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The General Religion, Mythology, and Theology Thread

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Since we've gotten told to stop talking generally about religion twice in the Homosexuality and Religion thread and were told that, if we want to talk generally about religion, we need to make a new thread, I have made a new thread.

Full disclosure: I am an agnostic atheist and anti-theist, but I'm very interested in theology and religion.

Mod Edit: All right, there are a couple of ground rules here:

  • This is not a thread for mindless bashing of religion or of atheism/agnosticism etc. All view points are welcome here. Let's have a civil debate.
  • Religion is a volatile subject. Please don't post here if you can't manage a civil discussion with viewpoints you disagree with. There will be no tolerance for people who can't keep the tone light hearted.
  • There is no one true answer for this thread. Don't try to force out opposing voices.

edited 9th Feb '14 1:01:31 PM by Madrugada

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#24226: Jul 23rd 2025 at 6:39:57 AM

Any specific attire associated with either Demeter or Persephone?

Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#24227: Jul 25th 2025 at 10:27:05 AM

Demeter is mostly harvest-themed right?

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#24228: Jul 25th 2025 at 10:39:41 AM

don't forget agriculture and fertility,she's super important Goddess along the same lines as Hestia

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#24229: Jul 25th 2025 at 1:00:31 PM

Some people say she’s the goddess of plant life in general.

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#24230: Jul 25th 2025 at 1:05:51 PM

I think that's Gaia role actually

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer
#24231: Jul 25th 2025 at 1:20:23 PM

Gaia is more like the Earth in general.

Continue writing our story of peace.
Gaiazun Since: Jul, 2020
#24232: Jul 25th 2025 at 3:40:47 PM

Is exaggerated themed attire for deities mostly a modern invention? I feel like most ancient depictions of gods they more or less wear the same attire with a couple of distinctive accessories to tell them apart. Demeter mostly seems to be depicted in a standard upper-class greek woman's tunic a flower wreath on her head, holding wheat and maybe a cornucopia or a sickle

Angelspawndragon King of the Seven Rhinos from That haunted house in your neighborhood Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
King of the Seven Rhinos
#24233: Jul 25th 2025 at 9:57:11 PM

Tbh outside of some video games I can’t think of any examples where gods had an exaggerated taste in clothing.

If anything, they’re either depicted in styles reflective of the nobility at time (as befits their station, as it were), or they forgo clothing entirely.

Which the Olympians were particularly fond of doing…

Chain an angry nature god at your own peril.
RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer
#24234: Jul 25th 2025 at 10:00:24 PM

I think it's the male Olympians (and to be honest, most male Heroes) and Aphrodite that are depicted nude.

Continue writing our story of peace.
Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#24235: Jul 26th 2025 at 1:45:53 AM

I find it curious that dogs being guardians of the dead, psychopomps, or being related to afterlife as something common in mythology. Even outside of the Mediterranean, we got things like Xolotl among other things.

alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
#24236: Jul 26th 2025 at 5:23:24 AM

I mean, the shepherd/flock comparison is probably pretty old.

Angelspawndragon King of the Seven Rhinos from That haunted house in your neighborhood Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
King of the Seven Rhinos
#24237: Jul 27th 2025 at 1:29:17 PM

^^ Likely related to the fact that canines are opportunistic carnivores and will scavenge any corpse they find, and I'd wager early modern humans probably came across more canines than either big cats or bears scavenging - even though we know lions, tigers, and some bears (oh my) will do it - so that's probably where the association originated.

Chain an angry nature god at your own peril.
Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#24238: Jul 27th 2025 at 2:37:52 PM

Huh no, the dog in myths are mostly benevolent. Like I said, guardians or assistance of the souls. At this point they've been domesticated too.

Edited by Ookamikun on Jul 27th 2025 at 2:38:13 AM

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#24239: Jul 27th 2025 at 2:47:58 PM

I think the ancient Greeks had a pretty negative opinion of dogs. Given all the dog themed monsters and their association with Ares.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#24240: Jul 27th 2025 at 3:06:39 PM

So I want to look for resources on how the planets are characterized across various mythology.

Like I knew there were groups of gods that specifically preside over them (The Planetes for classical myth, the Nahaghana for Hinduism), but I want to research other similar groups.

Angelspawndragon King of the Seven Rhinos from That haunted house in your neighborhood Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
King of the Seven Rhinos
#24241: Jul 27th 2025 at 3:18:46 PM

[[quote]] Huh no, the dog in myths are mostly benevolent. Like I said, guardians or assistance of the souls. At this point they've been domesticated too. [[/quote]]

I meant in regards to their association with the dead in general, not necessarily benevolence or malevolence.

Chain an angry nature god at your own peril.
xyzt Since: Apr, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#24242: Jul 27th 2025 at 4:53:51 PM

[up][up]Nahaghana? Do you mean Navagraha (literally nine celestial bodies)? And they include the sun and moon gods as well the immortal asura god Rahu (which causes eclipses by trying to eat the Sun and moon) and Ketu (Rahu's body that was split from him). Only 5 of them are planets as we know today.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#24243: Jul 27th 2025 at 5:12:46 PM

[up] Yes. I made a typo.

Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#24244: Jul 28th 2025 at 4:48:39 AM

[up]x6 Cerberus seems to be neutral.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#24245: Jul 29th 2025 at 6:36:28 AM

Question. Do you think we should have more useful notes pages on more esoteric subjects. Thinks like the planets in astrological contexts, angelology, etc?

(I'm aware this is kinda tangential to the topic, but seeing how deities tend to be invoked and how often it crosses into folklore...)

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#24246: Jul 30th 2025 at 12:09:58 PM

That would be awesome.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Angelspawndragon King of the Seven Rhinos from That haunted house in your neighborhood Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
King of the Seven Rhinos
#24247: Jul 30th 2025 at 11:56:13 PM

…I don’t think we even have a Useful Notes page about Demonology or Angelology, which is surprising.

The page about the Ars Goetia comes the closest, but either way, it’s be a good idea to start working on a Useful Notes page for them.

Chain an angry nature god at your own peril.
Angelspawndragon King of the Seven Rhinos from That haunted house in your neighborhood Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
King of the Seven Rhinos
#24248: Aug 2nd 2025 at 9:26:48 PM

That honestly brings up an interesting question…the demonization of pagan gods aside, why do we have so few named angels compared to the plethora of Sins, Kings, and Princes of Hell?

Chain an angry nature god at your own peril.
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#24249: Aug 3rd 2025 at 12:59:04 AM

I mean, Wikipedia has a sizable list of angels in theology at least. I count, like, 160 angels on that list, that's not nothing.

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
KnightofLsama Since: Sep, 2010
#24250: Aug 3rd 2025 at 1:07:01 AM

[up] I think its more they've just been mostly... forgotten. You can find more if you go digging.

Sachiel, Shamshel, Ramiel, Gaghiel, Israfel, Sandalphon, Matarael, Sahaquiel, Iruel, Leliel, Bardiel, Zeruel, Arael, Armisael, Tabris...

And joking aside, Anno and the rest of the team at Gainax weren't making them up. Sandalphon appears as one of the minor characters in [1] for example.


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