Interesting Idea...

[Vuthiel]

I was just reading a post Rain Gnosis made in Brenner's Fluff-Bunnies thread and it made me think of something I'd read in C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy...

The Trilogy circles around something called "the fae", which is this energy that is so powerful that with the single thought of a person, the "fae" manifests that thought. For example, in the book there are many different "Gods/Goddesses" that came about because people thought about them, and the "fae" manifested them. These "Gods/Goddesses" are referred to as "Iezu".

What made me think of this was when Rain said something about reconstructing Norse beliefs in one's own system of belief. Basically I was thinking that maybe C.S. Friedman was onto something with this Trilogy and the "Iezu"... maybe Gods/Goddesses exist because we think they exist... and when we try to "reconstruct" older pantheons in our own beliefs, we create new deities that manifested out of our own personal beliefs that are different from, but may incorporate some aspects of, older belief systems.

Any thoughts?

[Jeleia]

Thats a very interesting thought Vuthiel. I've always pondered the thought that God/desses exsist because we think they exsist, and humans created them. The more prayers/energy is directed to them, the more "powerful" they become. Kind of like they are storing the energy.

I'm very interested in what others have to say on this topic :)

Great Topic Vuthiel!

[Vuthiel]

Thats a very interesting thought Vuthiel. I've always pondered the thought that God/desses exsist because we think they exsist, and humans created them. The more prayers/energy is directed to them, the more "powerful" they become. Kind of like they are storing the energy.

Friedman brought up that same idea in the Trilogy. The Iezus people most commonly believed in were the "strongest". Which is to say, that while only a few people believed in some Iezu, these Iezu only existed in a metaphysical sense; the Iezu that more people believed in could actually take physical form.


I'm very interested in what others have to say on this topic :)

Great Topic Vuthiel!

Thank you. :)

As a side note, I'm a huge fan of Friedman's work. The Trilogy I talk about here are my absolute favorite (fictional) books to read. :)

[Jeleia]

Friedman brought up that same idea in the Trilogy. The Iezus people most commonly believed in were the "strongest". Which is to say, that while only a few people believed in some Iezu, these Iezu only existed in a metaphysical sense; the Iezu that more people believed in could actually take physical form.


Looks like I'm going to have to check out his book then :)

[Vuthiel]

Looks like I'm going to have to check out his book then :)

'Her', actually. :p

Black Sun Rising (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886775272/qid=1061672757/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (First book in the trilogy)

When True Night Falls (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886776155/qid=1061672757/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (Second book)

Crown of Shadows (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886777178/qid=1061672757/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (Last book)

-Amazon links :)

[Koehnae]

Basically I was thinking that maybe C.S. Friedman was onto something with this Trilogy and the "Iezu"... maybe Gods/Goddesses exist because we think they exist... and when we try to "reconstruct" older pantheons in our own beliefs, we create new deities that manifested out of our own personal beliefs that are different from, but may incorporate some aspects of, older belief systems.

Any thoughts?

Interesting thoughts. This is something I've brought up to my family during our debates on religion. I have always personally believed that a god(dess) in a sense is energized by his (her) believers and is made stronger by these beliefs. Sort of along the same lines of how a comment will "feed" our egos.

[Lai]

I think that each time someone sends out a prayer to no one in particular, needs a god or goddess in his or her life, then a deity is born. I'm not sure about deities being "energized", so to speak, by their believers (anyone else think of deities battling it out when that's mentioned? :fishsmack ). But perhaps the belief and energy sent out to them would keep them "alive", since I suppose if a personal deity was believed in by no one, he or she would simply cease to exist?

Very very good brain food for the night indeed.

[Mistiblue]

Vuthiel, what an awsome concept! Once again you have given me something to think about and read up on. You have all really given my mental wheels a bright Boost. WOw,... Thanks again! :) :)

[Jeleia]

'Her', actually. :p

Black Sun Rising (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886775272/qid=1061672757/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (First book in the trilogy)

When True Night Falls (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886776155/qid=1061672757/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (Second book)

Crown of Shadows (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886777178/qid=1061672757/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-3294518-5980768?v=glance&s=books) (Last book)

-Amazon links :)

Oops :)

Thanks for the links!

I've been chewing over this thought throughout the day. And I'm curious, what do you think about creating a god/dess? How would one go about this? Can a god/dess just be created?

What do you think?

[Psyche Ague]

I tend to agree with that. I guess I don't really count because I don't believe that the Goddess is an entity per se; she's more of a force to me.

[Vuthiel]

Oops :)

Thanks for the links!

I've been chewing over this thought throughout the day. And I'm curious, what do you think about creating a god/dess? How would one go about this? Can a god/dess just be created?

What do you think?

Well... I've got some ideas... but I'll need to sort them out in my mind before they'll make sense to anyone else. I may have to readdress this later this afternoon. :)

[Vuthiel]

Vuthiel, what an awsome concept! Once again you have given me something to think about and read up on. You have all really given my mental wheels a bright Boost. WOw,... Thanks again! :) :)

You're welcome, Misti. :) I'm glad you found it interesting... I wasn't sure if people would be. I'm glad to see that some are interested. :)