An oracle can be a person who prophesies in a temple, a shrine, or any place where such person resides or a prophetic deity is worshiped or answers given by said people.

Question

The given statement is from a Wikipedia entry on the Oracle:

An oracle can be a person who prophesies in a temple, a shrine, or any place where such person resides or a prophetic deity is worshiped or answers given by said people.

Wouldn't a comma be placed between worshiped and or to make the meaning more clear?

i.e.: An oracle can be a person who prophesies in a temple, a shrine, or any place where such person resides or a prophetic deity is worshiped, or answers given by said people.

Philip · Accepted Answer

I would use the comma for the reason you suggest.

RayH · Answer

Jackson6612Wouldn't a comma be placed between worshiped and or to make the meaning more clear?

The comma definitely makes the meaning clearer but I still don't like the overall construction of the sentence. It should probably be reworked for clarity; possibly into two or more sentences. Of course, it is Wikipedia.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Even if a comma is inserted, that will not fix this badly-written sentence.

Jackson6612 · Answer

JacksonAn oracle can be a person who prophesies in a temple, a shrine, or any place where such person resides or a prophetic deity is worshiped, or answers given by said people.

Hi,

When I read that sentence first time it sounded okay to me except for the comma. After you have pointed out, now it looks badly-written to me, too. I still hail Wikipedia as one of most important repository of knowledge in the world.

What does prophetic deity stand for in the given sentence? Can you tell me what will be a nonprophetic deity?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Some deities prophesy, others do not.

Just consider the Greek, Roman or ancient Egyptian gods, or the animistic gods of tribal religions.

Jackson6612 · Answer

AlpheccaStarsSome deities prophesy, others do not.

Just consider the Greek, Roman or ancient Egyptian gods, or the animistic gods of tribal religions.

Question 1:
How can a deity prophesy? A deity is made out of stone, wood, etc., then how can it prophesy?

prophesy
transitive verb
1 : to utter by or as if by divine inspiration 2 : to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge 3 : prefigure
intransitive verb 1 : to speak as if divinely inspired 2 : to give instruction in religious matters : preach 3 : to make a prediction
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

Question 2:
animistic
1 : a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit 2 : attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects 3 : belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

Is the given rewording of the above definition correct?
attribution of life to: objects in nature, phenomena of nature, inanimate objects

If my rephrasing of the definition is correct, then why has M-W used such a difficult wording? How would you difference between general objects in nature and inanimate objects? I think general objects would include animals, birds, etc.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Q1: You have confused deity with idol. A deity is a *** or goddess, or a person or thing revered as a *** or goddess. In many religions, gods communicate with humans.
However, in many religions, deities do not prophesy directly, instead, they divinely inspire certain anointed individuals to prophesy to others on their behalf. These people are called prophets or oracles. There are subtle differences, though. Mainstream religions use the term prophet.

Q2: It is not the best definition - Here is the one from American Heritage. The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.

Some peoples believe in river gods, mountain gods, etc.

An oracle can be a person who prophesies in a temple, a shrine, or any place where such person resides or a prophetic deity is worshiped or answers given by said people.

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