Human credulity

[839311]

So many gods, so many credulous people who worshipped them. Upon looking at this list, I know that there are all kinds of lessons that can be learned.

What does looking at this list make you think?

If you are a believer, does it make you doubt your own beliefs?




Middle-East: (169)
A, Adad, Adapa, Adrammelech, Aeon, Agasaya, Aglibol, Ahriman, Ahura Mazda, Ahurani, Ai-ada, Al-Lat, Aja, Aka, Alalu, Al-Lat, Amm, Al-Uzza (El-'Ozza or Han-Uzzai), An, Anahita, Anath (Anat), Anatu, Anbay, Anshar, Anu, Anunitu, An-Zu, Apsu, Aqhat, Ararat, Arinna, Asherali, Ashnan, Ashtoreth, Ashur, Astarte, Atar, Athirat, Athtart, Attis, Aya, Baal (Bel), Baalat (Ba'Alat), Baau, Basamum, Beelsamin, Belit-Seri, Beruth, Borak, Broxa, Caelestis, Cassios, Lebanon, Antilebanon, and Brathy, Chaos, Chemosh, Cotys, Cybele, Daena, Daevas, Dagon, Damkina, Dazimus, Derketo, Dhat-Badan, Dilmun, Dumuzi (Du'uzu), Duttur, Ea, El, Endukugga, Enki, Enlil, Ennugi, Eriskegal, Ereshkigal (Allatu), Eshara, Eshmun, Firanak, Fravashi, Gatamdug, Genea, Genos, Gestinanna, Gula, Hadad, Hannahanna, Hatti, Hea, Hiribi, The Houri, Humban, Innana, Ishkur, Ishtar, Ithm, Jamshid or Jamshyd, Jehovah, Jesus, Kabta, Kadi, Kamrusepas, Ki (Kiki), Kingu, Kolpia, Kothar-u-Khasis, Lahar, Marduk, Mari, Meni, Merodach, Misor, Moloch, Mot, Mushdama, Mylitta, Naamah, Nabu (Nebo), Nairyosangha, Nammu, Namtaru, Nanna, Nebo, Nergal, Nidaba, Ninhursag or Nintu, Ninlil, Ninsar, Nintur, Ninurta, Pa, Qadshu, Rapithwin, Resheph (Mikal or Mekal), Rimmon, Sadarnuna, Shahar, Shalim, Shamish, Shapshu, Sheger, Sin, Siris (Sirah), Taautos, Tammuz, Tanit, Taru, Tasimmet, Telipinu, Tiamat, Tishtrya, Tsehub, Utnapishtim, Utu, Wurusemu, Yam, Yarih (Yarikh), Yima, Zaba, Zababa, Zam, Zanahary (Zanaharibe), Zarpandit, Zarathustra, Zatavu, Zazavavindrano, Ziusudra, Zu (Imdugud), Zurvan

China (170):
Ba, Caishen, Chang Fei, Chang Hsien, Chang Pan, Ch'ang Tsai, Chao san-Niang, Chao T'eng-k'ang, Chen Kao, Ch'eng Huang, Cheng San-Kung, Cheng Yuan-ho, Chi Po, Chien-Ti, Chih Jih, Chih Nii, Chih Nu, Ch'ih Sung-tzu, Ching Ling Tzu, Ch'ing Lung, Chin-hua Niang-niang, Chio Yuan-Tzu, Chou Wang, Chu Niao, Chu Ying, Chuang-Mu, Chu-jung, Chun T'i, Ch'ung Ling-yu, Chung Liu, Chung-kuei, Chung-li Ch'üan, Di Jun, Fan K'uei, Fei Lien, Feng Pho-Pho, Fengbo, Fu Hsing, Fu-Hsi, Fu-Pao, Gaomei, Guan Di, Hao Ch'iu, Heng-o, Ho Po (Ping-I), Hou Chi, Hou T'u, Hsi Ling-su, Hsi Shih, Hsi Wang Mu, Hsiao Wu, Hsieh T'ien-chun, Hsien Nung, Hsi-shen, Hsu Ch'ang, Hsuan Wen-hua, Huang Ti, Huang T'ing, Huo Pu, Hu-Shen, Jen An, Jizo Bosatsu, Keng Yen-cheng, King Wan, Ko Hsien-Weng, Kuan Ti, Kuan Ti, Kuei-ku Tzu, Kuo Tzu-i, Lai Cho, Lao Lang, Lei Kung, Lei Tsu, Li Lao-chun, Li Tien, Liu Meng, Liu Pei, Lo Shen, Lo Yu, Lo-Tsu Ta-Hsien, Lu Hsing, Lung Yen, Lu-pan, Ma-Ku, Mang Chin-i, Mang Shen, Mao Meng, Men Shen, Miao Hu, Mi-lo Fo, Ming Shang, Nan-chi Hsien-weng, Niu Wang, Nu Wa, Nu-kua, Pa, Pa Cha, Pai Chung, Pai Liu-Fang, Pai Yu, P'an Niang, P'an-Chin-Lien, Pao Yuan-ch'uan, Phan Ku, P'i Chia-Ma, Pien Ho, San Kuan, Sao-ch'ing Niang, Sarudahiko, Shang Chien, Shang Ti, She chi, Shen Hsui-Chih, Shen Nung, Sheng Mu, Shih Liang, Shiu Fang, Shou-lao, Shun I Fu-jen, Sien-Tsang, Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju, Sun Pin, Sun Ssu-miao, Sung-Chiang, Tan Chu, T'ang Ming Huang, Tao Kung, T'ien Fei, Tien Hou, Tien Mu, Ti-tsang, Tsai Shen, Ts'an Nu, Ts'ang Chien, Tsao Chun, Tsao-Wang, T'shai-Shen, Tung Chun, T'ung Chung-chung, T'ung Lai-yu, Tung Lu, T'ung Ming, Tzu-ku Shen, Wa, Wang Ta-hsien, Wang-Mu-Niang-Niang, Weiwobo, Wen-ch'ang, Wu-tai Yuan-shuai, Xi Hou, Xi Wangmu, Xiu Wenyin, Yanwang, Yaoji, Yen-lo, Yen-Lo-Wang, Yi, Yu, Yu Ch'iang, Yu Huang, Yun-T'ung, Yu-Tzu, Zaoshen, Zhang Xi, , Zhinü, , Zhongguei, , Zigu Shen, , Zisun, Ch'ang-O



Graveyard of the Gods Ministry - List of thousands of dead gods

*Note - I had to delete most of them because RF doesn't allow posts that big lol, so we are limited to the Mid-east and China. For the full list follow the link.

 

[Leafar]

So many gods, so many credulous people who worshipped them. Upon looking at this list, I know that there are all kinds of lessons that can be learned.

What does looking at this list make you think?

If you are a believer, does it make you doubt your own beliefs?

It would be stupid to doubt ones beliefs soley based upon the fact that religious people have been wrong about their gods before. There are so many other things that shows that the religions of today are false. The question of the existence of a god/gods may still lay open but I think it is rather clear that the very specific gods of present religions are just as unlikley to exist as these thousands of dead ones.

Interesting list though, and fun to see how many "gods" that are outdated, so to speak.

 

[Badran]

So many gods, so many credulous people who worshipped them.

Why were they credulous? Isn't that somehow an unfair blanket judgement?

Upon looking at this list, I know that there are all kinds of lessons that can be learned.

I agree.

What does looking at this list make you think?

That its understandable for this to have been the case. I think the more we go back in history, where people are more and more disconnected, or unlike us today where all the world is easily interconnected with each other, the more specific ideas of gods there would be. Its also understandable to me that in many of those cases the ideas of gods would seem silly to us, or somehow crazy to accept.

If you are a believer, does it make you doubt your own beliefs?

Not really. It only reaffirms certain things. Such as that its normal for the ideas of gods to be affected by people's cultures, environment and perceptions.

 

[Student of X]

Dear OP,

Have you read the super-classic The Hero With a thousand Faces? Looking at your list makes me think you haven't? If not please do so asap.

Sincerely,

SoX

P.S. 92288

 

[839311]

Why were they credulous? Isn't that somehow an unfair blanket judgement?

Not at all. I would think that the fact that there have been thousands of gods that people used to and still believe in speaks for itself. Consider how many of them are mutually exclusive.

 

[839311]

Have you read the super-classic The Hero With a thousand Faces? Looking at your list makes me think you haven't. Please do so asap.

No thanks. Your more than welcome to mention what the book is about though, and I can address that.

 

[Badran]

Not at all. I would think that the fact that there have been thousands of gods that people used to and still believe in speaks for itself. Consider how many of them are mutually exclusive.

Of your list i don't know of course how many are mutually exclusive, as i hardly know anything about those gods. However, lets assume that it is so, what do you think it points out?

I think it simply points out to the obvious effect of people's perceptions on the gods they worship. The more specific the idea becomes (both in terms of the number of people who ascribe to it and in terms of how in detail said god is described), the more likely it is to show such attributes which are affected by the people who believe in that god. And sooner or later such ideas of gods will differ and contradict with other at some points.

 

[elmarna]

Dead gods?
You use the term god , but may find that the thoughts and feelings that formed the opinions to refer to them are not dead; just changed. As we evolve and develop different ways of thinking the aspects of life incorperate that of value and step away from a world of superstition and giving the concept of which they turn to a language different than a approach that stressed so much importance.
They were indeed important. It made a difference in life and let them live in the wisdoms of it in a better way than without it (for the most part).
The term gods is loosely used in some of what you refer to, but it was a time to focus on a belief so I see it aceptable.

 

[839311]

Of your list i don't know of course how many are mutually exclusive, as i hardly know anything about those gods.

It would be interesting if we did get to the afterlife and it turned out that one of those gods either of us knows nothing about turned out to be the real god lol.

However, lets assume that it is so, what do you think it points out?

Among other things, that people make things up, and then others believe them.

IThe more specific the idea becomes (both in terms of the number of people who ascribe to it and in terms of how in detail said god is described), the more likely it is to show such attributes which are affected by the people who believe in that god. And sooner or later such ideas of gods will differ and contradict with others at some points.

I agree.

 

[839311]

They were indeed important. It made a difference in life and let them live in the wisdoms of it in a better way than without it (for the most part).

I have no doubt it made a difference in their lives. Whether a particular religion made life better or worse is open to debate. Some religions were better than others. The Aztecs sacrificed many people. There are probably few among us, if any, who would approve of such practices.

The term gods is loosely used in some of what you refer to, but it was a time to focus on a belief so I see it as acceptable.

It still is a time where people focus on a belief. There are plenty of religons out there. Atheism is growing, though, courtesy in part to a massive increase in knowledge and in access to that knowledge.

 

[Badran]

It would be interesting if we did get to the afterlife and it turned out that one of those gods either of us knows nothing about turned out to be the real god lol.

lol

Among other things, that people make things up, and then others believe them.

I agree.

 

[Quintessence]

Okay. What? I'm sorry, but I can't help noticing the fact that the vast majority of gods/goddesses on these lists derive from Paganism. We are aware of the additional fact that Paganism is quite alive and well, aren't we? Many of these gods are still being actively honored and worshiped. It's kind of offensive to refer to them as "dead" gods. And also really ignorant.

If anything, I'd see this as a testimony to the bizarre nature of monotheism....

 

[Marble]

Just to mention it: The site also lists many gods under Hindu, India and Japan that are still worshipped.

 

[839311]

Okay. What? I'm sorry, but I can't help noticing the fact that the vast majority of gods/goddesses on these lists derive from Paganism.

Well, yes, if we go by wikipedias definition of paganism as non-abrahamic, polytheistic religions. Its a broad brush, to say the least.

We are aware of the additional fact that Paganism is quite alive and well, aren't we?

Depends on what you mean by well, and on what religions your including as pagan.

Many of these gods are still being actively honored and worshiped. It's kind of offensive to refer to them as "dead" gods. And also really ignorant.

I noticed myself that some of the gods on the list were still being honored and worshipped. I don't think there are too many from that list. And many of the ones that are still worshipped, are probably only worshipped by a small number of people. I noticed Ahura Mazda on there, and there are still plenty of zoroastrians around, about 170,000 give or take a few 10,000. That is a fairly big mistake lol. With regards to some of the other gods that have a few followers, like if there are a handful of Zeus worshippers out there or something, Id say that god is pretty much dead. Or, if you like, lying in the hospital on life support haha

If anything, I'd see this as a testimony to the bizarre nature of monotheism....

What do you mean by bizarre nature?

 

[Madhuri]

I tend to see it as same gods, different names.

 

[Me Myself]

So many gods, so many credulous people who worshipped them. Upon looking at this list, I know that there are all kinds of lessons that can be learned.

What does looking at this list make you think?

If you are a believer, does it make you doubt your own beliefs?




Middle-East: (169)
A, Adad, Adapa, Adrammelech, Aeon, Agasaya, Aglibol, Ahriman, Ahura Mazda, Ahurani, Ai-ada, Al-Lat, Aja, Aka, Alalu, Al-Lat, Amm, Al-Uzza (El-'Ozza or Han-Uzzai), An, Anahita, Anath (Anat), Anatu, Anbay, Anshar, Anu, Anunitu, An-Zu, Apsu, Aqhat, Ararat, Arinna, Asherali, Ashnan, Ashtoreth, Ashur, Astarte, Atar, Athirat, Athtart, Attis, Aya, Baal (Bel), Baalat (Ba'Alat), Baau, Basamum, Beelsamin, Belit-Seri, Beruth, Borak, Broxa, Caelestis, Cassios, Lebanon, Antilebanon, and Brathy, Chaos, Chemosh, Cotys, Cybele, Daena, Daevas, Dagon, Damkina, Dazimus, Derketo, Dhat-Badan, Dilmun, Dumuzi (Du'uzu), Duttur, Ea, El, Endukugga, Enki, Enlil, Ennugi, Eriskegal, Ereshkigal (Allatu), Eshara, Eshmun, Firanak, Fravashi, Gatamdug, Genea, Genos, Gestinanna, Gula, Hadad, Hannahanna, Hatti, Hea, Hiribi, The Houri, Humban, Innana, Ishkur, Ishtar, Ithm, Jamshid or Jamshyd, Jehovah, Jesus, Kabta, Kadi, Kamrusepas, Ki (Kiki), Kingu, Kolpia, Kothar-u-Khasis, Lahar, Marduk, Mari, Meni, Merodach, Misor, Moloch, Mot, Mushdama, Mylitta, Naamah, Nabu (Nebo), Nairyosangha, Nammu, Namtaru, Nanna, Nebo, Nergal, Nidaba, Ninhursag or Nintu, Ninlil, Ninsar, Nintur, Ninurta, Pa, Qadshu, Rapithwin, Resheph (Mikal or Mekal), Rimmon, Sadarnuna, Shahar, Shalim, Shamish, Shapshu, Sheger, Sin, Siris (Sirah), Taautos, Tammuz, Tanit, Taru, Tasimmet, Telipinu, Tiamat, Tishtrya, Tsehub, Utnapishtim, Utu, Wurusemu, Yam, Yarih (Yarikh), Yima, Zaba, Zababa, Zam, Zanahary (Zanaharibe), Zarpandit, Zarathustra, Zatavu, Zazavavindrano, Ziusudra, Zu (Imdugud), Zurvan

China (170):
Ba, Caishen, Chang Fei, Chang Hsien, Chang Pan, Ch'ang Tsai, Chao san-Niang, Chao T'eng-k'ang, Chen Kao, Ch'eng Huang, Cheng San-Kung, Cheng Yuan-ho, Chi Po, Chien-Ti, Chih Jih, Chih Nii, Chih Nu, Ch'ih Sung-tzu, Ching Ling Tzu, Ch'ing Lung, Chin-hua Niang-niang, Chio Yuan-Tzu, Chou Wang, Chu Niao, Chu Ying, Chuang-Mu, Chu-jung, Chun T'i, Ch'ung Ling-yu, Chung Liu, Chung-kuei, Chung-li Ch'üan, Di Jun, Fan K'uei, Fei Lien, Feng Pho-Pho, Fengbo, Fu Hsing, Fu-Hsi, Fu-Pao, Gaomei, Guan Di, Hao Ch'iu, Heng-o, Ho Po (Ping-I), Hou Chi, Hou T'u, Hsi Ling-su, Hsi Shih, Hsi Wang Mu, Hsiao Wu, Hsieh T'ien-chun, Hsien Nung, Hsi-shen, Hsu Ch'ang, Hsuan Wen-hua, Huang Ti, Huang T'ing, Huo Pu, Hu-Shen, Jen An, Jizo Bosatsu, Keng Yen-cheng, King Wan, Ko Hsien-Weng, Kuan Ti, Kuan Ti, Kuei-ku Tzu, Kuo Tzu-i, Lai Cho, Lao Lang, Lei Kung, Lei Tsu, Li Lao-chun, Li Tien, Liu Meng, Liu Pei, Lo Shen, Lo Yu, Lo-Tsu Ta-Hsien, Lu Hsing, Lung Yen, Lu-pan, Ma-Ku, Mang Chin-i, Mang Shen, Mao Meng, Men Shen, Miao Hu, Mi-lo Fo, Ming Shang, Nan-chi Hsien-weng, Niu Wang, Nu Wa, Nu-kua, Pa, Pa Cha, Pai Chung, Pai Liu-Fang, Pai Yu, P'an Niang, P'an-Chin-Lien, Pao Yuan-ch'uan, Phan Ku, P'i Chia-Ma, Pien Ho, San Kuan, Sao-ch'ing Niang, Sarudahiko, Shang Chien, Shang Ti, She chi, Shen Hsui-Chih, Shen Nung, Sheng Mu, Shih Liang, Shiu Fang, Shou-lao, Shun I Fu-jen, Sien-Tsang, Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju, Sun Pin, Sun Ssu-miao, Sung-Chiang, Tan Chu, T'ang Ming Huang, Tao Kung, T'ien Fei, Tien Hou, Tien Mu, Ti-tsang, Tsai Shen, Ts'an Nu, Ts'ang Chien, Tsao Chun, Tsao-Wang, T'shai-Shen, Tung Chun, T'ung Chung-chung, T'ung Lai-yu, Tung Lu, T'ung Ming, Tzu-ku Shen, Wa, Wang Ta-hsien, Wang-Mu-Niang-Niang, Weiwobo, Wen-ch'ang, Wu-tai Yuan-shuai, Xi Hou, Xi Wangmu, Xiu Wenyin, Yanwang, Yaoji, Yen-lo, Yen-Lo-Wang, Yi, Yu, Yu Ch'iang, Yu Huang, Yun-T'ung, Yu-Tzu, Zaoshen, Zhang Xi, , Zhinü, , Zhongguei, , Zigu Shen, , Zisun, Ch'ang-O



Graveyard of the Gods Ministry - List of thousands of dead gods

*Note - I had to delete most of them because RF doesn't allow posts that big lol, so we are limited to the Mid-east and China. For the full list follow the link.

I believe all of this gods existed at their time, and maybe many/some/few/most/all(?) still exist today as astral entities just as they existed before as astral entities.

Maybe they existed before being worshipped, maybe they existed because the big amount of people worshipping such ideas made them into being in the astral plane.

 

[839311]

I tend to see it as same gods, different names.

The personalities and powers given to gods of different pantheons varies. Sometimes they get special weapons, like mjolnir (just saw Thor yesterday lol). The high god is often there. The lesser gods, though, are often very different across different religions. Mutually exclusive, really. Its a nice idea that they could be the same gods, but they aren't. Their powers are different. Their personalities are different. Their histories are different. I'm not sure on what basis you think they are the same gods, but that doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Quintessence]

I noticed myself that some of the gods on the list were still being honored and worshipped. I don't think there are too many from that list. And many of the ones that are still worshipped, are probably only worshipped by a small number of people. I noticed Ahura Mazda on there, and there are still plenty of zoroastrians around, about 170,000 give or take a few 10,000. That is a fairly big mistake lol. With regards to some of the other gods that have a few followers, like if there are a handful of Zeus worshippers out there or something, Id say that god is pretty much dead.

I'd be careful about making the assumption that few deities on that list are still being honored. I suspect quite the opposite is the case. Indigenous forms of Paganism - while they have been systematically wiped out or converted by Western religions - do still exist in all corners of the world. Add Neopagans on top of that, plus Pagan religions that tend to go by their own name (e.g. Shinto, Hinduism) and there's significant, active polytheistic worship in the world that involves the deities on this list.

A secondary point - one which I can understand if others have philosophical disagreements with - the existence of the gods does not depend on the number of humans who happen to believe in them any more than the existence of gravity depends on humans believing in it. This is especially the case with Pagan deities, most of which are basically personifications or representations of nature/reality itself.

What do you mean by bizarre nature?

By bizarre I mean that for the vast majority of human history, people have understood the divine in a polytheistic fashion. Arguably, they still do. It was once said to me by a professor that the difference between monotheism and polytheism is somewhat superficial. Both have ideas of multiplicity and an underlying unity; the difference in what is the point of worship. Polytheists worship the many while simply acknowledging the one; monotheists worship the one while simply acknowledging (or sometimes denying) the many. Many of the religious forms we call monotheism don't strike me as purely monotheistic even when considering the point of worship. Christianity in particular seems polytheistic; the honor their one god and they honor Jesus... sometimes they honor all other sorts of Biblical figures and saints. Sounds like polytheism to me. Judaism on the other hand, is much more purely monotheistic.

 

[839311]

I believe all of this gods existed at their time.

So you don't think any of them could have just been made up? I find that hard to believe. Especially considering that the people who make up gods usually have a monopoly on interpretting what these gods want, and that they can use their special connection to the gods to help others - for a price. I remember reading about some shaman who charged women sex in order to help them in some spiritual way. I wasn't surprised. Religion can be a lucrative business. Well, thats actually too kind. Lucrative scam sounds closer to the truth.

and maybe many/some/few/most/all(?) still exist today as astral entities just as they existed before as astral entities.

Maybe. But Im guessing evidence isnt coming.

Maybe they existed before being worshipped,

Maybe...

maybe they existed because the big amount of people worshipping such ideas made them into being in the astral plane.

Lets hope things don't work like that. If they did the astral plane would be full of all kinds of weirdo gods, not to mention evil gods. Satan and Mephisto would probably be there, and whatever other demon gods were worshipped. The idea that we can imagine and believe gods into existence is, errr, a little messed up.

 

[839311]

I'd be careful about making the assumption that few deities on that list are still being honored. I suspect quite the opposite is the case.

Are you ready to research all of them? Im not lol. Neither of us knows.

In any case, we don't even need this list. Its enough that there are countless gods that no one worships anymore. There are probably many thousands more that there is no record of but that people throughout the world had believed in tens of thousands of years ago.

A secondary point - one which I can understand if others have philosophical disagreements with - the existence of the gods does not depend on the number of humans who happen to believe in them any more than the existence of gravity depends on humans believing in it.

Your right, the numbers dont matter. What matters is whether or not they are real. We can read about them, what kind of personalities they had, abilities, weapons, wives, histories, etc. If the stories seem made up, they almost certainly are.

This is especially the case with Pagan deities, most of which are basically personifications or representations of nature/reality itself.

Personifications or representations of nature/reality, huh.

First, I disagree with you that most are basically personifications or representations of nature/reality itself. Your welcome to build a case for it, though. Maybe your right. But the pantheons Im familiar with, norse, greek, roman, babylonian - the deities don't seem like personifications of representations of nature/reality. The deites seem like they are separate beings like you and me, living their lives, with their own personalities and problems to deal with.

Second, whatever deities there are out there that are personifications or representations of nature/reality, then they don't seem too interesting to me. They seem like made up characters representating nature/reality. Seems kind of lame.

By bizarre I mean that for the vast majority of human history, people have understood the divine in a polytheistic fashion. Arguably, they still do. It was once said to me by a professor that the difference between monotheism and polytheism is somewhat superficial. Both have ideas of multiplicity and an underlying unity; the difference in what is the point of worship. Polytheists worship the many while simply acknowledging the one; monotheists worship the one while simply acknowledging (or sometimes denying) the many. Many of the religious forms we call monotheism don't strike me as purely monotheistic even when considering the point of worship. Christianity in particular seems polytheistic; the honor their one god and they honor Jesus... sometimes they honor all other sorts of Biblical figures and saints. Sounds like polytheism to me. Judaism on the other hand, is much more purely monotheistic.

Thats an interesting perspective.

Personally, I think polytheism is just as plausible as monotheism. But as far as I can tell, theres no solid evidence for even one god, let alone many.