True, and that's part of why I was careful to say "derived from" rather than the same. If there's one thing that's clear, it's that the sense of entity-identity that's applicable to deities — especially in traditions where deities can be aspects of other deities — is very different than the one applicable to tables and chairs.
This speaks to similar questions, such as whether the Thor Heatens pray to today is the same one Norsemen prayed to two thousand years ago, or even whether the Thor one Heathen today prays to is the same as the Thor another prays to. Probably these questions don't have nice, clear-cut answers. (Really, most questions don't when you look closely enough.)
Re: A Foolish Quest for Consistency
This speaks to similar questions, such as whether the Thor Heatens pray to today is the same one Norsemen prayed to two thousand years ago, or even whether the Thor one Heathen today prays to is the same as the Thor another prays to. Probably these questions don't have nice, clear-cut answers. (Really, most questions don't when you look closely enough.)