Now that that's out of the way; I was almost able to reconcile myself to the way the gods were portrayed by thinking that in the SPN-verse angels are assholes and God is kind of a jerk, so that the rest of the gods are also more bloodthirsty and venal than our universe's versions kind of makes sense. And maybe Lucifer gets extra power from all the demons that believe in him (I assume there are more now that he is roaming around than there used to be). But I have to work pretty hard at it and I'm not really convinced.

I don't remember Babar books. I know him from the cartoon.

I agree. If we take the American Gods version of how gods get their power, then I can see the Norse and Greek gods getting their asses whipped, because in spite of minor revivals those are essentially dead religions. But deities from big living religions like Hinduism? Even small living religions like Voodoo?

Or, more likely, he had read Babar, and that's where they got the name from and he was just lying.

I read somewhere the line Dean quoted about not having read any elephant books was actually a line from a Chevy Chase movie (maybe Fletch?) wherein Chase's character says that same line. So I think it was just another movie reference for Dean.

So Dean used the movie line because he's pop culture-y like that, but he also read Babar to Sam way back when. I like it.

Babar was awesome.

And maybe Lucifer gets extra power from all the demons that believe in him (I assume there are more now that he is roaming around than there used to be).

Even if we assume a level playing field to start rather than the angels preceding humanity as they believe and not being dependent on humans for power, more than three billion active worshippers of religions in which Lucifer is the principal adversary figure (and constantly credited/blamed for every stubbed toe by some groups) would seem to give him a huge advantage over any polytheistic deity.

So Dean used the movie line because he's pop culture-y like that, but he also read Babar to Sam way back when.

Now, see, I'm liking that a lot, too! :-)

I like the elephant explanation. Besides, Dean was in the loony bin, think he's going to be telling the truth if he can help it? Better to deflect with pop culture humor than let anyone in that close.

Even if we assume a level playing field to start rather than the angels preceding humanity as they believe and not being dependent on humans for power, more than three billion active worshippers of religions in which Lucifer is the principal adversary figure (and constantly credited/blamed for every stubbed toe by some groups) would seem to give him a huge advantage over any polytheistic deity.

Big but not that big. I think Christianity around twice as many worshippers as Hinduism. And it is not like Christians don't divide their worship among many different saints and angels, and Mary. And even though technically Jesus and God are the same, they are often treated as separate so in terms AG powering up that is a division. And Lucifer is still secondary to both God and Jesus in attention paid. So, while I can see Kali as less powerful, I can't see her as tons and tons less powerful. Another point, with all these evil miracles and stuff, Lucifer has been spending a lot power. You would expect that to make a difference.

It's Eric Kripke's birthday today. Just...a note in passing.