[quote]I'm unclear as to Eeiys' way of thinking, does he deny the existence of the gods, or simply reject them as being good for mortals or whatever?[/quote]

No, no. He acknowledges the fact that they exist, and that is part of the problem. His idea is that: If all beings are wholly constructed with the essence of the gods, why is it that they are still capable of evil? Why should humans (and others) worship beings who therefore cannot be pure in nature, or unwilling / unable to eliminate evil from the world? If the gods are in fact not even necessarily divine, he again wonders why mortals should worship beings who are only primordial, and not the embodiment of right and just causes. He believes that humans, without the influence of the gods, could be far more moral creatures than they are now, and that life without them would lead way to prosperity in mortal lands. Basically.