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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hexmage-EN" data-source="post: 5639549" data-attributes="member: 79428">One idea I've toyed with is the concept of "aspects of heresy". This involves an aspect of a god somehow associating with a heretical cult and being transformed by the cult's beliefs. Eventually the aspect of heresy comes to believe that it should become the god it was created by and plots to take its place.This concept assumes that the nature of gods is normally unchanging. While an individual mortal's beliefs about the world can vary radically over time, a god's cannot, as gods are the source of belief. Aspects of heresy arise when the beliefs of a god's worshipers become sufficiently different (but still at least somewhat related) from the beliefs that the god embodies. An aspect of heresy is a "piece" of a god that embodies the new form of belief. If the beliefs it embodies become the new standard, the aspect of heresy fully becomes the god. It is no mere usurper; it is the same god, just one that has "changed its mind".To illustrate what I am saying, think of a belief you hold now that you would have opposed in the past. Now imagine that you and the earlier version of yourself meet, and that only one of you can stay alive. Neither of you is a clone or an impostor, so whichever version of yourself survives is truly you. The earlier you could be likened to a god, and the current you could be likened to an aspect of heresy.Not every heretical cult is sponsored by an aspect of heresy. Only the cults most likely to replace the current standards of belief can attract an aspect and change it into an aspect of heresy. Usually the formation of an aspect of heresy is unintentional by a cult, but some heresiarchs may be intentionally trying to alter a god's nature. Some gods may even encourage their followers to instigate heresies in the faiths of rival gods as a form of spiritual warfare.</blockquote>

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