When a god is not a god...
I think it's interesting when someone says they have been called by a "god" that actually isn't a god.
Obviously, this can be one way that non-gods become gods... start with one devotee and that devotee builds from there. (And how does that happen... a whining, wandering spirit finds a brain with a chink?)
This came to mind recently because someone mentioned being a devotee of Tiamat, under the impression that Tiamat was a god of the ANE. In reality, Tiamat was a literary device of the Enuma Elish: she was not a god of Mesopotamia.
So this person says that at some time in the past, Tiamat called out to her and through a series of dreams she became a devotee of Tiamat. The devotee is not receptive to the info that Tiamat was not actually a god of the ANE, probably because of lack of edu on the subject. (Most neopagan sources list Tiamat as a goddess, again because of lack of edu, so it's understandable that someone working only from those sources [and, as this person has, from RPG sources] would have the wrong impression.)
I don't think that the status (or lack thereof) of Tiamat in ANE means this chick's current relationship with that deity is invalid... what is important imo is that it is valid and satisfying to her. I do think it means she isn't really practicing ANE religion and that's ok too. I just think it's interesting when this happens. What is it? Is it a non-god grabbing this name to get a little juice? Is it a part of this woman's mind growing large? Is it possible that a few clumsy neo-Wiccan efforts have made Tiamat into a goddess?
Oh, I just though: is this really any different from the people who claim to have "soul bonds" with other fictional characters? You know, the ones who say they are married to Harry Potter, or that characters from Buffy live in their head? Because I think they are nutters. Harmless nutters, of the desperate for attention variety, but nutters nonetheless.
Obviously, this can be one way that non-gods become gods... start with one devotee and that devotee builds from there. (And how does that happen... a whining, wandering spirit finds a brain with a chink?)
This came to mind recently because someone mentioned being a devotee of Tiamat, under the impression that Tiamat was a god of the ANE. In reality, Tiamat was a literary device of the Enuma Elish: she was not a god of Mesopotamia.
So this person says that at some time in the past, Tiamat called out to her and through a series of dreams she became a devotee of Tiamat. The devotee is not receptive to the info that Tiamat was not actually a god of the ANE, probably because of lack of edu on the subject. (Most neopagan sources list Tiamat as a goddess, again because of lack of edu, so it's understandable that someone working only from those sources [and, as this person has, from RPG sources] would have the wrong impression.)
I don't think that the status (or lack thereof) of Tiamat in ANE means this chick's current relationship with that deity is invalid... what is important imo is that it is valid and satisfying to her. I do think it means she isn't really practicing ANE religion and that's ok too. I just think it's interesting when this happens. What is it? Is it a non-god grabbing this name to get a little juice? Is it a part of this woman's mind growing large? Is it possible that a few clumsy neo-Wiccan efforts have made Tiamat into a goddess?
Oh, I just though: is this really any different from the people who claim to have "soul bonds" with other fictional characters? You know, the ones who say they are married to Harry Potter, or that characters from Buffy live in their head? Because I think they are nutters. Harmless nutters, of the desperate for attention variety, but nutters nonetheless.