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How many actual Gods are there in mythologies?
I have been trying to conduct research on the "Gods" of mythologies but have come up short. To be clear, i am looking for a being that had these proported qualities
1. Created existence (space, earth, water, everything) by himself
2. Is not an elevated human (not anthropomorphic ie doesnt have arms, legs, and fills the universe etc)
3. Is immortal (cannot die, period)
4. Is timeless ( ie, was not "born", has no parents that are older etc)
Other issues like "all knowing" are secondary, and i am only worried about finding a deity with these particular qualities. The most popular "gods" such as zeus, norse gods etc fail to qualify as they are not proported to have made the universe, and in most cases are mortal, or only immortal as long as they dont get killed by other beings (ie they qre not immortal in the true sense, they simply dont die of old age). Also, these gods all have parents etc and they themselves are byproducts of existance (gaia etc) . This is not a debate thread, i am just looking for gods in mythologies that were truly proported to be Gods and not simple elevated humans.
9 Answers
- JamesLv 410 years agoFavorite Answer
There are more Gods and Goddesses both minor and major than leaves on a tree. As to a specific deity having the attributes you specified, only in the Abrahamic religions does one with all of these exist. In other religions the world everything was created by many, and they did die physically, but their spirits remain to guide and help their children. In other words all living things. As for humans elevated to God status, they are called Demi-Gods, and to become one the person being elevated must have done something worthy of the status.
Source(s): Mythology, Folklore, Witchcraft, and Paganism. - castalia_naeviaLv 410 years ago
The Egyptian monotheistic god, Aten? Maybe? But he/she has sun rays personified as arms, so maybe that won't work for you. Maybe the Christian god but obviously he made humans "in his image" so I guess it alludes to his image even though he doesn't necessarily get depicted.
Other than that, the Cherokee indians had Yowa, or, The Great Spirit, who created everything and Mother Earth. A very sacred deity whose identity can be interchanged with a He/She because it is both, or a spirit rather. I haven't really seen any image of the deity, but it seems more like word-of-mouth.
You're right though. I can see what you're trying to allude to with humans making deities of their own image.
Source(s): Religion/Mythology is interesting to me. - 10 years ago
In Greek mythology there were the twelve Olympians, but there were also a few who gave up their thrones for others. Hestia gave up hers for Dionysus. Also there were the Titans, who gave birth to the gods. not well known is that there are hundreds of gods in greek mythololgy. every river had its own god and they were united under poseidon. i dont know of many that you talk of, where they cant have a physical shape. And the gods like Zeus couldnt be killed completly the only way they "die" is if everyone stopped believing in him. the only instance i know of where a Greek god "died" was Pan and there was no prrof in the myth. sorry i couldnt be more help, but the only God that fits your question is God, and hes not a myth. wish i could help more, and i hope this did something.
- 10 years ago
there are 12 main gods in greek mythology but if you go furthur back befor zues's times there are 20 including mother earth and father heavan. Most farmiliar are hades posiden athena aphrodite hera however greek wise athena and aphrodite are children of zues
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- goldenkhalilLv 510 years ago
try the wikipedia and you will find alllll kinds of gods. Greek mythology there were 12 MAIN gods BUT they has MANY MANY others.
- Anonymous10 years ago
One is all. All is one.
- luis lLv 610 years ago
ALL,SIMPLE YOU GET ,YOU DO,AND THE BEST YOU CAN BE,IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES OF ANY KIND OF RELIGION?
- Anonymous10 years ago
More then God made miracles.
- 10 years ago
**** it all.there is only one GOD. think for a second if there are 12,13,,........100 gods.then they must quarrel each other for their duties..but no, every little thing in this universe is going perfectly.