Kamisama ONLY as a vicarious title?

[Bardock the Mexican]

When you think about it, it may make sense for Kamisama to only be a vicarous title/role in DB. What do you think is up with a deity who can die, is limited to a body, ect. The only reason for this would be that there is an actual kamisama that the physical one is only a represenative of. Kind of like how Catholics think the Pope is a represenative of God on earth kind of thing.

[Blitzen]

The FLCL commentary track explains the implications of "Kami-sama" in episode 2 when whats-her-face sees Canti for the first time. The director said that since she said "it's god!", it's more like "It's a god!", because generally gods in Japan were plentiful and were limited/not omnipotent. "Kami-sama" is more or less a really highly revered thing elevated to god-like status, but isn't the all-encompassing sort of thing you'd get with western/arabic/etc types of religion.

[QuantumDestiny]

Kami wanted to make Goku the god of earth at the end of DragonBall but Goku didn't want to. So that kinda makes me think it's not about being a deity but more about being the strongest to protect earth. Then later with Dende being God probably became about the power of the DragonBalls.

[Anonymous Friend]

Quick side questions: Did all the planets have "Guardians" or only Earth? And what info do we have on previous ones and Kami's ascension?

[Swift]

Quick side questions: Did all the planets have "Guardians" or only Earth? And what info do we have on previous ones and Kami's ascension?

It's unknown whether all planets (at least with life on them) have gods or not. One might say that the Great Elder of Namek was that planet's Kami, but he's never specifically referred to as such. Also, no word is ever spoken of Planet Vegeta having a god (except for Kaiô-sama's filler story in the anime, but that's an inconsistency... unless you want to believe Freeza was a god).

As for the ascension of Earth's current Kami-sama, we know that the former Kami was soon to give up his throne to someone else, and Piccolo (before being split) wanted to be his heir. However, the former Kami-sama believed there was too much evil in him. Piccolo split into two, one good and one evil, and the evil became Daimaô, and the good Kami-sama.

Whether or not its canon, Garlic Jr. states in movie one that Garlic Sn. was also contending for the former Kami-sama's throne. But that Kami-sama could sense the evil in Garlic Sn., and refused to let him become a god.

We also know that Mr. Popo has been the attendant of the Kami-sama before the current (Piccolo-half) one, and the one before that, and before that, etc., as Goku states while in the hospital after the battle with Vegeta.

On topic, yeah, as Blitzen said, it's more of a Japanese view on gods, not really the western omnipotent view of God. Truth be told, I think the dub term of "Guardian" actually fits better with what Kami-sama actually is/does.