is gods and their contempories are lent power by their believers. This theory would explain the spread of Christianity across the world as the god is lent power by his believers. I know this is just speculation, but it does interest me. When belief wanes does so the god's power? How do they survive?
Another interesting question that just came to me is the concept of cities being alive. Taking on board the idea of belief, even indirect, lends power to places/things/symbols, do the cities have spirits? Do cities become their own gods?
Another Sandman quote that explains a bit more of what I'm getting at, I think.
"Perhaps a city is a living thing. Each city has its own personality, after all.
Los Angeles is not Vienna. London is not Moscow. Chicago is not Paris. Each city is a collection of lives and buildings and it has its own personality.
So if a city has a personality, maybe it also has a soul. Maybe it dreams.
I do not fear cities sleeping, stretched out unconscious around their rivers and estuaries, like cats in the moonlight. Sleeping cities are tame and harmless things.
What I fear....is that one day the cities will waken. That one day, the cities will rise."
- Old Man
Not altogether my own beliefs, but it does raise interesting questions. I apologise for such a long winded post, but would welcome any thoughts, comments etc. It is a bit out there, but I'm in a speculative mood.
Thanks for your time.
"I know how gods begin, Roger.
We start as dreams. Then we walk out of the dreams into the land. We are worshipped and loved, and take power to ourselves. And then one day there's no one left to worship us. And in the end, each little god and goddess takes it last journey back into dreams, and what comes after, not even we know."
- Ishtar
I brought this up after reading older topics about 'worldwide dieties' and their like, as well as how gods have 'evolved' for want of a better word since their heyday. Another book which takes the rise and fall of gods into account is 'Mad Merlin' (the author's name eludes me I'm afraid). Living in a country with such a rich heritage of mythology and therefore spirits and gods, it makes me wonder how many of the old gods of Britain have survived. Some became saints, others have been almost forgotten, their names now only in stories and myths. Do new gods become created by the mass consciousness of man? Or do older dieties take heart and power from corresponding things such as the internet (previously discussed as in who would be the god of the net).
My personal belief is gods and their contempories are lent power by their believers. This theory would explain the spread of Christianity across the world as the god is lent power by his believers. I know this is just speculation, but it does interest me. When belief wanes does so the god's power? How do they survive?
Another interesting question that just came to me is the concept of cities being alive. Taking on board the idea of belief, even indirect, lends power to places/things/symbols, do the cities have spirits? Do cities become their own gods?
Another Sandman quote that explains a bit more of what I'm getting at, I think.
"Perhaps a city is a living thing. Each city has its own personality, after all.
Los Angeles is not Vienna. London is not Moscow. Chicago is not Paris. Each city is a collection of lives and buildings and it has its own personality.
So if a city has a personality, maybe it also has a soul. Maybe it dreams.
I do not fear cities sleeping, stretched out unconscious around their rivers and estuaries, like cats in the moonlight. Sleeping cities are tame and harmless things.
What I fear....is that one day the cities will waken. That one day, the cities will rise."
- Old Man
Not altogether my own beliefs, but it does raise interesting questions. I apologise for such a long winded post, but would welcome any thoughts, comments etc. It is a bit out there, but I'm in a speculative mood.
Thanks for your time.