(11-27-2013, 03:01 PM)Ildur Wrote:(11-27-2013, 07:46 AM)Naih Wrote: I guess its like the 'saints' in Christianity. They're all important but some religions value others over another.
No, they are nothing like saints in Christianity. They are like gods in ancient Greece or Rome. Certain greek city-states had a patron god because they valued that god more, for whatever reason. In Rome, for example, Jupiter was the main the god for Roman mythology but, in practice, Mars was more important because he was the god of war (and the Romans liked their military victories very, very much).
Basically, the gods in those societies are diverse aspects of reality. In Eorzea, this is also the case. Ul'dah gives importance to Nald'thal because he's the god of commerce. Limsa to Llymaen because they are seafaring. Gridania to whatever the goddess of harvest was. Ishgard to Halone because she gave them a divine command to wage war to the dragons (and is the goddess of war). Each society/community gives more importance to one god above the others because he or she is the most prominent aspect of reality in their life. But that doesn't mean there is no worshipping to the others. It's just that most of their important rites, celebrations and customs will be tailored to favor that particular one.
Ala Mhigo to Rhalgr.Â
Well, saints in Catholicism... (I'm not sure they're worshipped in any other branch of Christianity, namely 'cus I'm Buddhist and was raised that way) can be compared to the worship of multiple gods in this sense to someone who understands that better than ancient polytheism.Â
The answer stands that no, simply because you are a Keeper or a Seeker does not mean you -must- worship Menphina or Azeyma respectively. It only means that there's a very very high chance that your tribe, clan, or homogenized family as a unit focus on pleasing or praying to those particular deities. Your personal patron may or may not be different, but you would likely keep Menphina or Azeyma virtually on par with that deity depending on how close to your own culture you were raised.Â
But no, I imagine there isn't a ton of "I spit on your Menphina!" going around as the entire pantheon is acknowledged by virtually everyone. Their patrons merely take precedence in their personal lives or their communities.
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