Sure, but that still implies to me that there's some kind of connection between the gods and the ways clerical magic works; that diametrically opposed deities would still have followers that use the same methodology of magic. I can get behind that if the gods are specified as one facet of reality (maybe they're the protectors of the mortal races and their civilization), but not if the gods are running everything, as they're often presented.
Oh sure. I mean...mine are kind of "both," I guess. Each deity has their portfolio, and is "in charge" of their own particular facet(s) of reality. But they're still "running everything." But they aren't omnipresent or omnipotent (other than within their own spheres of influence)... nor omniscient, for that matter (except for that one deity of knowledge, history, and the mind whose epithet is, literally, "the All-knowing.").
Some, but not all, deities have revealed themselves to various peoples in various forms, with various names, and related (if not exactly matching) portfolios, but they are all simply different faces of the same entities. E.g. the king of the gods is known by a different name and form as the supreme king/lord of the dwarven pantheon, supreme authority of all Dwarven law and talents. He's also an overarching sky deity of the desert empire (whose religion is focused around the cardinal elements), the godly savior of the world to a sea-faring society who only worship him and the ocean/water goddess as a mated pair. To the elves of the northern woods, who watch and revere the skies and celestial bodies, he is the North/White/"Eternal" (immovable) Star. And there are other identities, all embodied by this one "guy." He is, naturally, (receiving the most worship across the continent) the most powerful deity of the setting -or among the very few "most powerful."
Generally, they are responsible for making sure their piece of reality is doing what it's supposed to. E.g. the King of the Gods, a god of Good, Order, civilization & beneficent ruling/rulers. To him is attributed justice and honor, compassion and kindness, all the things that fall beneath "the Forces of Good" even though there are other deities that are more specifically "in charge of" the Justice, Law, Mercy, and Honor bits. He empowers his clerics and paladins to ensure that Order, civilization, and justice and all that other stuff is present in the world -and victorious over evil and chaos in any way they can.
The goddess of Green, growing, useful/benevolent/tamed Nature is responsible for seeing to the turning of seasons (and, so, a general command of weather), the blooming of flowers and fruits, the proper times of planting and harvesting, with a toe dipped into medicines/healing by useful plants/herbs, agriculture, and the like. There are other deities for the Wild/passionate/bestial/"untamed" elements of Nature, the command of the seas (and, largely, the weather over the seas), mountains and stone, etc... She empowers her clerics to the betterment of and command over plants, planting and farming, the health and well-being of the natural world, production of bounty, etc. Need someone with command of metal and the magics of weapon-making/improving/damage dealing? You're going to have find someone other than a cleric of her.
So, they have their facets of reality overwhich they hold sway, is what I'm saying. But in doing "their part," as it were, they are responsible for and hold stewardship over (by their very existance) this world/setting as a whole, commonly referred to as "Creation." The deities that currently exist as the pantheons of the setting are not the ones who MADE the setting. They are just the guys who are supposed to watch over/"take care of" it, make sure it "functions" as well as possible.
