Ascendant Divine ability question

By Villin, in Talisman Rules Questions

Hi, new member and first post. Hoping you can help settle a dispute

Our table is at odds over the Ascendant Divine's special ability:

"Once per round, you may cast one of your divine gifts as if it were a Spell, though it does not count as Spells for the purpose of other effects and does not count against the maximum number of Spells you may cast during a turn."

The person playing the Ascendant Divine used her divine gift Finger of Death to kill off another player. This player had a Counter Spell spell card, but the dispute was that he could not cast that to negate the Finger of Death, because it was a divine gift and not a spell.

The table was split on if that was how the divine gift granted spell cards would function, so I am looking for advice from other players on their interpretation of how her special ability would work in a situation like this.

Thanks for your time and advice

I'd say it does not count as a spell, and so no counter-spell would work, but I'm not the rules lawyer at my house.

Why would anyone think a divine gift can be countered when it does not count as Spells for the purpose of other effects

Sigh

Edited by Bludgeon

Why would anyone think a divine gift can be countered when it does not count as Spells for the purpose of other effects

Sigh

That was my take as well. Thank you for the response.