Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gods

Oh ye Gods, tell me your stories.

fantine — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:47:13 -0800

What are the best books on mythology (all kinds)? I recently read American Gods by Neil Gaiman, which I adored for its wide variety of mythological characters. While I have a good grasp of Greek and Roman gods (and a bit about the Norse gods as well), I feel like my education is lacking in the areas of Celtic gods, Hindu gods, and all other kinds of deities.

I'd love to read some non-fiction accounts OR re-tellings of myths from any culture. I found the thread on Greek/Roman books for children, but I am more interested in other mythologies.

Thanks for any suggestions!

I am god for a short time, but then I'm toast.

allthewhile — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:42:16 -0800

I am trying to think of all possible popular cultural references to the following event: Person finds him or herself in a foreign land and is mistaken for the local/regional god. I can only think of two times when this happens but I know it happens quite a bit more in tv/fiction/movies etc. 1. Joe vs. the Volcano

2. Pirates of the Caribbean 2

Yes I know I'm uncultured.

Go hive mind go!

Anyone know if the old gods protect anyone outside Europe?

Deep Dish — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:49:25 -0800

I came across a reference to the "Pillars of Hercules" and a notion that the old European pagan gods had never intended their followers to live beyond the Pillars of Hercules (so roughly, nowhere west of Spain, south of North Africa, and I am unclear on other boundaries). Does anyone know a source which expands on this notion? I am more interested in the spiritual implication of living outside the pillars, as I got the impression the gods would not protect anyone outside this territory. I may have seen this in a political piece which referenced the Monroe Doctrine or Manifest Destiny. Anybody know where I could read about this idea or study it in depth?

Food suggestions for a Gods and Goddesses themed party.

Item — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:46:06 -0800

A friend is hosting a party tomorrow night with the theme "Night Life of the Gods & Goddesses" where all attendees will be dressing as their favorite god and acting accordingly. I'd like to make an interesting and appropriately themed dish of food to bring. The recipe needs to be vegetarian, savory, and relatively easy to prepare a good deal of. The dish should also be able to withstand sitting out for multiple hours without spoiling/congealing, though I've got a crock pot if you have hot food suggestions.

Generating Hyperlinks Automatically?

0bvious — Fri, 04 May 2007 07:09:08 -0800

I would like to automatically generate hypertext links from a list of text. Ideally this would mean pasting a series of comma separated words into some online tool and having the system turn each word into a relevant google/wikipedia link... Does anyone know any sites/tools that will do this? Just for anyone who is interested, here's the text I want to auto-link:

Zeus, Zam, Zababa, Yu-Huang-Shang-Ti, Yeng-Wang-Yeh, Yara Ma Yha Who, Yahweh, Ya Mughnee, Ya `Aallah, Xochiquetzal, Xipe Totec, Xbalanque, Winabozho, Warohunugamwanehaora, Waramurungundi, Wakahiru-Me, Wadjet, Voltumna, Vishnu, Venus, Uttu, Urcaguary, Ulaulekeahi, Uke-Mochi-No-Kami, Ukapirmas, Turiacus, Tsukuyomi, Torngasoak, Tonatiuh, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Thoth, Thor, Tharapita, Tekkeitserktock, Tāwhiri-matea, Take-Mikazuchi, Swāikstiks, Spandarmet, Sobek, Skadi, Shiva, Shina-Tsu-Hiko, Shamash, Shai'-ha-Qawm, Seaxnéat, Saraswati, Saosyant, Runesocesius, Roonikka, Rimmon, rDo-rje-rnal-hbyor-ma, Raluvhimba, Quirinus, Qaynan, Ptah, Prajnaparamita, Potrimpos, Poshaiyankayo, Persephone, Pellon Pekko, P'an-Chin-Lien, Osiris, Odin, Occupirn, Nzambi, Ninhursag, Nevinbimbaau, Nephthys, Nanghaithya, Nana Buluku, Nai-No-Kami, Mudungkala, Morrigan, Morpheus, Morgan, LeFay, Moaalii, Mar'rallang, Marduk, Mao, Mantis, Manisilat, Mama Pacha, Maahes, Lonomakua, Leviathan, Lemminkainen, Lakshmi, Laima, Kunapipi, Kukalikimoku, Ku, Krishna, Koko, Kiskil-lilla, Kishar, Khnum, Khahdoma, Kapohoikahiola, Kaluannuunohonionio, Joukahainen, Jengu, Jehovah, Jahwe, Izanami, Isis, Inanna, Igaluk, Huruing Wuhti, Huitzilopochtli, Horus, Hine Raumati, Hiiakawawahilani, Hendursanga, Heimdall, Hecate, Hastshehogan, Hanuman, Hades, Gudratrigakwitl, Gebeleizis, Garuda, Ganesha, Gandarewa, Frigga, Estasanatlehi, Ereshkigal, Epona, Dolichenus, Dionysos, Dhakhan, Demeter, Dēiwas, Dattatreya, Coyolxauhqui, Chimata-No-Kami, Ch'eng-Huang, Cernunnos, Carmenta, Caillech, Bunbulama, Branwyn, Birrahgnooloo, Bikeh Hozho, Berekyndai, Balac, Bahá'u'lláh, Baal-Qarnain, Athena, Asha Vahishta, Arnarquagsag, Archons, Aramurungundju, Apollo, Apocatequil, Aphrodite, Antero Vipunen, Anitun Tabu, Angwusnasomtaka, Amaunet, Amaterasu, Amaethon, Aji-Suki-Taka-Hi-Kone, Ahmeto Lela Okya, Agadjimbiri, Adnoartina

the gods must be similar!

mordecai — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:54:52 -0800

What are the similarities between Hindu and Chinese mythology? I could only find references to Yama, the Lord of Death. Both mythologies share this idea, though in Chinese mythology, he's also known by other names (correct me if I'm wrong).

However, I'm sure there are a couple of more similarities. Hanuman and Sun Wu Kong, for example. Apparently, Sun Wu Kong is partly based on Hanuman but Wikipedia wasn't of any more help than that.

I'd be grateful for any insights. Thanks!

Points for a comparison essay between Apollo and Dionysus?

northernsoul — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:29:58 -0800

Points for a comparison essay between Apollo and Dionysus? I have a classics exam coming, and I've had some trouble finding points comparing Apollo and Dionysus. Are there any resources around that summarize the arguments on this topic?

The Gods Must Be Petty

blueshammer — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:15:18 -0800

I'm working on a boardgame in which gods punish mortals, and am looking for examples from throughout mythology that demonstrate divinely disproportionate responses to human action. Can someone point me to particularly useful references, or offer up good examples? The game will probably be Greek mythology-themed, but I'm curious about examples of the phenomenon from any culture.

Smash the phone?

Napierzaza — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 21:03:11 -0800

What are cellphones good for? I just got my first one and I certainly love it. The phone part and everything, but what more can I do to it? I'm sorry but I have 2 WRT54G and two Xboxes and I've hacked them all, is there aything cool you can do with a cellphone like that? Probably not smashing the hardware out of wack, but software wise? I have a Sony Ericsson 7520a. I need to at least figure out how to get ringtones etc onto it.

Miracles

ab'd al'Hazred — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 11:16:48 -0800

This question is for people who believe in religious miracles. Do you believe that demanding proof of God prior to worshipping is unreasonable (or perhaps sinful)? Do you believe that faith-without-evidence is important? If so, why does God provide miracles? Do you regard the miracles as constituting a proof of God, or do you think that a significant amount of faith-without-evidence is required to classify them as miracles? Finally, can you suggest why it might be that God provides proof of His existence occasionally and rarely, as opposed to providing either no proof (and requiring faith-without-evidence), or providing clear proof to everyone?

African God/Mask/Mythology

furiousxgeorge — Wed, 04 May 2005 01:34:12 -0800

I have an african djembe drum which I am quite fond of. It has always bothered me, however, that the face burnt into it has no meaning to me. (aside from the fact that it looks really cool.) I was wondering if anyone could identify it or the meaning of it, or at least tell me that is impossible. (Bad MS-Paint version of the image inside) Click here to see my version of it. Realize, I have no artistic skill, I can barely manage stick figures. The drum actually looks decent, so when you look at what I did, the actual face is more symetrical. The eyes are closer together, the horns (they come out the outside, point up and down) look identical, and the mouth parts are closer together, the nose does not look retarded) But that is to give you a general idea. Does the image give any clues to the origin? (Sorry, don't have a digital camera which would remove my artistic retardation from the equation)

When did they stop worshiping the Greek gods?

ikkyu2 — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 17:02:56 -0800

AncientHistoryFilter: When did the worship of the gods of the ancient Greeks - Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and so on - die out? (+) It appears to me that no longer do men accomplish proper hecatombs to Zeus, nor do they singe the rich thigh pieces, edged with fat, in his name - nor do they scatter white barley to placate Poseidon the Earth-Shaker -

but I could be wrong?