Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Gaia brought up in another thread the concept of divinity in nature. Many older, so-called "pagan" religions have many gods and goddesses who're highly specialized and narrow in purpose. The god or fire doesn't deal in rain and the god/goddess or fertility isn't in charge of the sun.

Now the monotheists [Jews, Christians and Muslims] tell us that their god is superior because he [always he] controls it all. But he also doesn't take calls too often. Oh, sure the argument is he hears all prayers, but that's like thinking the president answers ever E-mail or letter. And this uber god [yes I lump all three monotheistic religions under the same god, an ironic trinity] isn't as fan as the many "lesser" gods or goddesses of polytheism or paganism [in its various forms].

So why not praise the rising sun itself for its warmth and light?

What's wrong with eraching out to a rain god during a drought?

And who says fairies are more rediculous than angels and elves less realistic than demons?

The gods and spirits of nature seem friendlier to me than some distant executive who isn't depicted as being on the Earth. And while Odin was also an executive sort of god even he was much closer in that he resided in the sky and say through the eyes of all ravens. A conduit one could see, hear and possibly touch.

I'll take a bunch of little nature gods over one big absentee landlord, to borrow an Al Pachino term.