Can a Cleric switch gods?

[Kae'Yoss]

I do not understand why a deity would ever trust a Cleric who betrayed his former deity.

In fact, I do not understand why a deity would want to tempt such an untrustworthy creature into his service (unless it is a deity of lies or betrayal or some such).

That's the ticket. In fact, betrayer deities will actively seek out - or create - traitors.

And it's not always about betrayal, at least not the priest betraying his god. Sometimes, it's the other way round:

Say, a cleric of Helm was brought up and trained to believe that Helm is a just, nice guy who protects. Then he finds out that he's a power-grabbing tyrant who will make his followers conquer and tyrannize other cultures, engage in wholesale slaughter and commit all kinds of atrocities (rape, plunder, child murder) in his name; and who will even ally with Talos the Destroyer to drive a deity out of her "homeland" to take over the islands.

He then leaves the church of Helm in disgust and seeks sanctuary with Torm the True.


Dozens of other situations can occur that don't amount to the cleric betraying his god or goddess.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I do not understand why a deity would ever trust a Cleric who betrayed his former deity.

In fact, I do not understand why a deity would want to tempt such an untrustworthy creature into his service (unless it is a deity of lies or betrayal or some such).

For most gods, those are good questions.

In theory, this can all be covered under the appropriate use of Atonement. Is the change of heart really sincere? Prove it!