Books! Shiny books. Also games.

[lassarina]

So, I finished American Gods last night. I really liked the way it ended. It also made me wonder - it's fairly apparent, throughout the book, that the various gods are strongly affected by the amount of belief in them (for example, the hall of forgotten gods, or whatever it's called.) But this makes me wonder, in a real-life spiritual context:

Comments

[rosa_heartlily]

I recommend you read Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. It's central theme is that humans create their own gods, but, once called into being, gods cannot die. However, the strength and power of an individual god depends on its followers' amount of faith in it. Those who have fallen out of favour with humans are reduced to voices in the wind.

Brighid is, as you know, important to me, both as goddess and saint ;) I don't worship her as that would be, for me, sacriligious; nor do I pray to her since I'm a Protestant and believe prayers should only be offered to God. But I do have a sense of her presence in my life, and in my church. I can certainly honour her, and I think she appreciates that.

[spreadnparanoia]

Reading Neil Gaiman makes me want to worship idols. I know it's against the first two commandments and especially bad that the gods I identify most with in his books are the Egyptian pantheon that said commandments were written to warn Jews explicitly against worshiping. But I can't help it. I always want to throw a little prayer their way when I think of how sad and lonely they must be now.

[lassarina]

I just try not to particularly offend any of the gods; most of my worship goes to the various Celtic pantheons, but that doesn't mean I wish ill to any of the rest, you know?

[zatyrn]

Just think of it...FF6 Tactics.

[oberndorf]

I would first argue that any god worthy of the name doesn't require anything (barring maybe entertainment) from humanity. That's why they're gods. If they were truly dependent upon us, we would be gods, and they merely the figments of a collective imagination. As an honest to God theist, I'm not particularly enamored with that notion

[lassarina]

Well, phooey on that ;) I actually view Phoenix Down/KO as more of an unconsciousness issue (potential death if uncured) versus true death, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Clearly my lack of decadent Earth logic is wounding me here.

[thenicochan]

Mmm...and had to mention I actually like the permanent death (Unless it's the special occasion of "Oh noes I am injured! G2G!") It adds to the war/battle feel. Just make use of the Battle Save! :3

[lassarina]

I'm just used to Phoenix Down, I think :)

[thenicochan]

Have you ever played Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance? The plot of RD is more interesting with the expirence of that game. I, myself, am at Chapter Seven and I am rather pleased so far with the story's development, but I think seeing Elincia and the Greil Mercenaries is going to be so many levels of awesome. <333

[lassarina]

I have not in fact played the GC game - I'll probably get round to it eventually, but my list of games-to-play is a mile long already.

[oberndorf]

The Cube version is sinfully easy, but since RD is a straight up sequel it really would mean more if you'd played the earlier.

And yeah, when I get a Wii, I'm going to rock out some Greil Mercenary all over the Begnon's. All over 'em.

[lassarina]

I'll probably play the GC game and then replay RD, if I get a chance. omg so many games. need more time for games.