Actually, there aren't any "gods" in the Skunkworks/Caterwaul reality. However, there are various "faiths" which many follow, just as they do here; these beliefs exist because the people have not yet answered the "how" or "why" of their existences.
As it is in our world (sadly, still to this day), different cultures in the SW/Caterwaul world created various gods and/or belief systems to help explain the things which, at the time, were unexplainable. However, just as with our world, their knowledge and understanding of the various sciences have helped to explain the things which the more primitive versions of their early cultures often attributed to heavenly bodies.
Religions were gaining power and influence in their world's "medieval era", just as it did here. However, saner minds eventually prevailed when the ruling parties came to realize many of the religions, and their often-opposing belief systems, were causing the vast majority of the wars. In time, religions were stripped of their influence in government. While citizens are still free to worship and follow whichever belief system they choose to follow, said systems have little influence on normal day-to-day life. Churches, for example, are taxed (which probably wouldn't be a bad idea here, come to think of it)!
Science has not been able to answer many of the questions the people still ask, though. And it is for that reason that the different belief systems still exist as they do.
Bast does exist, along with Khetzel and many others, but they exist in a reality which is not the same as the one the SW/Caterwaul folks exist in. Onika and Treska, for example, would never have been aware of the SW/Caterwaul reality if Onika had not escaped certain death by running through a dimensional portal, which transported her to Valencia's garden immediately before being damaged by hostile creatures in her native reality.
And while Bast, Khetzel and the other members of the Royal Court may have long lives, their physical forms are not immortal. They age and grow weary just as ours do, but they are able to wrap and prepare the physical forms for long periods of rest, while the true forms of the ruling party travel to other realms to live out other physical lives. (They are technically immortal, but their bodies are not. They exist in one world/reality for a period of time, and then leave that realm after so many years to pursue and experience lives in other physical forms in another world).
Hope that doesn't confuse you too much!
--JMH
--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, Scrapper Black Dragon <scrapperbd@...> wrote:
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> Since Bast and others are the gods of Skunkworks universe, I am guessing religious ceremonies and special days are vastly different to pretty much anything we currently know or celebrate on Earth? Other than birthdays, do they have any other gift-giving celebrations? How will the shops having rampant consumerism without a Christmas equivalent???
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> It would certainly settle many disputes if you could just ask your god directly (I believe Bast is a living god in Skunkworks Universe?) and get a reply!
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> With multi-culturalism in Australia (take that as you may), we have a comparatively small number of 'devout Christians', so it almost seems funny talking of celebrating Christmas. I believe the Australian Christmas is about getting together with friends and family and having a meal. So if you do that over the Christmas period, I feel I can wish you a Merry Christmas. Though I believe JMH doesn't alway even do that... Bah humbug! ;-)
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> A Xmas transvestite is a man who likes to eat, drink and be Mary... >_<
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> Scrapper, Black Dragon, wishing you enjoyment, how ever you may find it.
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Received on Sun Dec 25 2011 - 02:55:04 CST