- "When the Most High apportioned the nations, when He divided humankind, He fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the gods; the Lord's own portion was His people, Jacob His allotted share."
- ―Deuteronomy 32:8-9
Deities, or gods and goddesses, are supernatural beings revered and worshipped for their authority over various aspects of the universe, nature, and human life. They are typically conceptualized as divine, transcendent, or supramundane entities, often manifesting excellence, heroic qualities, and special significance.
Overview[]
The term "deity" has been defined in several ways. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, a deity is a god, goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton, however, defines a deity as a being with powers surpassing those of ordinary humans, but interacts with them in ways that elevate their consciousness beyond everyday concerns.
While most monotheistic religions traditionally depict their god as omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and eternal, these qualities are not fundamental to the definition of a "deity," and different cultures have conceived of their deities differently. In monotheistic religions, the god is usually referred to in masculine terms, whereas other religions may portray their deities as male, female, hermaphroditic, or genderless.
Description[]
Numerous cultures, including the ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Germanic peoples, have personified natural phenomena, attributing them as both causes and effects. Some Avestan and Vedic deities were regarded as representations of ethical principles. In Indian religions, deities are perceived as manifesting within every living being's body, serving as sensory organs and the mind. They represent a state of existence (Saṃsāra) after rebirth for those who accumulate merit through ethical conduct, granting them status as guardian deities and heavenly bliss. However, they are also subject to mortality when their merit diminishes.
History[]
Creation[]
After humans witnessed the wonders of creation, they began venerating natural elements like the sun, the womb, rain, and stars. This worship caught the attention of the Primordials, who descended to Earth and sired a new generation of divine beings, the most famous of whom will become known as the Titans. These divine beings would then go on to have their own children, called the deities.
When the deities matured, they were driven by determination and ambition to overthrow their parents and usher in a new era on Earth with themselves as the rulers. Although they share a common goal, the deities formed separate pantheons to fight their individual battles. The most famous of these conflicts became known as the Titanomachy.
Rule over the Earth[]
After the deities successfully established themselves as the new rulers, they turned their attention to humanity, seeking to be worshipped by them. Disagreements arose over who should be worshipped by whom, resulting in a violent conflict between them.
The situation became so bad that God Himself intervened. He commanded the deities to cease fighting and resolve their differences. Understanding that the root of the conflict lay in their inability to agree on worship territories, God took on the responsibility Himself. He assigned each pantheon to a different region of Earth, until nearly every area had its own ruling pantheon. One notable exception was the island of Ireland, which remained free from divine influence for several millennia as it was uninhabited by humans at that time.
Losing Worship[]
Over time, many deities grew corrupt, though some remained benevolent. In response, God introduced the Abrahamic faiths, which led to the decline of worship for the deities and a significant loss of their power. However, out of respect for those who retained their nobility, God spared the deities on the condition that they allow mortals to grow, adapt, and evolve independently; the deities accepted this command.
Modern Times[]
Even though the deities are no longer worshipped, humanity still retained a fascination of them and continued to study the myths and legends of old. In addition, a vast majority of mortals chose not to accept the Abrahamic faiths and some even continued to believe in the deities.
Powers and Abilities[]
Deities are very powerful, able to perform feats impossible for most beings in the universe. The power of a deity varies, but all of them can rival and possibly surpass angels and demons, with the exception of the Archangels and Archdemons. Each deity possesses a unique set of abilities, but they share common traits such as divinity (though this varies), manipulation of transcendent forces, superhuman capabilities, and immense authority over their respective domains.
Worship is a source of strength for deities. When they were worshipped on a large scale, they gain near-unlimited power and become nearly invincible. However, with the decline of pagan followers, the power of most deities has diminished significantly, except for the most powerful among them.
Weaknesses[]
Despite their great power, deities are still subject to several weaknesses like all beings. However, the more powerful a deity is, the more resistance they have to their race's weaknesses.
- Powerful Beings - Powerful beings can harm and kill deities.
- Humans - Lack of human worship and/or memory can cause deities to fade.
- Divine Slayers - May be harmed and killed by divine slayers.
- Divine Weapons - Divine weapons are capable of harming and killing deities.
- Magic - Spells with enough magic can harm and imprison deities.
Religions[]
Religions can be classified based on the number of deities they worship. Monotheistic religions adhere to the belief in a single deity, often referred to as "God." In contrast, polytheistic religions worship multiple deities. Henotheistic religions recognize one supreme deity while acknowledging the existence of other deities as aspects of the same divine principle. Nontheistic religions reject the concept of a supreme eternal creator deity but may acknowledge a pantheon of deities that are subject to the cycle of life and death.