Gods are reflections -- or projections -- of self and group (community)-ideals.
Have you ever heard of an 'imperfect' God? A 'weak' God? An 'insecure' or 'inferior' God? It is a rarity although some of the ancient Greek Gods were described as having weaknesses and/or vices. (eg. Hephaestus who is usually depicted as crippled and ugly, the husband of the much more beautiful, adulterous Aphrodite).
Descriptions of the 'vices' of the Gods seemed to have been more common than descriptions of their weaknesses -- creating 'soap operas in the sky', spilling over onto the earth and into the underworld. In ancient Greece, Gods were 'human, all too human'.
Still, Gods are generally meant to be 'worshipped' and you don't worship something and/or someone that/who is imperfect, weak, insecure, inferior...so usually their strengths and virtues were emphasized, their weaknesses either downplayed minimized or non-existent.
So why, even today, do we worship God(s)? Is it our drive to be perfect? And/or our wish or need or drive to be 'vicariously perfect' by associating ourselves with -- and worshipping --someone or something who we perceive to being greater -- and more perfect (or 'perfectly perfect') -- than ourselves?
It is important that we clear up some points and make some distinctions before I delve deeper into this issue.
Firstly, we must distinguish between 'Gods' (who and/or what we are worshipping) and 'religion' (the individual and/or group symbolic, ritual process whereby we do our 'worshipping').
Secondly, you have to know who you are dealing with here: you are dealing with me, DGB -- a multi-dialectic philosopher, a humanist-existentialist, who is looking for the best and the worst in all human perspectives, paradigms, theories, models, etc -- with the goal of integrating the best of the best, and eliminating the worst of the worst.
In this regard, I try to integrate the best of the best of religion, spiritualism, romanticism, mythology, deism, pantheism, agnosticism, atheism -- and bring these different perspectives together under the larger umbrella of 'multi-dialectic humanistic-existentialism' minimizing the differences of the various polar positions, rather than villifying one polar perspective or another.
Perhaps more than anything, I am trying to advance a position of 'multi-dialectic, humanistic-existential, deism-pantheism'.
What the heck does this mean other than a seeming collision of contradictory religious and ant-religious positions?
It means that I would sooner 'worship the glory of Self, God, Creation, and Life' driving in the mountains of Alberta, or driving on the mountain shores of Cape Breton Island or Lake Superior, or walking in the fields and forests of Ontario, or feeding my birds in the back of my townhouse, or watching my amazing little Beta fish who I think has been with me for over a year now, or talking to my parents on their small farm in the middle of Prince Edward Island where I have never been, or spending a weekend in Niagara Falls with my girlfriend -- all of these, I would sooner do than I would celebrate 'the glory of God' in a ritualized Church.
Sorry, I don't mean to offend those who prefer a ritualized Church service, but my 'Church of God' is 'the Church of Life, Creation, Self, The Good of Mankind, Nature, Enlightenmnent, Rational-Empiricism, Resolving Human Conflicts Non-Violently, Romantic-Spiritualism, Mythology, and Deism-Pantheism.
This is not to say that I haven't heard some fantastic sermons in my life, by some very passionate preachers who have chosen to celebrate 'God' and Life along a totally different path than me. Different people have different ways of expressing their passion -- both good and bad -- for life (and sometimes, most unfortunately, through rage, hate, violence, destruction, and the worshipping of pain, revenge, and death).
People choose similar and different Gods to worship. And then sometimes, they can get very passionate in terms of righteously and narcissistically protecting the particular God they have chosen to both worship -- and follow. Different Gods can take us to different places -- some to 'Heaven on Earth'; others to 'Hell on Earth'.
Thus, we have to be very careful about who and what we are worshipping. To emphasize this point again, our Gods -- and/or our 'Idols' (human renditions of Gods or humans with perceived 'God-like' qualities) -- are reflections or projections of our own individual and/or group idealism.
But if our own self-idealism and/or the idealism of the group that we belong to -- is 'pathological' -- then we may be chasing our 'idealistic dream' to all sorts of related 'dehumanized and dehumanizing' places -- domination and submission, sadism and masochism, pain, rage, hate, divisionism, destruction, self-destruction, and ultimately -- an untimely and/or miserable death.
'Human Gods', 'human idols', 'human leaders' -- to the extent that they are able to 'sell' or 'intimidate' mass followers and mass followings, disguising pain as pleasure, sophism as truth, poison as candy, in effect turning the world and the world's humanistic-ethical value systems upside down and being able to convince their followers that everything is still 'right side up' (or intimidate and coerce them into at least pretending to believe this to be true) -- can easily create mass havoc, pain, grief, sickness, death, and dying, in effect, Hell on Earth.
We can talk about many of the most powerful dictators in the world, past and present, in this light -- Sadaam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Ghenghis Khan, Alexander The Great, Napoleon, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao tse Tung...some mixing elements of 'humanism' and 'cultural explosion' with their mass killings (Alexander The Great, Napoleon) and others just being bad, bad, bad on some greater or lesser political and/or religious dimension...Charles Manson...
Going back to ancient, mythological times, we have 'Gods of Love' -- both the altruistic, nurturing type (Jesus Christ) and Gods of Romantic Love (Aphrodite, Cupid, Eros...) We have Gods of Power, Fairness, Justice, Truth (Zeus, Apollo, God)... We have Gods of The Earth (Gaia), Gods of Marriage and Family (Hera)... Here, let me waste no more time citing Gods that could number in the hundreds if I went at the task with any precision...Here is a sample:
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List of Greek mythological figures
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Ancient Greek Religion
Main doctrines
Polytheism · Mythology · Hubris
Orthopraxy · Reciprocity · Virtue
Practices
Amphidromia · Iatromantis
Pharmakos · Temples
Votive Offerings · Animal sacrifice
Deities
Twelve Olympians:
Ares · Artemis · Aphrodite · Apollo
Athena · Demeter · Hera · Hestia
Hermes · Hephaestus · Poseidon · Zeus
---
Primordial deities:
Aether · Chaos · Chronos · Erebus
Gaia · Hemera · Nyx · Tartarus · Oranos
---
Lesser gods:
Dionysus · Eros · Hebe · Hecate · Helios
Herakles · Iris · Selene · Pan · Nike
Texts
Iliad · Odyssey
Theogony · Works and Days
See also:
Decline of Hellenistic polytheism
Hellenic Polytheistic Reconstructionism
Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes
This box: view • talk • edit
A listing of Greek mythological figures. See also family tree of the Greek gods and the list of Greek mythological creatures. For a list of the deities of many cultures (including this one), see list of deities.
Contents [hide]
1 Immortals
1.1 Olympian deities
1.2 Primordial deities
1.3 Titans
1.4 The Hundred-Handed Ones (Hecatoncheires)
1.5 Cyclopes
1.6 River gods
1.7 Nymphs
1.8 Giants
1.9 Other deities
2 Mortals
2.1 A-B
2.2 C-G
2.3 H-L
2.4 M-P
2.5 R-Z
Immortals
Olympian deities
Greek name English name Description
Aφροδίτη (Aphroditē) Aphrodite Goddess of love, lust, beauty, wife of Hephaestus. Ares is her lover. Eros is her son. Known as the most beautiful of the Greek goddesses. Her symbols are the scepter, myrtle, and dove.
Aπόλλων (Apollōn) Apollo God of music, prophecies, poetry, and archery. Also said to be the god of light and truth. Is associated with the sun. Also referred to as the most beautiful of the gods. He is Artemis's twin brother, and son of Zeus. His symbols are the bow, lyre, and laurel.
Άρης (Arēs) Ares God of war, murder and bloodshed. Brother to Athena, and is the son of Zeus. Has an affair with Aphrodite. His symbols are vultures, dogs, boars, and a spear.
Άρτεμις (Artemis) Artemis Goddess of the hunt and wild things, and the moon. Protector of the dewy young. She became associated with the moon. Apollo is her twin brother. Artemis is a virgin goddess. Her symbols are the bow, dogs, and deer.
Αθηνά (Athēna) Athena Goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts and reason. Sister of Ares, and is the daughter of Zeus. Sprung from Zeus's head in full body armor. She is the wisest of the gods. Her symbols are the aegis, owl, and olive tree.
Δήμητρα (Dēmētra) Demeter Goddess of fertility, grain and harvest. Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus. Her symbols are the scepter, torch, and corn.
Διόνυσος (Dionysus) Dionysus God of wine, parties/festivals, madness and merriment. He represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficial influences. His symbols are the grape vine, ivy, and thyrsus.
ᾍδης (Hades) Hades God of the underworld. Brother of Poseidon and Zeus, and consort to Persephone. His symbols are the bident, the Helm of Darkness, and the three-headed dog, Cerberus.
Ήφαιστος (Hēphaistos) Hephaestus God of fire and the forge (god of fire and smiths) with very weak legs. He was thrown off Mount Olympus as a baby by his mother and in some stories his father. He makes armor for the gods and other heroes like Achilles. Son of Hera and Zeus is his father in some accounts. Married to Aphrodite, but she does not love him because he is deformed and, as a result, is cheating on him with Ares. He had a daughter named Pandora. His symbols are an axe, a hammer and a flame.
Ήρα (Hēra) Hera Goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth. Zeus' wife. Appears with peacock feathers often. Her symbols are the scepter, diadem, and peacock.
Ερμής (Hērmēs) Hermes God of flight, thieves, commerce, and travelers. Messenger of the gods. He showed the way for the dead souls to Hades's realm. He shows up in more myths than any other god or goddess. Likes to trick people and is very inventive. Hermes invented the lyre using a turtle shell and sinew. His symbols are the caduceus and winged boots.
Ἑστία (Hestia) Hestia Goddess of the hearth and home, the focal point of every household. Daughter of Rhea and Cronus. Gave up her seat as one of the Twelve Olympians to tend to the sacred flame on Mount Olympus for Dionysus. Her symbol is the hearth.
Ποσειδῶν (Poseidon) Poseidon God of the sea. He created horses from sea foam. God of earthquakes as well. Also called 'Earth Shaker' and 'Storm Bringer'. His symbols are horses, sea foam, dolphins, and a trident.
Ζεύς (Zeus) Zeus The king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak.
Primordial deities
Greek name English name Description
Αιθήρ (Aithēr) Aether God of the upper air.
Χάος (Khaos) Chaos Non-gendered deity of the nothingness from which all else sprang.
Κρόνος or Kronos Kronos or Cronus Titan of eternal time and father of six of the Olympian gods. Cronus and Chronos (Kρόνος and Xρόνος) are two separate entities altogether. Chronos is The Keeper of time; Cronus or Kronos is the father of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. In addition, in the Greek language "χρονια" means "year" or "years" depending on accent.
Έρεβος (Erebos) Erebus God of darkness and shadow.
Γαία (Gaia) Gaia Goddess of the Earth (Mother Earth), mother of Kronos (Cronus).
Ημέρα (Émera) Hemera Goddess of daylight and the sun.
Ζέφυρος (Zephuros) Zephyrus God of the west wind.
Νύξ (Nux) Nyx Goddess of darkness/night. She is also the only being from which Zeus turned from when her son Hypnos, who had angered Zeus, hid behind her.
Τάρταρος (Tartaros) Tartarus Is the darkest, deepest part of the underworld controlled by Hades.
Ουρανός (Ouranos) Uranus God of the heavens (Father Sky) and father of the Titans; banished the Cyclopes to the underworld because they did not please him.
Titans
Themis
Cronus
Atlas
Oceanus
Tethys
Hyperion
Theia
Coeus
Phoebe
Rhea
Crius
Iapetus
Prometheus
Helios
The Hundred-Handed Ones (Hecatoncheires)
Briareus (or Aegaeon) (Βριάρεως)
Gyes
Cottusgeit
Cyclopes
Arges
Brontes
Steropes
Polyphemus (Πολύφημος)
River gods
Achelous (Αχέλους or Αχελώος in contemporary Greek)
Acheron (Αχέρων)
Acis
Alpheus (Αλφειός)
Asopus (Ασωπός)
Cladeus
Eurotas (Ευρώτας)
Peneus (Πηνειός)
Styx
Emanopsus
Nymphs
Adrasteia (Αδράστεια)
Clytie
Crataeis
Daphne (Δάφνη)
Dryads (Δρυάς-Δρυάδες in plural)
Hamadryads (Αμαδρυάς-Αμαδρυάδες in plural)
Metope (Μετώπη)
Naiads (Ναιάδες)
Cleochareia
Nereids (Νηρηίδες)
Amphitrite (Αμφιτρίτη)
Arethusa (Αρετούσα)
Oceanids (Ωκεανίδες)
Eidyia
Oreads
Echo (Ηχώ)
Giants
Agrius
Alcyoneus
Aloadae
Otus
Orion (Ωρίων)
Ephialtes (Εφιάλτης)
Antaeus (Ανταίος)
Argus (Άργος)
Enceladus (Εγκέλαδος)
Tityos
Other deities
Achilles Ascendant hero
Adephagia Goddess of gluttony
Aeolus (Aiolos) (Αίολος) God of the winds
Agdistis hermaphroditic demon
Alastor God/demon of family feuds
Alectrona Goddess of the morning or waking up
Alexiares and Anicetus Twin guardians of Mount Olympus
Amphitrite (Αμφιτρίτη) Goddess of the sea, wife of Poseidon
Anakes
Antheia Goddess of flowers and flowery wreaths
Aphaea Minor goddess of agriculture and fertility
Aristaeus A good hunter and inventor
Asclepius (Ασκληπιός) God of healing
Astraea (Αστραία) Virgin Goddess of Justice
Ate Goddess of foolish acts
Attis
Bia Goddess of violence
Boreas (Βορέας) God of the north wind and of winter
Brizo Goddess of sailors
Cabiri
Caerus God of luck and opportunity
Calypso (Καλυψώ)
Ceto Goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters
Charon Hades’ ferryman
Circe (Κίρκη)
Cotys
Cragus
Cybele (Κυβέλη)
Dike Goddess of Justice
Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι)
Castor (Κάστορ)
Polydeuces (Πολυδεύκης)
Doris (Δωρίς) Goddess of the sea’s bounty
Efreisone (Ευφροσύνη) Personification of the olive branch
Eileithyia Goddess of childbirth
Elpis (Ελπίς) Goddess of hope or expectation
Enyalius Minor god of war
Enyo Goddess of destructive war
Eos (Ηώς) Goddess of the dawn
Eosphorus God of the morning star
The Erinyes, or "Furies"
Eris (Έρις) Goddess of strife and discord
Eros (Έρος) God of lust, love, and sex
Eurynome (Ευρυνόμη)
Eurus (Euros) God of the east wind
Glaucus Minor sea god
Gorgons (Γοργόνες)
Stheno
Euryale
Medusa (a mortal) (Μέδουσα)
Hêbê (Ήβη) Goddess of youth
Hecate (Εκάτη)
Hêlios (Ήλιος) Personification of the sun
Heracles (Ηρακλής) Ascended hero
Hespera
Horae (Ώρες) (the hours)
Thallo (Θαλλώ)
Auxo (Αυξώ)
Karpo (Καρπώ)
Eunomia (Ευνομία)
Dike (Δίκη)
Eirene (Ειρήνη)
Hybris (Ύβρις) God of hubris
Hygieia (Υγεία) Goddess of cleanliness
Hymen God of Marriage and Marriage Feasts
Hypnos (Ύπνος) God of sleep
Iris (Ίρις) Goddess of the rainbow and minor messenger
Moira (Μοίρα)
The three Moirae, or "Fates": (Μοίρες)
Clotho (Κλωθώ)
Lachesis (Λάχεσις)
Atropos (Άτροπος)
Mania (Μανία) Goddess of insanity
Metis (Μέτις) Goddess of wisdom and thought
Momus God of satire and criticism
Morpheus (Μορφέας) God of dreams
Muses (Μούσες)
Calliope (Καλλιόπη)
Clio (Κλειώ)
Erato (Ερατώ)
Euterpe (Ευτέρπη)
Melpomene (Μελπομένη)
Polyhymnia (Πολυμνία) - (Πολύμνια)
Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη)
Thalia (Θάλεια)
Urania (Ουρανία)
Nemesis (Νέμεσις) Goddess of retribution
Nereus (Νηρέας)
Nike (Νίκη) Goddess of victory
Notus (Νότος) God of the south wind
Pan (Πάν) God of shepherds, pastures, and fertility
Phoebe Goddess of the moon: Bright
Perséphonê (Περσεφόνη) Goddess of the earth’s fertility
Peitho (Πειθώ) Goddess of persuasion and seduction
Pleiades (Πλειάδες)
Psyche Goddess of the Soul
Alcyone (Αλκυόνη)
Sterope (Στερόπη)
Celaeno (Κελαινώ)
Electra (Ηλέκτρα)
Maia (Μαία)
Merope (Μερόπη)
Taygete (Ταϋγέτη)
Phorcys (Φόρκυς)
Proteus (Πρωτεύς) Minor sea god
Priapus (Πρίαπος) God of male virility
Satyr (Σάτυροι)
Selene (Σελήνη) Goddess of the moon
Thanatos (Θάνατος) God/demon of death and mortality
Thetis (Θέτις)
Triton (Τρίτων) Poseidon’s messenger
Typhon (Τυφών)
Zephyrus (Ζέφυρος) God of the west wind
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And that is not even beginning to list the great number of 'mortal' Gods or ''Human Idols'...from ancient Greek mythology to present day 'pop-culture' mythology if you will...
Now you could say that we are through with all those Gods -- that we no longer worship them -- and that we have very much simplified the process today bringing everything down to the worshipping of 'one God' -- or 'monotheism'.
But does anyone really believe that we have stopped the process of 'God or Idol-Making' and the associated act of 'God or Idol-worshipping'?
So I ask the philosophical question again: What is this 'fixation' and/or 'obsessive-compulsion' with 'God and Idol-Making' and at the same time, the extension of this act -- 'God and Idol Worshipping'?
In The DGB Personality Theory section, we will explore the relationship between Gods, Archetypes, Ego-States, Transference-Figures -- and Core Nuclear Personality Conflicts -- conflicts between our self-perceived insecurities or 'inferiority feelings' on the one hand, and their compensatory, defensive 'superiority-strivings' towards 'perfection', both inside and outside of us, on the other hand.
I will say it again, re-applying the words of Nietzsche in a different context:
Gods are human, all too human.
--dgb, Jan. 26th, 2009, modified and updated Jan. 15th, 2011.
-- David Gordon Bain
-- Democracy Goes Beyond Narcissism
-- Dialectic Gap-Bridging Negotiations...are still in process....
