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Theological Landscape
The days of old-time polytheism and thriving pluralism are all but over. For almost two thousand years, the world has been increasingly invaded by the ever-conquering forces of monotheism. Christianity and Islam have moved to nearly all corners of the world, stamping out countless local faith traditions, and threatening those that remain.
This is no accident. The Christian "pantheon" (who hate being called a pantheon) has always considered universal dominance their sacred duty. They seek entirely to stamp out the "pagans." The Islamic "pantheon" has a similar goal. Both have, on the surface, agreed to set differences aside in favor of spreading over all the world. The Great War, as they call it, will come later.
The two faiths have a complex and tense relationship. Some figures are singular, belonging to both pantheons, such as the angel Gabriel (or Jibril). They generally desire unity, for the greater strength of the whole. They also often feel torn about their loyalties, and prefer not to think about the interfaith struggle that will inevitably come between Islam and Christianity. This uneasy alliance hangs on by a thread, often fought by proxy over the runt of the theological trifecta, Judaism. The Judaic pantheon overlaps greatly with Christianity, and these days Christianity generally considers an attack on Judaism by Islam to be a proxy attack on them.
Pagans and other divines refer derisively to Islamic and Judeo-Christian pantheons varyingly as "Abrahamites," "zealots," "book-beaters," or even "bookies." Their shared goal makes them the great enemy. Although, ironically, the Abrahamic pantheons regard Hinduism as their greatest threat. (Everyone else largely leaves the Hindus alone. Whether they join the ranks of defeated old gods or become the new overlords, nobody is willing to burn that bridge.)
Judeo-Christians control the West, and try their damnedest to stamp out any breath of competition. Belief in magic is widely ridiculed in society, and cryptozoology sightings are dismissed as hoaxes. Religious influence in government, media, and all levels of society creates cultures wherein Judeo-Christian values and beliefs are synonymous with morality. Thus, their hold on the West solidifies. Pagans, ever adaptable, have turned to media to survival. To this end, anyone with sense tries very hard to suck up to the Muses.
The Greeks are by far the strongest "old god" pantheon, and the de facto head of the old gods. Norse and Egyptian follow behind. Chief in power among them are Zeus and Gaia. Zeus has the most power by orders of magnitude, but is constantly in trouble with the law. (It's 2018, and you can't do that anymore, Zeus.) Gaia has assumed the role of leader, and is far more suited to it than Zeus ever was.
Gaia has become extraordinarily powerful. She reaps all Wiccan goddess worship, as well as some other forms of paganism. Several other deities have enjoyed a Neo-Pagan power surge (Diana/Artemis, Hecate, Isis, certain Norse gods, etc) but none rival Gaia. All generic "mother Earth" worship goes to her, as well as general earth- and nature-oriented spiritualism, which is rampant. Her influence even extends to drawing power from nonspecific, Earth-oriented "spiritualism."
While the Abrahamites seek dominion, the old gods seek only freedom. They are looking down the barrel of mortality, facing the inevitability of their own deaths to monotheistic dominion, and seek to break their chains to humanity. To exist independently, as real beings, no longer fettered to the beliefs of humans. The desire was slow in coming: many gods recoiled at the idea in the past, hoping to regain their former glory. Most old gods recognize that that's no longer an option.
They just want to be free. Let the Judeo-Christians have all seven billion worshipers, if they need, while the pagans continue to exist peacefully.
This is no accident. The Christian "pantheon" (who hate being called a pantheon) has always considered universal dominance their sacred duty. They seek entirely to stamp out the "pagans." The Islamic "pantheon" has a similar goal. Both have, on the surface, agreed to set differences aside in favor of spreading over all the world. The Great War, as they call it, will come later.
The two faiths have a complex and tense relationship. Some figures are singular, belonging to both pantheons, such as the angel Gabriel (or Jibril). They generally desire unity, for the greater strength of the whole. They also often feel torn about their loyalties, and prefer not to think about the interfaith struggle that will inevitably come between Islam and Christianity. This uneasy alliance hangs on by a thread, often fought by proxy over the runt of the theological trifecta, Judaism. The Judaic pantheon overlaps greatly with Christianity, and these days Christianity generally considers an attack on Judaism by Islam to be a proxy attack on them.
Pagans and other divines refer derisively to Islamic and Judeo-Christian pantheons varyingly as "Abrahamites," "zealots," "book-beaters," or even "bookies." Their shared goal makes them the great enemy. Although, ironically, the Abrahamic pantheons regard Hinduism as their greatest threat. (Everyone else largely leaves the Hindus alone. Whether they join the ranks of defeated old gods or become the new overlords, nobody is willing to burn that bridge.)
Judeo-Christians control the West, and try their damnedest to stamp out any breath of competition. Belief in magic is widely ridiculed in society, and cryptozoology sightings are dismissed as hoaxes. Religious influence in government, media, and all levels of society creates cultures wherein Judeo-Christian values and beliefs are synonymous with morality. Thus, their hold on the West solidifies. Pagans, ever adaptable, have turned to media to survival. To this end, anyone with sense tries very hard to suck up to the Muses.
The Greeks are by far the strongest "old god" pantheon, and the de facto head of the old gods. Norse and Egyptian follow behind. Chief in power among them are Zeus and Gaia. Zeus has the most power by orders of magnitude, but is constantly in trouble with the law. (It's 2018, and you can't do that anymore, Zeus.) Gaia has assumed the role of leader, and is far more suited to it than Zeus ever was.
Gaia has become extraordinarily powerful. She reaps all Wiccan goddess worship, as well as some other forms of paganism. Several other deities have enjoyed a Neo-Pagan power surge (Diana/Artemis, Hecate, Isis, certain Norse gods, etc) but none rival Gaia. All generic "mother Earth" worship goes to her, as well as general earth- and nature-oriented spiritualism, which is rampant. Her influence even extends to drawing power from nonspecific, Earth-oriented "spiritualism."
While the Abrahamites seek dominion, the old gods seek only freedom. They are looking down the barrel of mortality, facing the inevitability of their own deaths to monotheistic dominion, and seek to break their chains to humanity. To exist independently, as real beings, no longer fettered to the beliefs of humans. The desire was slow in coming: many gods recoiled at the idea in the past, hoping to regain their former glory. Most old gods recognize that that's no longer an option.
They just want to be free. Let the Judeo-Christians have all seven billion worshipers, if they need, while the pagans continue to exist peacefully.