What if all the Gods/esses are real?

I love the idea. It makes as much sense as the religions we’ve got now.

I’d say it isn’t working so well.

The heavens would be very, very crowded.

Then we’re all screwed as each of Those that we don’t believe in puts us in Its own hell for not believing in It.

Sounds rather nice. This way if a God banishes one of his follower he can turn to another God. This way the chaos will cease to exist since people would try and be much better ^^

Consider that Allah’s commandment to his minions is to make us all toe Allah’s line or be put to the sword by “good” Muslims, @Hibernate. I don’t really like that idea much, at all. I much prefer “bad” Muslims, I think, or at least “less committed to literal interpretations” of the Q’uran.

@CWOTUS Not like that. You won’t go hell for not believing in Odin if you’re an Egyptian, live in Egypt, or simply believe in Ra. You’re under the protection, and in the range of authority of Ra. That’s the example. As I said, Each Gods don’t fight or join each others but share the same separated ground.

I’m sure several stories have been written using this premise… Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is one.

Can I still have the option of Hell in this case? I can’t imagine any version of any heaven (or Nirvana) that I’d want to visit for more than a long weekend or so, nor any group of true believers I’d even want to spend that weekend with.

@CWOTUS Ahh I just realized that this question is bad for Atheists! LOL.

My goodness, I’d love to see Medusa, while she’s wearing sunglasses of course.

@mazingerz88 Medusa isn’t a Goddess! I love the idea, though. haha.

Wouldn’t that be incredibly cruel and horrible, though? Consider all of the fighting and wars that occur between religions. Wouldn’t it be the decent thing to step forward and do something about it? If this were true, which (as an atheist) I do not believe, it would be pretty demented and morbid. I think it might actually sound worse to me than the more popular concept of monotheism.

@CWOTUS I’m sorry but when someone tells me something using that small font I do not read it. It’s not that I don’t want but it’s to small for my resolution. I had to copy/paste it in a another text so I can see what you said.

And I thought it was about replying using “fun/ silly” ideas.

@CWOTUS – I have heard the expression “Hell is other people” a few times before. :)

As an atheist, this question feels like being on the outside of a window looking in, haha.
I’ve mentioned the Discworld series in other questions, but only because it mentions so many topics.

The gods on the Discworld are all real, some are the “Don’t acknowledge any god other than me!” type, and some just mellow out. They all need people around, because they derive their strength from the numbers and intensity of believers they have. Without people around to believe in them, they become weak, and tiny. They become “Small Gods”.

(Which is the Discworld book I am currently reading, as it turns out.)

@Prosb : I’m a tremendous fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and love the idea that the gods need belief to thrive.

Then….

Haha, suck it, atheists! Get ready to get smited.

Jk, guys. Jk.

Then Neil Gaiman certainly is on to something.

All of the all the Gods/esses ARE real. They are all alive and active in the US Congress.

I’ve often entertained that very idea. Maybe they’re all playing a MMO Sims game (we are the Sims) and whoever has the most followers at the end of time, wins…

(Explains why, in the Christian Bible, God refers to Himself as “us” every now and again)

American Gods and Anansi Brothers by Neil Gaiman are the first things that come to my mind. really good books! read ‘em!

Edit: Just noticed the other two Gaiman references here. whoops

If they are, we should all be wearing crash helmets.