The Heortlings believe this, but the Pelorians do not. Likewise with many other cultures who believe that their gods can be personaly active in the world.
>it would be the mortals that, at least collectivley hold the real
>power. If a God no longer recieves worship that entity will
>eventually diminish and fade away. The worship of mortals is
>vital to its survival and continued power...
This is true, but without the magic and way of life tought by their gods, must people in Glorantha would simply be unable to survive. It is a much harsher and more hostile environment, by and large, than earth.
>to do all that he claims he can. In the real world a true believer
>is not going to see his god defeated and humiliated by another
>deity under normal circumstances. Events could perhaps be
>interpreted in that way but their !
>is always an out if want to find one bad enough. In Glorantha this
>does happen, in many cases quite unambigously.
You mean like the death and dismemberment of Osiris by Set. I donīt see that as being any more or less ambiguous than the death of Yelm, for example, and both teach philosophical truths.
> ...The Gods are in
>competition for the pool of mortal worshippers. The more they have,
>and the more powerful they are, the greater their influence and
>power. I can see a God making alowances for powerful followers that
>they would not make for your average joe. The one has much more to
>offer the God and so is far more worth while making an effort to
>keep than the other.
You are asuming that the gods of Glorantha are either capable of, or interested in making choices of this kind - in the context of the material world at least. I donīņt think they can make choices of this kind. If a powerfull and favoured follower spiritualy polutes himself, or cocks up a ritual, or Strays into Error I donīt think that the gods can just make the magic work anyway. Thatīt just the way the world is. If you cock up, you pay the consequences. Perhaps I'm missunderstanding what you mean.
Simon
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