Well, it's hard to entirely avoid real-world elements when the setting is directly based on it. Since the only campaign with actual gods that I'm currently contributing to is based on Japan-with-supernatural-elements-resurfacing-completely, the five characteristics of gods can be taken right from the wiki:
- Two-minded nature: they can be benevolent and helpful, or malevolent and destructive, depending on mood and treatment.
- Hidden nature: they are not normally visible; they tend to be hidden in sacred places, wondrous phenomena, the world of gods, and the like.
- Mobile nature: they never stick forever in the same spot, not even a place of worship.
- Diverse nature: there are many different types of gods, and the types can be found throughout occult literature, with different types having certain distinguishing characteristics and 'purposes' (see below).
- Dedicated nature: when treated properly (through ritual, speech, contributions &c.), they have a duty to provide some sort of guardianship over their respective domains/places/phenomena.
If this is still stepping too much into real life (is it?), I'll delete this.