theoretically, how would you kill a god?

[thatoneguywho-]

yup, you saw that correctly. Im trying to figure out how I should kill some of my divine(given that some of them are antagonists), and I would like some input.

currently, I have that you take their divine power away somehow and that its related to their divine weapon, but that's all. also, my divine have multiple forms that can be killed individually.

 

[LordFalco]

In my world it isn't a fast endeavor. The gods agitate against each others' belief systems, depriving the target of believers. At an extreme, this can relegate them into obscurity. But as long as one believer remains, a comeback is possible.

 

[Saigonnus]

The faithful stop believing...

 

[ThinkerX]

You touch upon a central theme of my 'Empire' series, in which the demise of a deity was a driving force for what came after.

Put simply, many of the deities in my worlds are Lovecraftian abominations. 'Three-In-One,' also known as 'Kato-Siva,' and a host of other names, was a fusion of three such abominations. To such beings, Names are EVERYTHING. However, Three-In-One's was Name was imperfectly combined. Mortal sorcerers and alien technologists shattered that Name, and Three-In-One along with it.

(Then other Lovecraftian Gods took affront.)

 

[Malik]

The faithful stop believing...

Toward the end of my career, I was in a unit responsible for taking down upstart terrorist groups before they could become a going concern, primarily in countries where we weren't allowed kinetic strikes.

We would determine what their "big plan" was--every nascent terror org has a "big plan" to put them on the map--and then we'd make it fail in the funniest and most public way possible, so that no one would ever want to work with them again. You even mention those groups in those countries, and people bust out laughing. We relegated entire ideologies to the dustbin of history without firing a shot.

And yes, it was the most fun you can have in the military with your pants on. There were days when we felt guilty getting paid.

That's how you kill a god. Remove faith.

 

[Karlin]

Why "theoretically"? Go try it.
Some gods are easier to kill than others. A lot depends on what you mean by "god".

 

[pmmg]

Cut off his head with an axe.

Why complicate things?

The answer to this needs to flow from the story. How do i kill gods needs to be answered, then pursued in the boundaries of the story.

Maybe the gods cant be killed.

Or maybe they need Xena’s chakram of light.

 

[Prince of Spires]

With a spoon...

Or anything else you want really. It very much depends on the religion in question. The Norse gods were fairly mortal and died to some of the big things appearing during Ragnarok (except for Balder who was shot with a mistletoe arrow in a story similar to Achillises). The Christian God on the other hand probably can't be killed. Or at least, it's not really soemthing that's ever considered as a possibility.

You have a few approaches. Take away the belief in them is a very traditional one. Simply have them be strong humans that can be killed if you're strong or lucky enough like the norse gods is another.

Then you can have special weapons that can do it. Like a magical sword forged for the gods. Or have a way to strip them of their immortality, either through poison or a special place or something similar (like superman giving up his powers in superman 2 (I think it was that one...)). Or they have an achillis heel.

Alternatively, you could have it impossible to kill them and you can only lock them away or send them into hybernation or something like that (both of which happen in Greek mythology). Disney will appreciate the option for creating sequels at least

 

[thatoneguywho-]

I'm seeing a lot of "take away belief" here. most of my divine are actually ascended humans, only six are actually gods, who already went to the whole nonbelief thing and still exist. INFO: upon ascension, each divinity chooses a divine weapon forged by the goddess of nations. haven't decided from there.

 

[CupofJoe]

What type of death do you want to give them?

 

[thatoneguywho-]

What type of death do you want to give them?

no idea, probably some kind of thing where their divine power that they gained kinda leaves them or is forced away

 

[CupofJoe]

no idea, probably some kind of thing where their divine power that they gained kinda leaves them or is forced away

Well, that’s ruled out a knife under the ribs then!
In the Belgariad series, there is a sword forged from star iron [fallen stars?] that has a stone in the hilt. The stone is infused with the power of a god. Wielded by the right person [aka the chosen one], the sword is the only thing that can kill a god. That is because it has the strength of the chosen one and a god.
The multiple aspects of the divine makes this of HP and the Horcrux
Gotta get them all…

 

[thatoneguywho-]

Well, that’s ruled out a knife under the ribs then!
In the Belgariad series, there is a sword forged from star iron [fallen stars?] that has a stone in the hilt. The stone is infused with the power of a god. Wielded by the right person [aka the chosen one], the sword is the only thing that can kill a god. That is because it has the strength of the chosen one and a god.
The multiple aspects of the divine makes this of HP and the Horcrux
Gotta get them all…

oh my God(hehe) wait what if their divine weapon is the catalyst of my divinities power wait bro I think figured it out and you need to destroy weapon to do it oh my god...

 

[SamazonE]

Sin. It’s about the only weapon you have. If you woke up, and you had the power to create, who would ask around first - it would be a discussion, until you decided on a great divorce. A good god, all in all, a mirror of the soul.

 

[ThinkerX]

I do have a 'higher class of deities,' entirely spiritual entities in non-physical dimensions, who provide subtle mental guidance to...everybody, though these hints are often twisted or ignored. Mortals who undergo enough incarnations join with these beings. Even mortal genocide wouldn't suffice to 'kill' these beings.

Still, they do occasionally manifest (possess) mortal hosts, offering spiritual and moral lessons to any who will listen. These hosts are entirely killable.

 

[pmmg]

I find Gods to be tricky things. Cause it could just be all we know about them is not sufficient to know anything about them for certain. If it was rumored that if I could get a Gods weapon from them, I could kill the God, and it might be true...but it also might not be true. And it could be, even if every believer fades away, and no one believes in a God any more, that the God himself is no less powerful and still able to destroy or influence his creation.

So again...this all comes back to story? What ever the answer is, it needs to spring from the story itself and be commensurate with its themes and messages. If the story is a comedy, for example, and meant to be funny, Gods may die in silly ways, and if its a gritty struggle, Gods may day with a lot of death and dismemberment along the way. Only you know your story...So without similar knowledge, I dont know how to help, other than tell anecdotal stories about other stories where this happened.

 

[ThinkerX]

I find Gods to be tricky things. Cause it could just be all we know about them is not sufficient to know anything about them for certain. If it was rumored that if I could get a Gods weapon from them, I could kill the God, and it might be true...but it also might not be true. And it could be, even if every believer fades away, and no one believes in a God any more, that the God himself is no less powerful and still able to destroy or influence his creation.

So again...this all comes back to story? What ever the answer is, it needs to spring from the story itself and be commensurate with its themes and messages. If the story is a comedy, for example, and meant to be funny, Gods may die in silly ways, and if its a gritty struggle, Gods may day with a lot of death and dismemberment along the way. Only you know your story...So without similar knowledge, I dont know how to help, other than tell anecdotal stories about other stories where this happened.

You are i good company. The rule for most of the old-school fantasy authors was that Gods were tricky or impossible to credibly incorporate into their books.

 

[thatoneguywho-]

ahh... i have gods that are actively participating in the story. mainly the ten divine guardians, humans ascended to the lowest divine 'rank' a divinities iris is shaped like a rectangle(seriously), while a sinner god/goddess has a double triangular eye. divine guardians hide their eyes by tradition. they are also the ones who protect humanity from threats like the abyss/chasm of death/void or whatever you want to call it, names vary. meanwhile, the six I mentioned before? those are the true divine. the creationists. the god of time/life, God of flame, goddess of water, goddess of air, God of earth, and God of light. by far the most powerful, and only two others have EVER reached their level of power. Abailemjikulo(Abai) goddess of death (really goddess of the core), and Taylu, goddess of nations. the creationists can interfere but choose not to. (they know that humanity will say that they could have done it alone)

so far, I'm thinking that you destroy their divine weapon based off all the input (thx)

oh, and sorry bout the random loredrop LOL

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Step 1: Be a protagonist with plot armor
Step 2: ??? over many chapters
Step 3: Profit
Step 4: Antagonist tries to take gods place
Step 5: Protagonist requips plot armor
Step 6: Antagonist get stabbed
Step 7: roll credits

 

[thatoneguywho-]

Step 1: Be a protagonist with plot armor
Step 2: ??? over many chapters
Step 3: Profit
Step 4: Antagonist tries to take gods place
Step 5: Protagonist requips plot armor
Step 6: Antagonist get stabbed
Step 7: roll credits

my story

step 1: be a protagonist with cursed plot armor
step 2: see all of your friends die
step 3: OP antagonist
step 4 YES.