Deity Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Polynesian=== [[File:Wooden idols of Polynesia (1830).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|Deities of Polynesia carved from wood (bottom two are demons)]] {{Main|Polynesian narrative}} The [[Polynesians|Polynesian people]] developed a theology centered on numerous deities, with clusters of islands having different names for the same idea. There are great deities found across the Pacific Ocean. Some deities are found widely, and there are many local deities whose worship is limited to one or a few islands or sometimes to isolated villages on the same island.<ref name="Williamson"/>{{rp|5–6}} The [[Māori people]], of what is now New Zealand, called the supreme being as ''[[Io Matua Kore|Io]]'', who is also referred elsewhere as ''Iho-Iho'', ''Io-Mataaho'', ''Io Nui'', ''Te Io Ora'', ''Io Matua Te Kora'' among other names.<ref name="Coulter"/>{{rp|239}} The ''Io'' deity has been revered as the original uncreated creator, with power of life, with nothing outside or beyond him.<ref name="Coulter"/>{{rp|239}}Other deities in the Polynesian pantheon include ''[[Tangaroa|Tangaloa]]'' (god who created men),<ref name="Williamson"/>{{rp|37–38}} ''[[La'a Maomao]]'' (god of winds), ''[[Tūmatauenga|Tu-Matauenga]]'' or ''[[Kū|Ku]]'' (god of war), ''[[Tu-metua|Tu-Metua]]'' (mother goddess), ''[[Kāne|Kane]]'' (god of procreation) and ''[[Rangi and Papa|Rangi]]'' (sky god father).<ref name="Coulter"/>{{rp|261, 284, 399, 476}} The Polynesian deities have been part of a sophisticated theology, addressing questions of creation, the nature of existence, guardians in daily lives as well as during wars, natural phenomena, good and evil spirits, priestly rituals, as well as linked to the journey of the souls of the dead.<ref name="Williamson"/>{{rp|6–14, 37–38, 113, 323}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page