Has there ever been a religion with a nice god?

Spindrift · 26th February 2013, 12:41 PM

Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity?

timhau · 26th February 2013, 12:44 PM

Pastafarianism, of course. That's about it.

Spindrift · 26th February 2013, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by timhau

Pastafarianism, of course. That's about it.

But even he has his dark side. Too much and you will pack on the pounds.

Jon. · 26th February 2013, 01:03 PM

If there isn't (and I certainly can't think of one), it's because nature is capricious, cruel and random, and gods were invented to explain nature.

Dancing David · 26th February 2013, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity?

Lakshmi, Ganesha, Freya ( a little violent), Isis, and lost of others.

Slowvehicle · 26th February 2013, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winslow

Hokulele · 26th February 2013, 04:44 PM

Quan Yin, or Kannon, often described as the Goddess of Compassion, from various Asian flavors of Buddhism.

Dog Breakfast · 26th February 2013, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Hokulele

Quan Yin, or Kannon, often described as the Goddess of Compassion, from various Asian flavors of Buddhism.

Technically, unless I'm mistaken, Quan Yin is a Bodhisattva, not a goddess.

Illustrious word-website dictionary.com defines Bodhisattva as

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

a person who has attained prajna, or Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment: individual Bodhisattvas are the subjects of devotion in certain sects and are often represented in painting and sculpture.

But in any case she seems very nice.

arthwollipot · 26th February 2013, 08:56 PM

The Egyptian god Bes.

In fact, there have been quite a few. The Reasonable Doubts podcast has a segment called "Polyatheism" where they give a description of yet another god worth not believing in. The latest one was Bes. I recommend it.

Warrior1461 · 26th February 2013, 08:59 PM

J. R. " bob" dobbs, he offers eternal salvation or triple your money back. Try to find a better deal anywhere.

Slowvehicle · 26th February 2013, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Warrior1461

J. R. " bob" dobbs, he offers eternal salvation or triple your money back. Try to find a better deal anywhere.

Frop!

Beelzebuddy · 26th February 2013, 11:01 PM

Bokononism. That's not actually true, but it'll make you feel better.

Spindrift · 27th February 2013, 05:53 AM

Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods?

MikeG · 27th February 2013, 06:00 AM

Yeah, I guess if you have to have a god, then you could do worse than Venus, the Roman god of love and sex.

marksman · 27th February 2013, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods?

That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe.

Hokulele · 27th February 2013, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by marksman

That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe.

To be fair, Raelianism has no gods at all, so technically fits the requirements.

The fact that Raelianism is also bat-poo crazy is a whole 'nother thing...

Mojo · 27th February 2013, 07:10 AM

I was going to suggest Ninkasi or Dionysus, but they sometimes take a terrible revenge...

marksman · 27th February 2013, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by Hokulele

To be fair, Raelianism has no gods at all, so technically fits the requirements.

On that basis, so does Scientology.

Beelzebuddy · 27th February 2013, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods?

Bokononism. That's not actually true, but it'll make you feel better.

Foster Zygote · 27th February 2013, 07:36 AM

Ahura Mazda. In Zoroastrianism, hell is only a temporary stay for the wicked. Punishments fit the crimes, and even the most evil will earn their place in Paradise after they have paid the price for the harm they have done to others.

aggle-rithm · 27th February 2013, 07:54 AM

Nice gods finish last.

aggle-rithm · 27th February 2013, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by marksman

That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe.

Yep, either your god lets crazy stuff happen to you because he's a jerk, or he's too weak to do anything about it. Neither are very attractive options.

I think a Greek philosopher made that same observation a few millenia ago.

Damien Evans · 27th February 2013, 08:06 AM

Thor is kinda nice for a God, all things considered.

aggle-rithm · 27th February 2013, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Damien Evans

Thor is kinda nice for a God, all things considered.

Yeah...he could clobber everyone with that hammer, but he only clobbers a few people.

ETA: Plus, the good thing about being pummeled by Thor is that it feels so good when he stops!

Aepervius · 27th February 2013, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity?

Sex deities, feast deities, cat deities.

Dancing David · 27th February 2013, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Dog Breakfast

Technically, unless I'm mistaken, Quan Yin is a Bodhisattva, not a goddess.

Illustrious word-website dictionary.com defines Bodhisattva as

But in any case she seems very nice.

She gets a little more goddess like in some forms of buddhism, the green Tara.

And Avalokiteshvara seems to change genders.

Warrior1461 · 27th February 2013, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Foster Zygote

Ahura Mazda. In Zoroastrianism, hell is only a temporary stay for the wicked. Punishments fit the crimes, and even the most evil will earn their place in Paradise after they have paid the price for the harm they have done to others.

Sounds like what Christianity should have been, not the accept Jesus and escape and any all responsibility for you actions. Were they drunk when they came up with that. If you know a thing about ancient history YES. Zoroastrianism sounds sober compared to Christianity and Islam.

Furi · 27th February 2013, 10:55 AM

I suppose any god that fits your world view, could be classed as nice.

There's plenty to choose from, How about Ul, from David Eddings' Belgariad, Generally a nice sort, took in all the monstrous creations when no other god would adopt them.

Dog Breakfast · 27th February 2013, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dancing David

She gets a little more goddess like in some forms of buddhism, the green Tara.

And Avalokiteshvara seems to change genders.

You're right, it's definitely not back-and-white, and completely depends on what "goddess" means. A lot of powers and venerations are attributed to these people; eventually if enough is attributed, I guess the difference between bodhisattva and diety could easily end up as negligible semantic adventures.

Foster Zygote · 27th February 2013, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Warrior1461

Sounds like what Christianity should have been, not the accept Jesus and escape and any all responsibility for you actions. Were they drunk when they came up with that. If you know a thing about ancient history YES. Zoroastrianism sounds sober compared to Christianity and Islam.

Ironically, Christianity did borrow some aspects of Zoroastrianism as it developed. But the idea of a truly good god who will welcome all of its children into paradise wasn't one of them.

Weak Kitten · 27th February 2013, 12:28 PM

One of the big problems with theism in general is the problem of where evil comes from. Polytheistic religions have it easy in this case since they can just claim an equally powerful yet evil being to counterbalance their warm, fuzzy deity. Monotheism kinda gets hosed and has to mutter things about ineffability and unknowable plans all while wondering if their deity is actually just a big jerk.

kmortis · 27th February 2013, 12:29 PM

Eris from Discordinaism, yet not her namesake from Greek traditional religion.

Yeah, she can be bitchy, but you generally deserve it, and she'll disolve into an asprin commercial to make up for it.

The_Fire · 27th February 2013, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dancing David

Lakshmi, Ganesha, Freya ( a little violent), Isis, and lost of others.

A LITTLE?! The lady was patron goddess of shield maidens (few as they were) and leader of the Valkyries/Those dead chicks that picks up dead warriors in the battlefield. The warrior aspect of Freya is a mostly overlooked part of the Norse mythology, but the signs are there that she was at one time just as important as Tyr(organised war) and Thor(chaotic war). Given what few records of the Norse legends we have from that age were mostly written by christian monks, Freya being relegated to the sidelines and sex,drugs and rock'n roll isn't too surprising.

You are also forgetting that in the original religion of asatrue, human sacrifice were a perfectly acceptable to all of the deities involved. The more modern, and government sanctioned, version have mellowed out a bit.

But the original Freya? Non-bloody and peaceful? Not likely.

The_Fire · 27th February 2013, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Aepervius

cat deities.

You haven't met the cats I have.....

kmortis · 27th February 2013, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by The_Fire

A LITTLE?! The lady was patron goddess of shield maidens (few as they were) and leader of the Valkyries/Those dead chicks that picks up dead warriors in the battlefield. The warrior aspect of Freya is a mostly overlooked part of the Norse mythology, but the signs are there that she was at one time just as important as Tyr(organised war) and Thor(chaotic war). Given what few records of the Norse legends we have from that age were mostly written by christian monks, Freya being relegated to the sidelines and sex,drugs and rock'n roll isn't too surprising.

You are also forgetting that in the original religion of asatrue, human sacrifice were a perfectly acceptable to all of the deities involved. The more modern, and government sanctioned, version have mellowed out a bit.

But the original Freya? Non-bloody and peaceful? Not likely.

Let's face it, characterizing any of the Norse as "a little violent" is like saying that Jackson Pollok was "a little abstract". They're a group of gods who make Quentin Tarentino go, "isn't that a tad much gore?". C'mon, the Alfather plucked out his own eye (or had it plucked out) to learn the runes.

Monocular vision is his chosen path to literacy. This is not a gentle guy. And the rest of Aesir are just as bad.

But man, do they make good stories.

NoahFence · 27th February 2013, 12:39 PM

I guess I don't know much about Budda - isn't he swell?

kmortis · 27th February 2013, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by NoahFence

I guess I don't know much about Budda - isn't he swell?

Some of them are. They aren't really deities as normally thought of, just travellers further down the path, as it were.

Weak Kitten · 27th February 2013, 12:42 PM

Um, I thought he got the eye plucked out in exchange for some of the Salmon of Wisdom. He traded it to the keeper of the well where the salmon lived.

I think he got the Runes by tying himself to Yggdrasil with his own intestines for a week. Birds feeding on his entrails and whispering in his ears my have been involved.

Dog Town · 27th February 2013, 12:46 PM

kmortis · 27th February 2013, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Weak Kitten

Um, I thought he got the eye plucked out in exchange for some of the Salmon of Wisdom. He traded it to the keeper of the well where the salmon lived.

I think he got the Runes by tying himself to Yggdrasil with his own intestines for a week. Birds feeding on his entrails and whispering in his ears my have been involved.

You may be right. I always have problems keeping all the various ways Odin abused himself straight. Either way, self-disembowelment is not a normal way toward literacy. At least not at my grammar school.

ETA: Back when I was pagan, I thought about having Odin as a main deity for a while. Then I realized that any god who was willing to do half of what Odin was reported to have done was probably going to demand a bit more than I was willing to give. A few years later I gave up gods all together.

Well, all gods except Eris, that is. Hail Eris. All Hail Discordia.

26th February 2013, 12:41 PM	#1
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,461	Has there ever been a religion with a nice god? Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity?
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

26th February 2013, 12:44 PM	#2
timhau NWO Litter Technician Join Date: May 2004 Location: East of Sweeden Posts: 9,694	Pastafarianism, of course. That's about it.
	__________________ When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn't work that way. I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me. - Emo Philips

26th February 2013, 12:47 PM	#3
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,461	Originally Posted by timhau Pastafarianism, of course. That's about it. But even he has his dark side. Too much and you will pack on the pounds.
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

26th February 2013, 01:03 PM	#4
Jon. Increasing entropy since 1970 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: On the Clapham omnibus Posts: 3,509	If there isn't (and I certainly can't think of one), it's because nature is capricious, cruel and random, and gods were invented to explain nature.
	__________________ In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. I don't appeal to the masses, and they don't appeal to me. - Graham Parker Calling modern day fundamentalists medieval is giving them about a thousand years of philosophical advancement they do not have. - Jorghnassen

26th February 2013, 04:26 PM	#5
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,738	Originally Posted by Spindrift Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity? Lakshmi, Ganesha, Freya ( a little violent), Isis, and lost of others.
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

26th February 2013, 04:42 PM	#6
Slowvehicle Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: ...not where I seemed, nor was calculated to be...but no-one need worry... Posts: 2,199	Originally Posted by Spindrift Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winslow
	__________________ "Science is a wall against which we crash all of our ideas. The ones that survive are the ones we keep, but they are still subjected to periodic crash tests." -Foster Zygote "And in science the default is that you're wrong. EVERYONE is wrong. You only can be not wrong if you have evidence to back up your claim." -Dinwar "That is not my circus; those are not my monkeys." -Howard Tayler Last edited by Slowvehicle; 26th February 2013 at 04:44 PM.

26th February 2013, 04:44 PM	#7
Hokulele Official Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Trying to decide whether to set defenses against an army, or against mole rats. Posts: 27,275	Quan Yin, or Kannon, often described as the Goddess of Compassion, from various Asian flavors of Buddhism.
	__________________ Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" Some person: "Why did you shoot that?" Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" - Tragic Monkey

26th February 2013, 08:44 PM	#8
Dog Breakfast Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2012 Location: Why not? Posts: 352	Originally Posted by Hokulele Quan Yin, or Kannon, often described as the Goddess of Compassion, from various Asian flavors of Buddhism. Technically, unless I'm mistaken, Quan Yin is a Bodhisattva, not a goddess. Illustrious word-website dictionary.com defines Bodhisattva as Originally Posted by dictionary.com a person who has attained prajna, or Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment: individual Bodhisattvas are the subjects of devotion in certain sects and are often represented in painting and sculpture. But in any case she seems very nice.
	__________________ Personal weblog, both green and black.

26th February 2013, 08:56 PM	#9
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The other side of your screen Posts: 43,038	The Egyptian god Bes. In fact, there have been quite a few. The Reasonable Doubts podcast has a segment called "Polyatheism" where they give a description of yet another god worth not believing in. The latest one was Bes. I recommend it.
	__________________ Jadey (in RvB game thread): I just want to take a moment to commend Arth on his role as Parasitic Alien Tumor. I think he really connected with the character and there were times when I forgot that he was just acting. That's the kind of talent that you can't teach.

26th February 2013, 08:59 PM	#10
Warrior1461 Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 255	Re: Has there ever been a religion with a nice god? J. R. " bob" dobbs, he offers eternal salvation or triple your money back. Try to find a better deal anywhere.

26th February 2013, 10:02 PM	#11
Slowvehicle Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: ...not where I seemed, nor was calculated to be...but no-one need worry... Posts: 2,199	Originally Posted by Warrior1461 J. R. " bob" dobbs, he offers eternal salvation or triple your money back. Try to find a better deal anywhere. Frop!
	__________________ "Science is a wall against which we crash all of our ideas. The ones that survive are the ones we keep, but they are still subjected to periodic crash tests." -Foster Zygote "And in science the default is that you're wrong. EVERYONE is wrong. You only can be not wrong if you have evidence to back up your claim." -Dinwar "That is not my circus; those are not my monkeys." -Howard Tayler

26th February 2013, 11:01 PM	#12
Beelzebuddy Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,721	Bokononism. That's not actually true, but it'll make you feel better.

27th February 2013, 05:53 AM	#13
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,461	Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods?
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

27th February 2013, 06:00 AM	#14
MikeG Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: UK Posts: 1,557	Yeah, I guess if you have to have a god, then you could do worse than Venus, the Roman god of love and sex.

27th February 2013, 06:58 AM	#15
marksman Reality Checker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 5,003	Originally Posted by Spindrift Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods? That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe.

27th February 2013, 07:01 AM	#16
Hokulele Official Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Trying to decide whether to set defenses against an army, or against mole rats. Posts: 27,275	Originally Posted by marksman That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe. To be fair, Raelianism has no gods at all, so technically fits the requirements. The fact that Raelianism is also bat-poo crazy is a whole 'nother thing...
	__________________ Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" Some person: "Why did you shoot that?" Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" - Tragic Monkey

27th February 2013, 07:10 AM	#17
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 22,107	I was going to suggest Ninkasi or Dionysus, but they sometimes take a terrible revenge...
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky

27th February 2013, 07:21 AM	#18
marksman Reality Checker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 5,003	Originally Posted by Hokulele To be fair, Raelianism has no gods at all, so technically fits the requirements. On that basis, so does Scientology.

27th February 2013, 07:29 AM	#19
Beelzebuddy Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,721	Originally Posted by Spindrift Okay there are some good, nice gods in some religions, but is there a religion without any asshat gods? Bokononism. That's not actually true, but it'll make you feel better.

27th February 2013, 07:36 AM	#20
Foster Zygote Dental Floss Tycoon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge Posts: 14,408	Ahura Mazda. In Zoroastrianism, hell is only a temporary stay for the wicked. Punishments fit the crimes, and even the most evil will earn their place in Paradise after they have paid the price for the harm they have done to others.
	__________________ It looks just like a Telefunken U47... You'll love it.

27th February 2013, 07:54 AM	#21
aggle-rithm Ardent Formulist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14,156	Nice gods finish last.
	__________________ To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion. Woo's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be adequately explained by aliens.

27th February 2013, 07:56 AM	#22
aggle-rithm Ardent Formulist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14,156	Originally Posted by marksman That would be difficult since the world is an asshat kind of place and a religion has to have some nominal superficial relationship to the world we observe. Yep, either your god lets crazy stuff happen to you because he's a jerk, or he's too weak to do anything about it. Neither are very attractive options. I think a Greek philosopher made that same observation a few millenia ago.
	__________________ To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion. Woo's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be adequately explained by aliens.

27th February 2013, 08:06 AM	#23
Damien Evans Up The Irons Tagger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25,310	Thor is kinda nice for a God, all things considered.
	__________________ WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? - Death "Racism is a disease in society. We're all equal. I don't care what their colour is, or religion. Just as long as they're human beings they're my buddies." - Mandawuy Yunupingu, lead singer of Yothu Yindi

27th February 2013, 08:09 AM	#24
aggle-rithm Ardent Formulist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14,156	Originally Posted by Damien Evans Thor is kinda nice for a God, all things considered. Yeah...he could clobber everyone with that hammer, but he only clobbers a few people. ETA: Plus, the good thing about being pummeled by Thor is that it feels so good when he stops!
	__________________ To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion. Woo's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be adequately explained by aliens.

27th February 2013, 08:13 AM	#25
Aepervius Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bierland. I mean , germany. Posts: 7,773	Originally Posted by Spindrift Is there a religion where the god is nice, not some petty, violent deity who seems to enjoy the suffering of humanity? Sex deities, feast deities, cat deities.
	__________________ Omnes Blessant Ultima necat "I want, and this is my last and most dear wish, I want that the last of the king be strangled with the guts of the last priest" (Jean Meslier / 1664-1729 / Testament) A very early french atheist, a catholic priest in life.

27th February 2013, 10:38 AM	#26
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,738	Originally Posted by Dog Breakfast Technically, unless I'm mistaken, Quan Yin is a Bodhisattva, not a goddess. Illustrious word-website dictionary.com defines Bodhisattva as But in any case she seems very nice. She gets a little more goddess like in some forms of buddhism, the green Tara. And Avalokiteshvara seems to change genders.
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

27th February 2013, 10:53 AM	#27
Warrior1461 Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 255	Originally Posted by Foster Zygote Ahura Mazda. In Zoroastrianism, hell is only a temporary stay for the wicked. Punishments fit the crimes, and even the most evil will earn their place in Paradise after they have paid the price for the harm they have done to others. Sounds like what Christianity should have been, not the accept Jesus and escape and any all responsibility for you actions. Were they drunk when they came up with that. If you know a thing about ancient history YES. Zoroastrianism sounds sober compared to Christianity and Islam.

27th February 2013, 10:55 AM	#28
Furi Felix Sapiens Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Living life in the bus lane Posts: 2,006	I suppose any god that fits your world view, could be classed as nice. There's plenty to choose from, How about Ul, from David Eddings' Belgariad, Generally a nice sort, took in all the monstrous creations when no other god would adopt them.
	__________________ =^..^= Felix Sapiens,Drink Beer! It is big, and it is clever, There’s a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets The chances of anything coming from mars are a million to one they say.

27th February 2013, 12:00 PM	#29
Dog Breakfast Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2012 Location: Why not? Posts: 352	Originally Posted by Dancing David She gets a little more goddess like in some forms of buddhism, the green Tara. And Avalokiteshvara seems to change genders. You're right, it's definitely not back-and-white, and completely depends on what "goddess" means. A lot of powers and venerations are attributed to these people; eventually if enough is attributed, I guess the difference between bodhisattva and diety could easily end up as negligible semantic adventures.
	__________________ Personal weblog, both green and black.

27th February 2013, 12:13 PM	#30
Foster Zygote Dental Floss Tycoon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge Posts: 14,408	Originally Posted by Warrior1461 Sounds like what Christianity should have been, not the accept Jesus and escape and any all responsibility for you actions. Were they drunk when they came up with that. If you know a thing about ancient history YES. Zoroastrianism sounds sober compared to Christianity and Islam. Ironically, Christianity did borrow some aspects of Zoroastrianism as it developed. But the idea of a truly good god who will welcome all of its children into paradise wasn't one of them.
	__________________ It looks just like a Telefunken U47... You'll love it.

27th February 2013, 12:28 PM	#31
Weak Kitten Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lost and lonely...will you be my friend? Posts: 1,733	One of the big problems with theism in general is the problem of where evil comes from. Polytheistic religions have it easy in this case since they can just claim an equally powerful yet evil being to counterbalance their warm, fuzzy deity. Monotheism kinda gets hosed and has to mutter things about ineffability and unknowable plans all while wondering if their deity is actually just a big jerk.
	__________________ A quick reminder to all participants that although incomprehensibility is not against the Membership Agreement, incivility is. Please try and remember this, and keep your exchanges polite and respectful. -arthwollipot

27th February 2013, 12:29 PM	#32
kmortis Biomechanoid Director of IDIOCY (Region 13) Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Texas Posts: 24,635	Eris from Discordinaism, yet not her namesake from Greek traditional religion. Yeah, she can be bitchy, but you generally deserve it, and she'll disolve into an asprin commercial to make up for it.
	__________________ -Aberhaten did it - "Which gives us an answer to our question. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a pressure cooker?" Randall Monroe -Director of Independent Determining Inquisitor Of Crazy Yapping - Aberhaten's Apothegm™ - An Internet law that states that optimism is indistinguishable from sarcasm

27th February 2013, 12:31 PM	#33
The_Fire Unimpressed Female Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 8th level of Hell - Maleborgia Posts: 3,037	Originally Posted by Dancing David Lakshmi, Ganesha, Freya ( a little violent), Isis, and lost of others. A LITTLE?! The lady was patron goddess of shield maidens (few as they were) and leader of the Valkyries/Those dead chicks that picks up dead warriors in the battlefield. The warrior aspect of Freya is a mostly overlooked part of the Norse mythology, but the signs are there that she was at one time just as important as Tyr(organised war) and Thor(chaotic war). Given what few records of the Norse legends we have from that age were mostly written by christian monks, Freya being relegated to the sidelines and sex,drugs and rock'n roll isn't too surprising. You are also forgetting that in the original religion of asatrue, human sacrifice were a perfectly acceptable to all of the deities involved. The more modern, and government sanctioned, version have mellowed out a bit. But the original Freya? Non-bloody and peaceful? Not likely.
	__________________ If anyone told you that I'm a nice person, they were either from a different level of existance, lying through their teeth or mentally instable. "We? That better be you and that invisible aardwarck in your pocket you are talking about, because I KNOW you are not stupid enough to open a giant can of whoop ass by claiming you know what I think." Stop Sylvia Browne

27th February 2013, 12:34 PM	#34
The_Fire Unimpressed Female Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 8th level of Hell - Maleborgia Posts: 3,037	Originally Posted by Aepervius cat deities. You haven't met the cats I have.....
	__________________ If anyone told you that I'm a nice person, they were either from a different level of existance, lying through their teeth or mentally instable. "We? That better be you and that invisible aardwarck in your pocket you are talking about, because I KNOW you are not stupid enough to open a giant can of whoop ass by claiming you know what I think." Stop Sylvia Browne

27th February 2013, 12:36 PM	#35
kmortis Biomechanoid Director of IDIOCY (Region 13) Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Texas Posts: 24,635	Originally Posted by The_Fire A LITTLE?! The lady was patron goddess of shield maidens (few as they were) and leader of the Valkyries/Those dead chicks that picks up dead warriors in the battlefield. The warrior aspect of Freya is a mostly overlooked part of the Norse mythology, but the signs are there that she was at one time just as important as Tyr(organised war) and Thor(chaotic war). Given what few records of the Norse legends we have from that age were mostly written by christian monks, Freya being relegated to the sidelines and sex,drugs and rock'n roll isn't too surprising. You are also forgetting that in the original religion of asatrue, human sacrifice were a perfectly acceptable to all of the deities involved. The more modern, and government sanctioned, version have mellowed out a bit. But the original Freya? Non-bloody and peaceful? Not likely. Let's face it, characterizing any of the Norse as "a little violent" is like saying that Jackson Pollok was "a little abstract". They're a group of gods who make Quentin Tarentino go, "isn't that a tad much gore?". C'mon, the Alfather plucked out his own eye (or had it plucked out) to learn the runes. Monocular vision is his chosen path to literacy. This is not a gentle guy. And the rest of Aesir are just as bad. But man, do they make good stories.
	__________________ -Aberhaten did it - "Which gives us an answer to our question. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a pressure cooker?" Randall Monroe -Director of Independent Determining Inquisitor Of Crazy Yapping - Aberhaten's Apothegm™ - An Internet law that states that optimism is indistinguishable from sarcasm