Hell in Dungeon Fantasy

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

So you can't have gods without having souls or afterlives? That's interesting.

You can't have 'True gods' under that definitions.

But you can have 'gods' ala Star Trek's Q and the Prophets

[Flyndaran]

Deleted on advice from another poster.

Derailing and likely to antagonize with already known opinions.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

What about adding the Gnostic Demiurge?

I couldn't convince him that Islam canonincally recognized Jewish and Christian djinn, so good luck with that.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

You can't have 'True gods'

But you can have 'gods' ala Star treks Q and the Profits

I don't see the difference. Without souls, then absolute power over bodies and minds is just as total as with souls and having power of them.
But, interesting to read such differing views.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

I couldn't convince him that Islam canonincally recognized Jewish and Christian djinn, so good luck with that.

The gnostic Demiurge is a fascinating concept I might like to play with in made up world settings. Like the Archangels in Gurps Cabal acting like transformers stepping down the power of the source.

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I don't see the difference. Without souls, then absolute power over bodies and minds is just as total as with souls and having power of them.
But, interesting to read such differing views.

The difference is without souls they just biggest kids on the block. And no real authority on "what's next" like True Gods, which make 'False Gods' might be able power clerics [or the might just teach spells disguised as prayers] and try to control mortal behavior with rules about the afterlife, but rules they can't enact.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

The difference is without souls they just biggest kids on the block. And no real authority on "what's next" like True Gods, which make 'False Gods' might be able power clerics [or the might just teach spells disguised as prayers] and try to control mortal behavior with rules about the afterlife, but rules they can't enact.

"True" gods sound like biggest kids on the block to me even with souls. It just changes the arena of power.

[Ed the Coastie]

Upon reflection, I suppose "refuse" might be a bit strong a word. It comes down to what you enjoy, I guess. I tend to favor "dirt-under-your-fingernails" levels of power rather than epic fantasy; I have no real interest in stuff like In Nomine or Planescape. Many of my games do have religion in them, but such is little more than background; I have no need for detailing the afterlife, since a player whose character dies simply rolls up a new one.

[jeff_wilson]

Even historical mythoi disagree on true gods - sometimes Zeus controls men's destiny, sometimes he is powerless to change the decree of the Fates.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

Even historical mythoi disagree on true gods - sometimes Zeus controls men's destiny, sometimes he is powerless to change the decree of the Fates.

That's why I thought it interesting that anyone would have a definition set enough to differentiate god from "true" god.

I would think "true" god just means "my" god, like how my beliefs are a religion while yours are a mythology or more rudely superstitions.