polytheistic theology
So it's a common trope that beliefs give gods power, but I don't actually think that's how it works. In significant part, "power" doesn't seem like a useful way to phrase what gods do in the first place.
What I do think is that belief helps give gods *form*. How a particular god manifests and expresses themself is due in part to what folks expect of them. It's bidirectional, since a god does tell followers some about who they are. The manifestation is negotiated.
polytheistic theology
@starkatt If you don't mind the perspective of someone who experiences being a deity, I actually resonate with this a lot in that how I've defined myself and my form and what forces I embody is as much influenced by how others have perceived my deific self as it is by my own self-discovery and evolution and set ways.
polytheistic theology
@starkatt Go right ahead, I've got at least some of the answers, Im sure :P
polytheistic theology
@howlingalice Heh. How do you experience being a deity? Do you mean as an avatar, or something else?
polytheistic theology
@starkatt In all honesty I'm not entirely sure. I don't feel like a "part" of a deity, or a shard, or any thing of that sort. I feel like the whole deity, just kinda....I don't all fit into the body so a lot of me floats around it or something?
I connect to some part of myself that's much larger and has specific influence and force and manifestation, I suppose? It's just more like I've got my hand shoved in a puppet and I'm controlling it from wherever the rest of me is.
polytheistic theology
@howlingalice I certainly don't mind that perspective but absolutely have the obvious followup questions.