[Glorantha] Antigods and Gods

From: Greg Stafford <greg>
Date: Sun Aug 20 05:00:34 2006

YGWV
> From: Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_quicksilver.net.nz>
opens the door to a fascinating, complex and difficult subject

Joerg:

>> > In Eastern mythology, the Sea always seems to be working
>> > hand in hand with the antigods - I think there's some dark
>> > source in their mythology which the antigods find easy to
>> > attune to.

Nils:
>> I think most of the sea gods are actually considered to be >> antigods. E.g. Venperesha is the antigoddess of sea animals.

Peter:
> That's a subjective and polemical classification (one readily
> made by the Vithelans) but it doesn't address Joerg's
> problem.

The Vithelan classification of gods and antigods is actually pretty clear cut, though not stated out clearly in the UW.

> The sea gods are not part of the Vithelan pantheon
> but have their own mythology and connection with
> the Transcendent. As a result, they are no more
> antigods than the Orlanthi are.

But the Orlanthi are, in fact, antigods. Just as the Sea Gods are, and the Solar Gods, and most of the Beings worshipped in Glorantha.

> Yet despite this, in the
> conflicts that the Sea Gods have with the Vithelans, they
> end up taking the side of the Antigods. The question
> was then why?

The answer to that is: it?s their nature. It is their nature to BE gods of the world. They are integral to Glorantha?s nature?indeed, they are Nature itself. As such they can be worshipped and they will return powers to their worshippers. That is their nature.

But the nature of the gods is to raise the consciousness of the worshippers. Their worship is designed to activate a sense of ascending knowledge and intimacy with the Unknown, and to lead the worshipper towards higher levels of consciousness.

Yes, some of the Vithelan gods have connections with Immanent reality?Nature. But the nature of their worship is different from that of the antigods, which do not have that intent.

Yes, some of the antigods have a connection with the Transcendent, but the nature of their worship does not compel or tempt the normal worshipper towards higher consciousness.

The nature of the Vithelan pantheon is different in that manner from most of the other entities of the world, which are (by definition) therefore antigods.

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Sincerely,
Greg Stafford

Issaries, Inc.
c/o Greg Stafford
1942 Channing Ave, #204
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA

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Sincerely,
Greg Stafford

Issaries, Inc.
c/o Greg Stafford
1942 Channing Ave, #204
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA Received on Sun 20 Aug 2006 - 03:10:16 EEST