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Message: <blockquote data-quote="J Lloyd" data-source="post: 367617" data-attributes="member: 5113">There are several ways you might go about doing this. Three come to mind right now.1. Deity is the portal by which divine "energy" is tapped. This model holds two assumptions. [1] The Deity doesn't control who receives the energy. [2] Worshippers can draw on the energy regardless of their beliefs or feelings or actions toward the Deity. Good and evil then derive their powers from the same source but they use it for their own respective purposes.2. Deity is either (a) uncaring, or (b) indifferent [Neutral]. This model allows the Deity to control who gets what energy. Being indifferent, the Deity hands out energy to whomever she pleases. Neutral beings having no stake in good or evil (or having a great deal of stake in either good or evil) hands out the energy either willy-nilly or strategically to either side.3. Deity has lesser minions that rebel againt her. And being divine, they might be able to grant abilities to followers as well. This runs close to dualism, but not so much, since you already place one of the divine energy givers as subordinate, or at least less powerful, than the other being. Though this might border on dualism (see below), the more powerful deity can, at any time--or maybe with some effort--snuff out the weaker being.Things to avoid (or think through carefully).1. The Deity hands energy to one side and another force or philosophy allows energy to another side. Though Eric's suggestion is valid and functional, it may lead to a mental state where characters (and GM included) say there is a monotheistic typesetting for religion but, for obvious reasons, act and behave as if the system was really dualistic. This is further exacerbated because the Deity can't "kill," "control," "have dominion over," or "be sovereign over," an idea or force [or maybe she can--perhaps the force or thought is a renegade aspect of the deity...part of the Deity but uncontrollable by her]. As long as the force or philosophy continue's to exist outside the will of the Deity, the other side can manipulate divine energy, thus creating two equal but polar powers--resulting in dualism. Historical note: Christianity and some parts of Judaism have come close to dualism while wrestling over the concepts of YHWH [God] and the Advocate [Satan, Devil].</blockquote>

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