You're free to have your own feelings on the matter, but you're not disagreeing with me - I'm just explaining how the rules and the lore current works in 5e; it's factual to the current 5e lore. Open and shut. Other threads have discussed this at great length, and I'd recommend you take a look in at those so we don't repeat ourselves ad nauseum. You can say you don't like the rules and lore as written, and that you don't think that the 5e lore for the realms post second sundering makes sense to your sensibilities - but you're disagreeing with the system and the lore itself when you say that. The way things work in the realms literally changed after the second sundering, and they work differently now - one of those differences is that the deities are more hands off and they channel their power, and the power of their folios in many more subtle ways. That's just how it is currently.
It's okay to have in your mind, personally, what you think a certain thing 'should' be - and you can even play that way at your table - but if the folks who write the lore write about the way it changes, and you don't want to acknowledge that or move with it, they aren't the ones who are 'wrong' or 'going mad' - you're just going off book because it makes yo happier to disregard the lore and adopt your own. That's fine, it's great, but you're not in a position to act like your definitions are meaningful to anyone but you, or that they are 'proper' or 'correct' - they're not. If you don't like the present day lore and how it's spun, you don't need to use or engage with it, but you can't expect the world to follow you in that - it's your choice, and yours alone. The lore, as you posit, is not, in fact, on your side here - not in the present day realms of 5e, post second sundering.
Like I said, go have a look at the other threads about this - the discussion goes into great detail about the changes, how they work, and how the lore works now; it makes a lot more sense than you're giving it credit for, but anything I say to that tune here and now would just be repeating a discussion that has already happened in great depth elsewhere on the forums.
Here you go, have some humble pie.
SCAG Page 39. Torm: "... Considering these Tenets, it should be no surprise that most Human PALADINS have Torm as their patron"
SCAG page 40. Tyr. ".. Such knights, as well as judges and priests, Clerics, and PALADINS who worship Tyr..."
SCAG Paladins page 131. "...When such a warrior also has great devotion to a particular deity, that god can reward the faithful with a measure of divine power, making that person a Paladin"..
Oh and Hhere is the REAL kicker, rdy? SCAG page 132 below virtues: "MOST Paladins in the forgotten realms, like clerics, are devoted to a particular deity. The most common paladin deities.... ... Torm and Tyr are both popular deities for paladins..."
SCAG Page 132: Order of Samular "When tyr fell silent the Paladins in his service lost their powers. But the knights of Samular stayed true to Tyr. Their patience was recently rewarded when, upon Tyrs return to the world, many of their dwindling number were invested with the powers of a paladin.
I havent even touched on other books so far other than Sword coast adventurers guide (which is basically 50% a lore book, 50% a rulebook). Curious that you havent read that one, you seemed so damn sure of yourself. I think I have made my point, or do you still beg to differ???"!??!?
But offcourse you are welcome to have your own personal opinion on the matter, how you play in your homegame is your business. I am just explaining to you how the LORE works............
Here are some more if your still in denial, but honestly if you still are, I cant help you...
Paladins use Holy symbols as a Spell Focus. They are referred to as holy warriors in several of the books.
What about all the temples dotted around the place, or more to the point knightly orders or paladin orders dedicated to gods? Order of Samular being one. They are referred to as worshiping Tyr and a few others. Same goes for Order of the Gauntlet, where members are referred to as usually worshiping Torm, Helm or Tyr if memory serves. (Hoard of the Dragon queen source among others).
Need more? SCAG page 20. Religious institutions. "...Indeed, the power invested in Clerics and OTHER divine spellcasters by the gods..."
Just thought of something else. What if you choose the Acolyte Background, are you still saying paladins who have that background dont worship a deity?
