Monotheism is the Height of Human Evolution -
The evolutionary argument is that development occurs from a simple state to a more complex state. Not only that, but the inherent implication in the evolutionary argument is that when and if a species survives, its survival is due to its development of one or another beneficial characteristic. The point of this post is not to talk about whether evolution occurred or not, although the scientific record matches quite well with the Torah's, but rather to show how the peak of evolution is exemplified with monotheism.
A quick summary: G-d creates existence, the universe, Earth, life on Earth, and then Man. With Man He creates the ability to perceive Him. After Adam and Eve eat of the fruit, they no longer understand things to be "true" or "false" but rather "right" and "wrong," -- value judgments, and subjectivity becomes the prime directive of humanity's paradigm. This leads to humanity's creation and invention of all types of ideologies, which first manifested themselves as variant forms of polytheism, i.e., subjective forms of the Man-G-d relationship. Hundreds of years passed after the abatement of the flood before Abraham was successfully able to "re-piece" G-d's Existence together for the world. Abraham's true understanding of G-d, which culminated in a revelation, ended an era of unchallenged polytheism; it marked the end of a repeating cyclical process and the beginning of a generally ascending cycle. Therefore, once Man was really Man, which the Torah defines as a being with a soul (us), he ceased to go through physical evolutions and began to go through mental, intellectual, moral, and spiritual evolutions. Monotheism was the evolutionary peak of mental, intellectual, moral, and spiritual evolution - there was none higher and all were lower. As is, the "class GPA" of the world would rise due to this merited revelation; it would bring up the consciousness of the rest humanity.
Post-monotheism; Atheism
Can we not say that atheism is the logical conclusion of monotheism? If the process of one replacing many was a revelation of truth, can we not say that the process of none replacing one is a further development of truth? No, we cannot. The reason being is that atheism does not afford humanity something more than monotheism. Monotheism rejected the polytheisms of the day in favor of a theistic understanding that a unified reality, with the One G-d, was the only true one; this was synonymous with absolute morality. The polytheists also had somewhat developed systems of values, ethics, and morals, but they waiver in relation to their instable and changing gods. G-d is Stable and the system of values, ethics, and morality instructed by Him is unchanging. Atheism's system of values, ethics, and morals is non-existent, as is their god. The subjective idea of atheism is a world void of implicit and inherent truths and morals; rather, in that world, one must extract truth and morality from the surrounding culture, a compass incapable of such a task. Culture has no interest in truth, and therefore cannot define falsehood, and so convenience and inconvenience replace these items respectively. It is not a violation of any inherent truth of human value to murder people, rather it should not be done because it is invconvenient to live in a society where people are free to end the lives of others. A society so morally irresolute must resort to replacing "falsehood" with the word "incovenient." There are several people in society who are prepared to tolerate the inconvenience of killing people if that's all it really is. As society becomes more silent, the murderers (rapists, cheaters, corrupters, etc...) become more emboldened. As the void becomes larger, the behaviors that potentially fill it become more variant. What we see is, through atheism, a return to a polytheistic-like world. The only difference is that the murderers murder to please themselves, not the gods.
There is an even more striking similarity; in an atheistic world, the obsession with the gods is still current- it seems that the void of morality, ethics, and values has not filled the void of the human need for the spiritual, and so many, if not all, types of spirituality are in demand. For example: wicca, the simplistic and superficial revival of ancient polytheistic religions, mystical trinkets such as tarot cards, shopping aisle astrology, and pseudo-psychological dream books, and of course new age spirituality.
The difference however is that the polytheists actually believed in these things and to a degree developed and organized them; today's "pop polytheism" is entirely external and superficial, not able to touch on the core of the way polytheists actually viewed the world 3,000 years ago and more. As a result, godless ideologies, religions actually, have developed, many of them humanitarian and social in essence. Valiant and noble causes, such as saving the environment, eradicating war, toppling injustice, and bringing and end to sexual oppression, start where religion ends. The people involved in these activities are fully engaged and embracing of the ideology of whatever group they have joined to the point where it ignites the spirituality within them and they become full of motivation and elation; the result is a strange and diluted form of worship. The imprint of religion is apparent even in these in that a few people, usually leaders, are seen as patriarchs or matriarchs of the movement and the rest of the people are disciples. The cause becomes universal in scope and the person is ready to dedicate the whole of his being to it. The cause or the objective goal of grandeur itself becomes the god, the object of devotion. However, no such god really exists, no command other than some loosely-composed internal drive to make something in the world better or perhaps to leave behind a vestige of immorality, completely fueled by self-initiation, and devotion fails as quickly as the whim flails.
But atheism facilitates the emergence of real evil. At any moment that the void is so large that anything can fit inside, with so many unchallenged acts of immorality, that any given act of "super destruction" can occur, and the previously immoral relativists, now suddenly awake to the possibility that evil exists, challenge it. However, one cannot develop an internal and composite perspective on morality overnight, and those who challenge it too are the products of years, if not decades or generations, of loosened moral fiber. Therefore, their judgment has become skewed by years of exposure to the irresoluteness of their culture and they, like most people, even those opposite to them, have lost the right to be the champions or torch-bearers of any ethical or moral mantle. Further, why should any maniac heed the moral urgings of the populace when they previously consumed immorality like voracious wolves? Will they now be hypocritical? If they believe in nothing, then they have not the right, but the ability, to say nothing. In the end, only the monotheists have room to speak and only they have the power to resist anything, for it was they who warned against evil when the stakes were still low. It is better to listen to the war drums before they become soaked in blood.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Shavua tov and good week!
I just read an article from Yahoo about a group of Zeus-worshippers in Greece who want to revive the ancient Greek religion. According to the article, many of them chose worshipping Zeus because they do not like the Greek-Orthodox Church. Just talking about my own life here, but I always found that defining yourself by setting yourself in opposition to something never really worked that well. In other words, worshipping Zeus because you don't like the Greek Orthodox Church is not a reason to worship Zeus; if you are going to worship it, do it because you believe in it, not because you want to "stick it" to the Greek Orthodox Church.
One thing I'll never understand about polytheism is how the "faithful" get around the belief of other polytheists whom believe in other gods. Why exactly is Zeus the god of worship over Marduk (the chief Babylonian god) Rah, the head Egyptian god, or Buri, who in the Norse religion is the first god to exist? Why are the particular traits of each of those first gods associated with the creator god? Do not the individual traits of the gods, given that they differ from each other, not bother those who believe in them? Further, each religion is composed up of belief in many gods; which system is true system, or does truth not fit into the equation?
Anyway, I thought I would include a list of here of some of the choices of worship you had were you a polytheist. Here is a link to wikipedia
list of probably most of the gods you could choose:African
[edit] Anglo-Saxon
- Eostre, goddess of spring
- Fríge, counterpart to the Norse Frigg. Friday comes from her name.
- Ingui Fréa, counterpart to the Norse Frey
- Seaxnéat, the founder of the Saxon race
- Thor, the same god as the Norse deity by the same name. Thursday comes from his name.
- Tiw, counterpart to the Norse Tyr. Tuesday comes from the name of this god.
- Wéland, counterpart to the Norse Volundr
- Wóden, counterpart to the Norse Odin. Wednesday comes from the name of this god.
[edit] Akan
[edit] Ashanti
[edit] Australian Aboriginal
- Altjira
- Anjea
- Bagadjimbiri
- Baiame
- Bamapana
- Banaitja
- Bobbi-Bobbi
- Bunjil
- Daramulum
- Dilga
- Djanggawul
- Eingana
- Galeru
- Gnowee
- Julana
- Julunggul
- Karora
- Kidili
- Kunapipi
- Mangar-kunjer-kunja
- Numakulla
- Pundjel
- Ulanji
- Walo
- Wawalag
- Wuriupranili
- Yurlungur
[edit] Ayyavazhi
[edit] Aztec
(See the much longer list at Aztec mythology)
- Chalchiuhtlicue - goddess of lakes and streams
- Cinteotl - god of maize
- Coyolxauhqui - goddess of the moon
- Ehecatl - the god of the wind
- Huehueteotl - an ancient god of the hearth, the fire of life
- Huitzilopochtli - god of the sun, fire, and war
- Ilamatecuhtli- goddess of the earth, death, and the milky way.
- Itztlacoliuhqui-Ixquimilli - god of hard stone
- Mayahuel - goddess of maguey
- Mictlantecuhtli - god of death
- Ometeotl - god/goddess of heaven
- Quetzalcoatl - god of the breath of life
- Tepeyollotl - god of earthquakes
- Tezcatlipoca - god of discord
- Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli - god of dawn
- Tlaloc - god of rain and lightning
- Toci - goddess of earth
- Tonacatecuhtli - god of food
- Xipe Totec - god of spring
- Xochipilli - flower god
- Xochiquetzal - love goddess
[edit] Bahá'í
- God, who has manifested himself in many prophets, such as:
[edit] Baltic
[edit] Celtic
(See the much more complete lists at Celtic mythology and Celtic polytheism.}
- Abellio - god of apple trees
- Agrona - a British goddess of strife and war
- Alaunus/Fin - god of the sun, healing, and prophecy
- Ambisagrus - god of thunder and lightning
- Ancamna - a Gallo-Roman water goddess
- Andarta - a Gallic warrior goddess
- Anextiomarus - a British equivalent of Apollo
- Artio - goddess of the bear
- Aveta - goddess of female-fertility, childbirth and midwives, also associated with all fresh water.
- Belatu-Cadros - a British war god
- Belenus - "Shining One", associated with fire and healing
- Belisama - goddess connected with lakes and rivers, fire, crafts and light, consort of Belenus
- Borvo - deity was associated with mineral springs, hot springs and healing
- Brigit
- Brigantia
- Camma - hunting goddess
- Camulus - god of war
- Cernunos - horned nature god associated with produce and fertility
- Cissonius - equivalent of mercury, probably a god of trade and protector of travellers
- Cocidus - god of war, hunting, forests, groves and wild fields
- Condatis - associated with rivers and healing
- Coventina - goddess of wells and springs
- Dagda - supreme god of Irish mythology
- Damara - British fertility goddess
- Danu - a mother goddess
- Epona - goddess of horses, donkeys and mules
- Esus
- Fagus - god of beech trees
- Glanis - a Gallic healing god
- Grannus - god of the sun, healing and mineral springs
- Gwydion
- Loucetios - a war and thunder god
- Lugh
- Lyr
- Manannan mac Lir
- Maponos - god of youth
- Morrigan - war goddess
- Nantosuelta - goddess of fire and fertility
- Nemain - war goddess
- Nemetona - goddess of temples and sacred groves
- Nuadha
- Ogma - god of scholars, education, writing and eloquence
- Rhiannon - Goddess of the moon
- Robur - god of oak trees
- Rosmerta - goddess of fertility and abundance
- Rudianos - Gallic war god
- Segomo - Gallic war god
- Sirona - healing deity, associated with healing springs
- Smertios - Gallic war god
- Sucellus - Gallic god of agriculture, forests, and alcoholic drinks
- Sulis - deification of spring water
- Tamesis - goddess of water
- Taranis - god of thunder
- Toutatis
[edit] Chinese Malaysian
List of Malaysian Chinese Gods:
- Na Tuk Kong / Na Tok Kong (Chinese: 拿督公)
- Celestial God Tnee Kong (Chinese : 天公)
- Earth God Teh Choo Kong, Tu Di Gong (Chinese: 土地公)
- Tua Pek Kong (Chinese: 大伯公)
- God of Prosperity Choy Sun Yeh / God of Fortune (Chinese: 财神)
- Kwan God Kwan Kong (Chinese: 關公)
- Kwan Yin Ma originated from Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara (Chinese: 觀世音), commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy.
- Matsu (goddess) (Chinese: 媽祖) is the Taoist Goddess of the Sea who protects fishermen and sailors.
- Di Zhu God (Chinese: 地主神) Lord of the Land Used.
- Gao Yao Chinese god of justice and judgement.
[edit] Christian
[edit] Dacian
[edit] Dahomey
[edit] Discordian
[edit] Efik
[edit] Egyptian (Pharaonic)
- Amun - creator deity
- Anubis - divine embalmer and tomb-caretaker who watches over the dead
- Apep - Serpent of the Underworld, enemy of Ra
- The Aten - the embodiment of the Sun's rays in a brief, monotheistic interlude
- Atum - a creator deity, and the setting sun
- Bast, protector of the pharaoh, cat-bodied or cat-headed
- Bes - dwarfed semigod associated with protection of the household, particularly childbirth, and entertainment
- The four sons of Horus
- Geb - god of the Earth and first ruler of Egypt
- Hapy - god embodied by the Nile, and who represents life and fertility
- Hathor - Goddess of Love and Music
- Heget Goddess of Childbirth
- Horus the falcon-headed god, God of Pharaohs and Upper Egypt
- Imhotep God of wisdom, medicine and magic
- Isis - Goddess of Magic, sister of Nephthys
- Khepry - the scarab beetle, the embodiment of the dawn
- Khnum - a creator deity, god of the innundation
- Maahes - god of war
- Ma'at - personified concept of truth, balance, justice, and order
- Menhit - Goddess of war
- Mont - god of war
- Naunet - the primal waters
- Neith - goddess of war, then great mother goddess
- Nephthys - mother of Anubis
- Nut - goddess of heaven and the sky
- Osiris - god of the underworld, fertility and agricultural, possible father of Anubis
- Ptah - a creator deity, also god of crafts, possibly Men-Nefer (Memphis)
- Ra - the sun, possible father of Anubis, also a creator deity
- Sekhmet - goddess of destruction, particularly against demons of sickness
- Sobek - Crocodile God
- Set - god of storms, possible father of Anubis; later became god of evil, desert, also Lower Egypt
- Shu - embodiment of wind or air
- Taweret - goddess of pregnant women and protector at childbirth
- Tefnut - embodiment of rain, dew, clouds, and water-weather
- Thoth - god of the moon, drawing, writing, geometry, wisdom, medicine, music, astronomy, and magic
- Wepwawet
[edit] Estonian
- Peko - god of fertility, crops and brewing
- Pikne (lightning) - god of thunder
- Tharapita - god of war
- Vanemuine (the ancient one) - god of music (possibly a spurious later development)
[edit] Etruscan
- Alpan - a goddess of love (but usually identified with Persephone, not Aphrodite)
- Aplu - equated with Apollo
- Menrva - equivalent to the Greek Athene
- Nethuns - derived from Greek Poseidon
- Tinia - equivalent to Zeus
- Turan - the goddess usually identified with Aphrodite
- Uni - equivalent of Hera
- Voltumna - god of the Etruscan race, equivalent to the Roman Volturnus
[edit] Finnish
There are very few written documents about old Finnish religions; also the names of deities and practices of worship changed from place to place. The following is a summary of the most important and most widely worshipped deities.
- Ahti (or Ahto) - god of streams, lakes and sea
- Jumala - a physical idol (the name was later used for the Christian god)
- Loviatar - One of Tuoni's daughters. Goddess of pain.
- Mielikki - Tapio's wife
- Otso - son of a god, king of the forest, whose carnal form is the bear
- Pekko (or Peko) - god or goddess (the actual gender is obscure) of fields and agriculture
- Perkele - the devil (originally a Lithuanian deity, adopted into Finnish tradition at a late date)
- Rauni - Ukko's wife, goddess of fertility
- Tapio - god of forest and wild animals
- Tuonetar - The wife of Tuoni
- Tuoni - god of the underworld
- Ukko - god of heaven and thunder
[edit] Ancient Greek
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- Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty, one of the twelve Olympians
- Apollo - god of poetry, music, the sun, and prophecy, and an Olympian
- Ares - god of violent war, an Olympian
- Artemis - goddess of the hunt, virginity, and childbirth, twin sister of Apollo, and an Olympian, often associated with the moon
- Athena - goddess of wisdom, defensive and strategic war, guardian-goddess of Athens, an Olympian
- Chaos - non-gendered primordial entity from which Gaia was created
- Cronus - leader of first generation of Titans, also a harvest deity
- Demeter - goddess of the harvest and of grain, mother of Persephone, an Olympian
- Dionysus - god of wine and sensual pleasures, took Hestia's place as an Olympian
- Eos - goddess of the dawn
- Eris - goddess of discord
- Eros - god of love
- Gaia - primordial goddess of earth, mother and grandmother of the first generation of Titans
- Hades - god of the underworld and material riches, brother of Zeus
- Hebe - wife of Heracles and goddess of youth
- Hekate - goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, and the harvest moon
- Hephaestus - god of smiths, an Olympian
- Hera - Queen of the Gods and Heaven, goddess of marriage, an Olympian
- Heracles - porter of Olympus, patron god of gymnasia and wrestling rings, god of strength
- Hermes - messenger of the gods and transporter of souls to the Underworld, an Olympian
- Hestia - goddess of the hearth, gave up seat at Olympus to Dionysus
- Hypnos - god of sleep
- Pan - god of shepherds and forests
- Persephone - daughter of Demeter, queen of the dead, also a grain-goddess
- Poseidon - god of the sea and earthquakes, an Olympian
- Selene - goddess of the moon
- Thanatos - god of death
- Ouranos - sky god and ancestor of many of the other gods
- Zeus - King of the Gods and god of the sky, air, and storms
See also: Demigods, the Dryads, the Fates, the Erinyes, the Graces, the Horae, the Muses, the Nymphs, the Pleiades, and the Titans.
[edit] Gnostic
[edit] Guarani
[edit] Hindu
- Brahman, the one and only (formless) supreme aspect of God. The Universe in Potential Static Energy.
- Adi - Shakti, the Female aspect of the Supreme Divine in Kinetic Dynamic Form.
- The Three Maha Shaktis (Super Powers) of the Universe or the Super Goddesses In Hinduism.
- MahaSaraswati (Great Saraswati) - Universal Force of Creation
- MahaLakshmi (Great Lakshmi) - Universal Force of Preservation
- MahaKali (Great Kali) - Universal Force of Dissolution
- The Hindu Tridevi - Triple Goddess, the consorts of the Trinity
- Vishnu
- Avatars (Incarnations) of Vishnu
- Matsya Avatar - Fish Incarnation
- Kurma Avatar - Tortoise Incarnation
- Varah Avatar - Boar Incarnation
- Vaman Avatar - Dwarf Incarnation
- Narasimha Avatar - Man-Lion Incarnation
- Rama Avatar - Incarnation as the Epic King in Ramayana
- Krishna Avatar - Incarnation as the Epic Prince in Maha Bharata
- Buddha Avatar - Incarnation as Gautama Buddha, Founder of Buddhism
- Kalki Avatar - The Avatar yet to come on the onset of Apocalypse
- Avatars (Incarnations) of Vishnu
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- Other Deties Associated with Vishnu
- Garuda- The Eagle Headed Deity who is the vehicle of Vishnu
- Ananta or Shesha- The Infinite Serpent which is the Bed of Vishnu
- Narada- The Divine Messenger of the Gods
- Hanuman - Personified as a Monkey Headed Deity, God of Service and Devotion
- Dattatreya - Shown with Three Heads, representing the Oneness with Brahma, Vishnu and Siva (Shiva) - He is Guru and God, worshipped by all sects
- Hayagriva - He is shown with the head of a horse and is worshipped as the repository of all wisdom and knowledge
- Other Deties Associated with Vishnu
- Shiva
- The Manifestations of Shiva
- Nataraja - The Lord of Dance
- Dakshinamurti - The Lord of the South - The Preceptor and Guru
- Mahadeva - The Great God
- Ardhanarishwar - The Androgynous God (Half Man and Half Woman)
- The Manifestations of Shiva
-
- Other Deties Assocciated with Shiva
- Ganesh - Oldest Son of Shiva and the God of Prosperity, shown with an elephant head
- Kartik or Skanda - The Second Son of Shiva, The God of War, Youth and Purity
- Veer Bhadra - The Deity who Guards the Abode of Shiva
- Nandi - The Bull which is the vehicle of Shiva
- Ayyappa - Also called Manikantha, Sasta - son of Siva and Mohini, the feminine form of Vishnu
- Other Deties Assocciated with Shiva
- Lakshmi
- The Eight Forms of Lakshmi
- Adi-Lakshmi
- Vijay-Lakshmi
- Vidya-Lakshmi
- Dhana-Lakshmi
- Dhanya-Lakshmi
- Santan-Lakshmi
- Dhairya-Lakshmi
- The Eight Forms of Lakshmi
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- Other Goddesses Associated with Lakshmi
- Shri Devi- The Goddess of Beauty
- Prithvi or Bhudevi - The Goddess of Earth
- Alakshmi or Jyeshta Devi - The Contra Goddess of Misfortune
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- The Warrior Manifestations of Parvati
- Kali - The Goddess of Time and Death
- The Ten Great Wisdom Manifestations of Kali
- Kali - The Goddess as Time
- Tara - The Goddess as Space
- Chinnamasta - The Goddess as The Cycle of Life and Death
- Bhuvaneshvari - The Goddess as Perfection
- Tripura Sundari - The Goddess as the Most beautiful
- Bhairavi - The Goddess as the Most frightful
- Bagalamukhi - The Crane headed Goddess as upholder of Universal Order
- Dhumavati - The Widowed Goddess as Chaos and Misery
- Matangi - The Goddess as Leftovers and Salvage
- Kamala - The Goddess as Perfection
- The Ten Great Wisdom Manifestations of Kali
- Durga - The Goddess of Power and War
- The Nine Manifestations of Durga
- Shailaputri
- Brahmacharini
- Kushmanda
- Skanda Mata
- Katyani
- Chandraghanta
- Siddhi Dhatri
- Maha Gauri
- Kaal Ratri
- The Nine Manifestations of Durga
- Maya - The Goddess of Illusion and Mystery
- Kali - The Goddess of Time and Death
- The Warrior Manifestations of Parvati
- The Adityas
Some of the most important Devas:
- Agni - god of fire
- The Asura - Demons, Anti gods
- The Aswini - gods of sunrise and sunset
- Dyaus-pitar - ('Heaven-father') cognate of the Roman god Jupiter
- Ganesh - personified with the head of an elephant, god of wisdom, intelligence, education and prudence
- Parjanya - god of wind
- Parvati or Parvathi, wife of Shiva
- Prithivi - the Earth goddess
- Purusha - the Cosmic-Man
- The Rudras - the storm deities
- Soma - the lunar deity
- Ushas - The goddess of sunrise
- Vasus, the
- Vayu - god of wind
- The Visvedevas
[edit] Igbo
[edit] Incan
- Apo - mountain god
- Apocatquil - god of lightning
- Chasca - goddess of dawn, twilight, and Venus
- Coniraya - moon god
- Ekkeko - god of hearth and wealth
- Illapa - weather god
- Inti/Punchau - sun god
- Kon - god of rain and wind from the south
- Mama Allpa - multi-breasted fertility goddess
- Mama Cocha - goddess of sea and fish
- Mama Pacha - dragoness fertility goddess
- Mama Quilla - moon goddess
- Mama Zara - goddess of grain
- Manco Capac
- Pacha Kamaq - creator god
- Pariacaca - water god
- Supay - god of death
- Urcaguary - god of metal and jewels
- Viracocha
- Zaramama
[edit] Islamic
[edit] Isoko
[edit] Jehovah's Witnesses
[edit] Judaic
- Adonai/Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh/El/Elohim/Shaddai/Shalom/Yah/YHWH/YHWH Tzevaot (God) ("YHWH" is often transliterated "Jehovah" or "Yahweh", but only by people outside of Jewish tradition: see the article Tetragrammaton for more details.)
[edit] Khoikhoi
[edit] Korean
- Dangun - the grandson of the god of heaven.
- Hwanin - the grandson of Hwang-gung, one of the Four Men of Heaven and considered a direct ancestor of the Korean people.
[edit] !Xũ
[edit] Lotuko
[edit] Latvian
- Auseklis
- Dēkla
- Dievs - a god (the name was later used for the Christian god)
- Jumis
- Kārta
- Laima
- Māra
- Pērkons
- Saule
- Ūsiņš
[edit] Lugbara
[edit] Lusitani
- Ares Lusitani
- Atégina
- Bandonga
- Bormanico
- Cariocecus
- Duberdicus
- Endovelicus
- Geleshus
- Mars Cariocecus
- Nabia
- Nantosvelta
- Runesocesius
- Sucellus
- Tongoenabiagus
- Trebaruna
- Turiacus
[edit] Maya
- Ahaw Kin - Sun God
- Bacabs - Gods of the 4 directions
- Balac - War God
- Balam - Protector God
- Bolon tza cab - Ruling God of All
- Chaac - Rain God
- Hunah Ku - Creator God
- Itzamna - Reptile Creator God
- Ix Chel - Moon Goddess
- Kukulcan - Feathered Serpent God
- Xbalanque - God of the Jaguar
- Xi Balba - God of the Death
- Yum Kaax - Corn God
[edit] Mesopotamian
- Anshar - father of heaven
- Anu - the god of the highest heaven
- Apsu - the ruler of gods and underworld oceans
- Ashur - national god of the Assyrians, thought by the Assyrians to be king of the gods
- Damkina - Earth mother goddess
- Ea - god of wisdom
- Enlil - god of weather and storms
- Ereshkigal - Goddes of Darkness, Death, and Gloom
- Hadad - weather god
- Ishtar - goddess of love and one of the highest-ranking deities in Mesopotamian myth
- Kingu - husband of Tiamat
- Kishar - father of the earth
- Marduk - national god of the Babylonians, later thought to be king of the gods
- Mummu - god of mists
- Nabu - god of the scribal arts
- Nintu - mother of all gods
- Ninurta - god of war
- Nergal - god of war, disease, death and destruction; ruler of the underworld
- Shamash - god of the sun and of justice (Shapash in Ugaritic, Shamsa in Sumerian)
- Sin - moon god
- Tiamat - dragon goddess slain by Marduk
[edit] Mormonism
[edit] Native American
[edit] Abenaki
- Azeban - trickster
- Bmola - bird spirit
- Gluskab - kind protector of humanity
- Malsumis - cruel, evil god
- Tabaldak - the creator
[edit] Haida
[edit] Ho-Chunk
[edit] Hopi
See also: kachina.
[edit] Huron
[edit] Inuit
- Igaluk - lunar deity
- Nanook - master of bears
- Nerrivik - sea mother and food provider
- Pinga - goddess of the hunt, fertility, and medicine
- Sedna - sea goddess, ruler of the underworld
- Torngasoak - sky god
[edit] Iroquois
[edit] Kwakiutl
[edit] Lakota
[edit] Navajo
[edit] Pawnee
[edit] Salish
[edit] Seneca
[edit] Norse
- Balder - god of beauty and light, slain by the trickery of Loki
- Bragi - god of bardic poetry
- Freyja - goddess of fertility
- Freyr - the brother of Freyja and a fertility god
- Frigg - goddess of marriage, household management, and love, Queen of Heaven, and wife of Odin
- Heimdall - god of the rainbow, a bridge to heaven. His job is to blow his horn if danger approaches.
- Hel - daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, Queen of the Dead
- Hodur - brother of Balder and tricked by Loki to kill him
- Idunn - guardianess of the Apples of Youth that kept the gods young
- Loki - trickster-god, giant, blood-brother of Odin, will eventually lead the forces of evil against the gods in Ragnarok
- Niord - god of sailors and fertile seaside land
- Odin - king of the gods, god of wisdom and runes
- Sif - the wife of Thor
- Thor - god of war and storms, famous for his hammer, Mjolnir
- Tyr - god of war and glory
[edit] Pastafarian
[edit] Persian
- See the article: Persian deities
[edit] Philippine
- Amanikable - God of the sea.
- Amihan - North Wind.
- Anitan - Guardian of lightning.
- Anitun Tabu - Goddess of wind and rain.
- Apolake - God of war, guardian of the sun.
- Bakonawa - Lizard god, ruler of the underworld.
- Bathala - Supreme god of the ancient Tagalogs.
- Dian Masalanta - Goddess of love.
- Hukluban - Goddess of death.
- Idianale - Goddess of agriculture and husbandry.
- Ikapati - Goddess of fields, fertility, and lands.
- Kalinga - God of Thunder.
- Kan-Laon - Ancient Visayan god, king of time.
- Lalahon - Goddess of fire, volcanoes, and harvest.
- Manggagaway - Goddess of sickness.
- Mangkukulam - God of fire.
- Manisilat - God of broken homes.
- Maria Makiling - Protector of Mt. Makiling.
- Mayari/Bulan - Lunar goddess.
- Sitan - God of afterlife and the underworld.
- Tala - Goddess of the stars.
- Malakas - God of strength
[edit] Polynesian
[edit] Hawai'ian
See also: Menehune.
[edit] Māori
- Haumia-tiketike - deity of uncultivated food, especially fern root
- Hine-nui-te-pō - deity of death
- Hine Tītama - deity of the dawn
- Hine Raumati - deity of the summer
- Papa-tū-ā-nuku - deity of the earth
- Rā - deity of the sun
- Ranginui - deity of the sky
- Rongo - deity of cultivated food
- Ruaumoko - deity of earthquakes
- Tāne Māhuta - deity of the forest and its creatures, man
- Tangaroa - deity of the sea and its creatures
- Tāwhiri-matea - deity of the weather, especially storms
- Tū Matauenga - deity of war
- Uenuku - deity of rainbows
[edit] Prussian
- Ukapirmas - the chief god, creator of the world
- Perkūns / Perkuno - the god of thunder
- Pikuls (Pickollo) - a god (in Christian times, he was vilified as the devil)
- Kaūks - a deity
- Swāikstiks / Suaixtix / Swaixtix - a deity
- Dēiwas - a god (in Christian times, the name was applied to the Christian god)
[edit] Pygmy
[edit] Roman
(NB- this is very incomplete, as there are numerous personifications, etc. Greek equivalents, if there are any, will be on the page about the deity. Keep in mind that Flamens are high-ranking Roman priests, Flamen Majores being High Priests and Flamen Minores being Lesser Priests.)
- Acis - river god near the Etna, son of Faunus and the nymph Symaethis
- Aesculapius - god of health and medicine
- Apollo - god of the sun, poetry, music, and oracles, and an Olympian
- Aurora - goddess of the dawn
- Bacchus - god of wine and sensual pleasures, not considered an Olympian by the Romans
- Bellona - war goddess
- Caelus -god of the sky
- Carmenta - goddess of childbirth and prophecy, and assigned a Flamen Minore
- Ceres - goddess of the harvest and mother of Proserpina, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Minore
- Consus - chthonic god protecting grain storage
- Cupid - god of love and son of Mars and Venus
- Cybele - earth mother
- Diana - goddess of the hunt, the moon, virginity, and childbirth, twin sister of Apollo and an Olympian
- Discordia - goddess of discord
- Faunus - god of flocks
- Febris - goddess who prevented fever and malaria
- Flora - goddess of flowers, and assigned a Flamen Minore
- Fortuna -goddess of fortune
- Hercules - god of strength
- Hespera - goddess of dusk
- Hora - Quirinus' wife
- Janus - two-headed god of beginnings and endings and of doors
- Juno - Queen of the Gods and goddess of matrimony, and an Olympian
- Jupiter - King of the Gods and the storm, air, and sky god, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Majore
- Juturna- goddess of springs
- Juventas - god of youth
- Libitina - goddess of the underworld
- Lucina - goddess of childbirth
- Luna- moon goddess
- Lupercus - god of shepherds
- Mars - god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Majore
- Mercury - messenger of the gods and bearer of souls to the underworld, and an Olympian
- Minerva - goddess of wisdom and war, and an Olympian
- Morpheus - god of dreams
- Nemesis - goddess of revenge
- Neptune - god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, and an Olympian
- Orcus - a god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths
- Pluto - King of the Dead
- Poena - goddess of punishment
- Pomona - goddess of fruit trees, and assigned a Flamen Minore.
- Portunes- god of keys, doors, and livestock, he was assigned a Flamen Minore.
- Priapus - god of fertility
- Proserpina - Queen of the Dead and a grain-goddess
- Quirinus - Romulus, the founder of Rome, was deified as Quirinus after his death. Quirinus was a war god and a god of the Roman people and state, and was assigned a Flamen Majore.
- Silvanus - tutelary spirit of woods
- Sol Invictus - sun god
- Somnus - god of sleep
- Suadela- goddess of persuasion
- Terminus - the rustic god of boundaries
- Trivia - goddess of magic
- Venus - goddess of love and beauty, mother of the hero Aeneas, and an Olympian
- Vesta - goddess of the hearth and the Roman state, and an Olympian.
- Victoria - goddess of victory
- Volturnus- a god of water, was assigned a Flamen Minore.
- Voluptas - goddess of pleasure
- Vulcan - god of the forge, fire, and blacksmiths, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Minore
[edit] Deified emperors
Each deified emperor was assigned a Flamen Majore. Please add more, as this section is incomplete:
- Julius Caesar
- Augustus
- Claudius
- Vespasian
- Titus
- Nerva
- Trajan
- Hadrian
- Antoninus Pius
- Lucius Verus
- Marcus Aurelius
- Pertinax
- Commodus
- Septimius Severus
- Geta
- Caracalla
- Severus Alexander
- Gordian I, II, III
- Philip I, II
- Traianus Decius
- Herennius Etruscus
- Valerian I
- Piso Frugi
- Gallienus
- Victorinus
- Claudius II
- Aurelian
- Probus
- Carus
- Numerian
- Maximian I
- Diocletian
- Constantius I
- Maximian II
- Constantine
- Constans
- ConstantiusII
- Julian II
- Jovian
- Valentinian I
- Valens
- Gratian
- Valentinian II
- Theodosius I
- Arcadius
- Constantius III
- Theodosius II
- Valentinian III
- Leo I, II
- Anastasius
[edit] Sardinian
Sardinian deities, mainly referred to in the age of Nuragici people, are partly derived from Phoenician ones.
- Janas - Goddesses of death
- Maymon - God of Hades
- Panas - Goddesses of reproduction (women dead in childbirth)
- Thanit - Goddess of Earth and fertility
[edit] Semitic pagan
| Ancient Southwest Asian deities | |
| Levantine deities | |
| Adonis | Anat | Asherah | Ashima | Astarte | Atargatis | Ba'al | Berith | Dagon | Derceto | El | Elyon | Eshmun | Hadad | Kothar | Mot | Qetesh | Resheph | Shalim | Yarikh | Yam | |
| Mesopotamian deities | |
| Adad | Amurru | An/Anu | Anshar | Asshur | Abzu/Apsu | Enki/Ea | Enlil | Ereshkigal | Inanna/Ishtar | Kingu | Kishar | Lahmu & Lahamu | Lilith | Marduk | Mummu | Nabu | Nammu | Nanna/Sin | Nergal | Ninhursag/Damkina | Ninlil | Tiamat | Utu/Shamash | |
| |
- Abzu/Apsu
- Adad
- Adonis
- Amurru
- An/Anu
- Anat
- Anshar | Asshur
- Asherah
- Astarte
- Beelzebub
- Baʿal/Hadad
- Dagon
- El
- Enki/Ea
- Enlil
- Ereshkigal
- Inanna/Ishtar
- Kingu | Kishar
- Lahmu & Lahamu
- Marduk
- Mot
- Mummu
- Nabu
- Nammu
- Nanna/Sin
- Nergal
- Ninhursag/Damkina
- Ninlil
- Tiamat
- Utu/Shamash
- Yaw
[edit] Gods of Ur of the Chaldeans (only appearing in the LDS Book of Abraham)
See also: Judaism and Islam, Levantine mythology, and Book of Abraham.
[edit] Shinto
- Aji-Suki-Taka-Hiko-Ne - god of thunder
- Amaterasu - sun goddess
- Ama-no-Uzume - fertility goddess
- Amatsu Mikaboshi - god of evil
- Chimata-No-Kami - god of crossroads, highways and footpaths
- Ho-Musubi - god of fire
- Inari (mythology) - god of rice
- Izanagi - creator god
- Izanami - creator goddess
- Kagu-tsuchi - god of fire
- Kura-Okami - god of rain
- Nai-No-Kami - god of earthquakes
- O-Kuni-Nushi - god of sorcery and medicine
- O-Wata-Tsu-Mi - god of the sea
- Sengen-Sama - goddess of the Mt. Fujiyama
- Seven Gods of Fortune
- Benzai-ten or Benten - goddess of money, eloquent persuasion, and knowledge
- Bishamon-ten - god of happiness and war
- Daikoku-ten
- Ebisu (also spelled Yebisu)
- Fukurokuju
- Hotei-osho
- Jurojin
- Shina-To-Be - goddess of wind
- Shina-Tsu-Hiko - god of wind
- Sojobo - king of the tengu
- Susanoo - god of storms and thunder, snakes and farming.
- Taka-Okami - god of rain
- Take-Mikazuchi - god of thunder
- Tengu - minor trickster deities
- Tsukuyomi - god of the moon
- Uke-Mochi - goddess of food
- Wakahiru-Me - goddess of the dawn sun
See also: Kami, List of divinities in Japanese mythology.
[edit] Sikhism
[edit] Slavic
- Belobog - god of light and sun (speculative)
- Berstuk - evil god of the forest
- Cislobog - moon goddess
- Crnobog - god of woe (speculative)
- Dajbog - sun god
- Dziewona - equivalent of Diana
- Flins - god of death
- Hors - god of the winter sun
- Jarilo - god of vegetation, fertility, spring, and associated with war and harvest
- Juthrbog - moon god
- Karewit - protector of the town of Korzenica
- Lada and Lado
- Marowit - god of nightmares
- Perun - god of thunder and lightning
- Podaga - weather god, and god of fishing, hunting and farming
- Porewit - god of law, order and judgement
- Radegast (god) - possibly a god of hospitality, fertility and crops
- Rugiwit -
- Sieba - fertility and love goddess
- Siebog - god of love and marriage
- Stribog - god and spirit of the winds, sky and air
- Svarog - god of fire
- Svetovid - god of war, fertility and abundance
- Triglav - three-headed god
- Veles - god of earth, waters, and the underworld
- Zirnitra - dragon god of sorcery
[edit] Sumerian
See also Annuna and Mesopotamian deities for a more complete list.
[edit] Thracian
[edit] Tumbuka
[edit] Ugarit
- ‘Anat - war goddess
- Athirat - mother goddess
- ‘Athtart - goddess of fertility
- Dagon - god of earth
- El - the father god and head
- Haddu - commonly titled Ba‘l, a rain god and storm god.
- Mot - the god of death
- Yam - the god of the sea
Note: Ugarit gives the earliest and fullest snapshot of Canaanite religion and northwest Semitic religion.
[edit] Wiccan
- The God (also known as the Horned God, the Great God, the Great Father, the Sky father, the Lord, etc)
- The Goddess (also known as the Great Mother, the Triple Goddess, the Earth Mother, the Lady, etc)
[edit] Yoruba
- Aja
- Aje
- Egungun-oya
- Eshu
- Oba
- Obatala
- Odùduwà
- Oloddumare
- Olokun
- Olorun
- Orunmila
- Oshun
- Oshunmare
- Oya
- Shakpana
- Shango
- Yansan
- Yemaja
