How powerful are the Gods?

[The Emperor of Mankind]

I often struggle with questions like this. More specifically I struggle with the nature of the gods. Are they present in things that are associated with them e.g. thunder & lightning is Thor? How can that be if we know lightning is caused by collisions of ice crystals rather than a god? Or do they exist in a realm beyond our current comprehension with the ability to affect our world using their powers? If so, would that not be the opposite of them being part of nature which is (arguably) intrinsically part of what Pagan gods are?

I'm not sure...

 

[Whiterain]

I don't even know if Tor is that powerful, he's a real giant but I am uncertain if Mjölnir is even a magical weapon or just a wrought Iron hammer.

​

The gods were romanticized for sure, I am not certain if they are as powerful as they are in poetry.

I was talking about the Greed Tragedy and other events involving the Gods showing themselves and people never believed them or listened to them, it was even a violent experience more often that not. I think the Trojans beat the **** out of Ares when he said he was Ares but I have no idea. There's a legend of a Trojan that kill hundreds of men with masterful skills and berserker rage. It was believed to be Odin or Ares, I think the legend was subject to Nazi research when they were looking for an Ubermensch, that whole story is dodgy and suppressed now. Every resource I used to have had been shut down or removed online.

Perhaps with technology and the internet they would be easier interacting with Mankind.

I have no idea how to explain anything else. It's all in my mind now, no pictures no videos for me.

 

[Jainarayan]

Or do they exist in a realm beyond our current comprehension with the ability to affect our world using their powers?

Very possibly.

If so, would that not be the opposite of them being part of nature which is (arguably) intrinsically part of what Pagan gods are?

I don't think that's mutually exclusive. I know I rely too much on movie lines tomake my points, but here goes...

"Once mankind accepted a simple truth; that he was not alone in the universe. Some worlds he believed to be the home of the gods; others, he knew to fear".

"Your ancestors called it magic, you call it science; I come from a place where they are one and the same".

"A race of advanced beings could have crossed through. A primitive culture like the Vikings could have worshiped them as deities" (OK, so I have a problem with the primitive culture like the Vikings part ).

But we don't know who or what is out there, in this universe or in others that advanced beings could have learned to traverse as easily as we cross the street. I know, it's really all on my part.

 

[Whiterain]

I don't know about the ancient aliens theory. I can't wrap my mind around them being celestial beings, but I believe there is life in the cosmos and it doesn't change my views.

I don't know why a vail of ignorance was put onto Mankind if extra-terrestrials did interact with Man, or are like the Grey and Reptilian conspiracy.

Sumerian myth with the Annunaki and some other myths make it pretty clear their were from space.

There's not enough evidence of technology, there would be something more significant but the space people packed up everything and left no evidence.

Norse myth can be seen as cosmic but I don't know, I don't know. Why they would be so strict with technology and make Man grueling advance throughout our grotesque history makes it seem quite cruel. I can't believe it was for our dignity.

Christians are worse than Atheists when it comes to myth and Pagans. They come out of the wood work to insult you for believing in myth, when there actually is proof the Gods existed through the clans and royal families.

Along with those new age theories that the Gods and Angels are extra-terrestrials, it's such a wholesome laugh.

Is Satan The serpeant the Dragon a reptilian?

 

[Jainarayan]

I don't think of them the way the "Ancient Astronaut theorists" do. I think it's more mystical and metaphysical. We call the gods our elder kin. Elder may mean more evolved, higher. But I try not to get caught up too much in the mental masturbation over it as I did with Hindu and Buddhist cosmology and theology. Thor, whatever he is, is my buddy, big brother, protector, coach. And I'm glad we met.

 

[Kalibhakta]

May I respectfully comment to Whiterain?

In Hinduism, the one god and goddess incarnate in many forms to the understanding to devotee. Thorbjorn is right. Lord Krishna did say that it is very, very hard to focus on God the Transcendent, so he incarnates in myriads of forms we could better relate to.

...I understand about spinning the circle. In Hinduism, it is said that god is sound, but for me, He is also Motion. I could never understand exactly its true meaning to you, but I can understand the profoundity of spinning the circle as a Truth.

 

[Whiterain]

May I respectfully comment to Whiterain?

In Hinduism, the one god and goddess incarnate in many forms to the understanding to devotee. Thorbjorn is right. Lord Krishna did say that it is very, very hard to focus on God the Transcendent, so he incarnates in myriads of forms we could better relate to.

...I understand about spinning the circle. In Hinduism, it is said that god is sound, but for me, He is also Motion. I could never understand exactly its true meaning to you, but I can understand the profoundity of spinning the circle as a Truth.

Thank you, Kalibhakta. I'm mostly interpreting what I've learned in my minds eye. It's not totally nonsensical, just so extremely outrageous to try and explain to others, people tell me I'm mad or even become offended. I don't see the Hindu Gods to often, nor do I believe the AEsir are actually related to that Kingdom of Gods.

But I've heard the stories. Tor is Indra, ect. I don't believe he is.

To many people are trying to make the Gods universal when they really aren't. They all have their own kingdoms and beliefs.


Democracy and civil rights isn't all of them.

 

[Kalibhakta]

I am only Human, but I try to be understanding. I cannot say I may understand, but I too have strange truths. If you are willing to share, here or in private, I am willing to hear. Nothing much offends me.

 

[Jainarayan]

To many people are trying to make the Gods universal when they really aren't. They all have their own kingdoms and beliefs.

I have read this elsewhere. There is a person at another site who has the same belief. She is a rock hard polytheist who does not believe the gods of different pantheons are the same gods viewed through different cultural lenses. She goes as far as to say that the realms of Hades, Hel, Yama, and all the other deities of all the other pantheons are very different Otherworlds, as she calls them. For example, Vaikunta (Vishnu's abode) is very different from Asgard is very different from Shiva's abode as she sees it. I can't say I disagree with her.

 

[Kalibhakta]

I understand. Forgive my rude interruption.

 

[Whiterain]

I understand. Forgive my rude interruption.

It's fine, this is my thread, go on if you would like.

 

[Theweirdtophat]

I don't know about the ancient aliens theory. I can't wrap my mind around them being celestial beings, but I believe there is life in the cosmos and it doesn't change my views.

I don't know why a vail of ignorance was put onto Mankind if extra-terrestrials did interact with Man, or are like the Grey and Reptilian conspiracy.

Sumerian myth with the Annunaki and some other myths make it pretty clear their were from space.

There's not enough evidence of technology, there would be something more significant but the space people packed up everything and left no evidence.

Norse myth can be seen as cosmic but I don't know, I don't know. Why they would be so strict with technology and make Man grueling advance throughout our grotesque history makes it seem quite cruel. I can't believe it was for our dignity.

Christians are worse than Atheists when it comes to myth and Pagans. They come out of the wood work to insult you for believing in myth, when there actually is proof the Gods existed through the clans and royal families.

Along with those new age theories that the Gods and Angels are extra-terrestrials, it's such a wholesome laugh.

Is Satan The serpeant the Dragon a reptilian?

I don't really see how it's laughable. Technically just about all of the deities are "aliens" if you think about it. If they visited Earth or made Earth, where did they come from? If they weren't made on Earth than they would technically be aliens anyway since an extraterrestrial is someone not of this planet. Also why is the idea of aliens being here implausible anyway? Because it's not officially in our textbooks so it's laughable? Besides if beings with advanced powers and technology came to people with a bunch of sticks and stones, don't you think they would be worshipped as all powerful? Even if we went back in time to visit our ancestors they would worship us due to our technology.

I like to keep an open mind about things and not dismiss them because" It's not proven by science or our textbooks so therefore I'm going to say it's false." I find that kind of thinking to be absurd.

 

[Jainarayan]

Do I have to pull out my movie quotes from Thor to show the proof for this being true?

 

[Theweirdtophat]

Yesh you have to. :3 I'll add some.

Odin: We are not gods. We are born, we live, we die. Just as humans do.
Loki: Give or take 5,000 years.

 

[Jainarayan]

Yesh you have to. :3 I'll add some.

Odin: We are not gods. We are born, we live, we die. Just as humans do.
Loki: Give or take 5,000 years.

I love that, Loki is so snarky.

Odin voiceover: Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: that he was not alone in the universe. Some worlds he believed to be the homes of the gods, others he knew to fear.

Thor: Your ancestors called it magic, you call it science. I come from a place where they are one and the same.

 

[The Hammer]

I too don't believe the Gods are omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent or omni-anything-else. I think they are beings on a higher plane than we are. They may very well be what they represent. That is, Thor is thunder, thunder is real, so Thor is real. Odin is war, he is death, he is poetry. These are things that are intangible to us but they are real things. We're locked into this plane and tend to (or have to) anthropomorphize. The Gods do what they do, with or without us. I know, that was all kind of trippy, but I've had a hellacious week.

I understand an believe this too an extent, but my brain has an absolutely horrendous time trying to really wrap itself around this concept. I don't know why. It is the most difficult thing for me as a pagan. I can't shift my line of thinking into this mode it seems. Or maybe I am just ranting because I haven't meditated or done a blot or anything spiritual in the last 2 months and I just feel disconnected. Idk?

 

[Jainarayan]

Oh, I was just musing on it. I don't mean to imply that's my absolute rock solid view, though I do believe the "beings on a higher plane than we are" part. The other, more mystical or metaphysical way is much harder to grasp than thinking of Thor as a big muscle bear, or Odin with a hat and cloak wandering the wilds, or Freyja dressed up in gold and slinky robes saying "why dontcha come up and see me sometime, big boy" ala Mae West. Remember Bhagavad Gita 12.5 (don't dwell too much on the Purport) and needing to focus on something tangible.

 

[Whiterain]

I love that, Loki is so snarky.

Snarky... Here inlays the constant conflict of people trying to know them, Loki in particular. With someone else you know to be immediately respectful, where with Loki people seem to find him more approachable on a personal level when other words they would fear for their life after a gangster grip pistol whip.

I'm just kidding. Snarky... Snarky.. So frugally people use that word.

And that's what I want to hear when besides he's not real when somebody mentions Loki, He'll probably pistol whip ya, then say something totally irrelevant. But he won't say anything funny, he's also in amazing shape, tall and muscular.

Tom Hiddleston, I don't know why they didn't have Hiddleston bulk up instead of being lean and ultimately overshadowed by the other characters. Did decent for the Marvel version but the comic book rendition Loki is really muscular.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Snarky... Here inlays the constant conflict of people trying to know them, Loki in particular. With someone else you know to be immediately respectful, where with Loki people seem to find him more approachable on a personal level when other words they would fear for their life after a gangster grip pistol whip.

I'm just kidding. Snarky... Snarky.. So frugally people use that word.

And that's what I want to hear when besides he's not real when somebody mentions Loki, He'll probably pistol whip ya, then say something totally irrelevant. But he won't say anything funny, he's also in amazing shape, tall and muscular.

Tom Hiddleston, I don't know why they didn't have Hiddleston bulk up instead of being lean and ultimately overshadowed by the other characters. Did decent for the Marvel version but the comic book rendition Loki is really muscular.

Probably to juxtapose the fact that Thor is muscular and strong, whereas Loki needs to have a strong mind since he doesn't have a strong body in comparison to Thor. It's the classic stereotype of smart weak guy vs big dumb brute.

 

[Jainarayan]

Probably to juxtapose the fact that Thor is muscular and strong, whereas Loki needs to have a strong mind since he doesn't have a strong body in comparison to Thor. It's the classic stereotype of smart weak guy vs big dumb brute.

Yes and further, even though it's a movie the line "...and what of that witless oaf Thor...?" is not far from the depictions of Thor in the Eddas and other stories. With all love and respect, he's the big dumb uber-jock, though 'dumb' is the wrong word because he's really not dumb at all. He's clever in his own way. He has more common sense than "book smarts"; ironically maybe more common sense than the other gods, and he knows it. His strength and manliness is more important to him, however, as seen in his reaction to having to dress in drag. He just does what he does. That Thor and Loki are opposites in intellect and physicality is probably why they are traveling and adventure companions. Moreover, Thor is the only god Loki is actually afraid of and respects (e.g. Sif's hair incident, Lokasenna).