1 and 2 are interrelated for me. I believe that some deities are individual entities, beings that exist in a different plane but have the ability to travel from plane to plane. I'm uncertain as to whether or not they get power from worship but I consider it a possibility. I also consider it possible for humans to create gods. I pretty much think that anything someone thinks is real, is, on some level or another. My partner's entire spiritual system revolves around the idea of deities as idealized archetypal models that are also material and personal. He and his friends often make up their gods, give them personalities, perform some sorts of ritual to them, and attribute phenomena to them. When the believers stop believing or the material object that 'houses' the deity is gone, the deity ceases to exist. I don't believe that those deities are the same kinds as the ones I work with. I'm pretty sure the gods that I worship and communicate with (the Norse) last and last and last with or without worshippers. 3. I do believe the gods take an interest in human life, I'm not sure to the extent and I'm not sure why. I guess I figure they get something out of our worship and interactions - something like power. But I have no reason to believe that other than what I consider educated guesses. 4. I think it depends on the humans and the gods. In my experience it is more like a loose friendship. Some people often feel like they have a parent/child relationship with their gods, some people, as we know, feel like it's a master/slave relationship. I definitely think that gods (and sometimes humans) get to define how their relationship will be.
I don't believe that those deities are the same kinds as the ones I work with. I'm pretty sure the gods that I worship and communicate with (the Norse) last and last and last with or without worshippers.
3. I do believe the gods take an interest in human life, I'm not sure to the extent and I'm not sure why. I guess I figure they get something out of our worship and interactions - something like power. But I have no reason to believe that other than what I consider educated guesses.
4. I think it depends on the humans and the gods. In my experience it is more like a loose friendship. Some people often feel like they have a parent/child relationship with their gods, some people, as we know, feel like it's a master/slave relationship. I definitely think that gods (and sometimes humans) get to define how their relationship will be.
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