Why can't there be more than one God?

1. 63

   GizSleepposted 8 years ago

   Why can't there be more than one God?
   
   I'm a Christian and I firmly believe in God, but I do wonder why we always insist there's only one. Everyone seems to be at war over religion but remember the Greeks and Romans had multiple Gods. Who's to say that Gods from different religions aren't all real?

   replyreport
2. 61

   Link10103posted 8 years ago

   No one is to say that, which is exactly the point. No one knows. There doesnt seem to be any evidence for one god, let alone a specific one, even more so for multiple ones. Still, it doesnt mean they dont exist.
   
   Personally I have always liked greek mythology. The stories behind them are usually pretty interesting. Plus, everything is straightforward with them. You piss them off, they punish you. You make them happy, you get rewarded.
   
   Clean and simple.

   replyreport
   1. 63

      GizSleepposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah I like Greek mythology too, not only was it simple but they gave God's a logical reason for existing as they each served a specific function.

      replyreport
3. 67

   Lady Guinevereposted 8 years ago

   The better question is why did they get away from the many gods in favor of the only ONE.  When one runs a business the boss delegates certain responsibilities to others...much like the many gods did before the ONE God came into being.  ONE God cannot possibly be all and do all at one time.  He has to have others to help, especially if the population is supposedly so big and getting bigger.

   replyreport
   1. 63

      GizSleepposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I often think like that with the idea of Heaven and the sheer number of people residing there for eternity but then I try to think I'm thinking within the confines of physics so perhaps God could be everyone and everywhere but we can't comprehend it.

      replyreport
   2. 67

      Lady Guinevereposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The Kindgom of God is WITHIN you....exactly..we are Gods.  You are right, no one believes that.

      replyreport
4. 84

   tsmogposted 8 years ago

   Before one of least being this 'self' can discuss there being one God or more Gods (gods) one must define God. Ultimately of myself I believe there is one God as it seems there is a starting point. However, I teeter and totter at times with the definitions presented by many lines of thought as to how one should define the 'One God'.
   
   I lean toward an Evangelical view laced with most likely Taoism and a hint of Feng Shui philosophy. However, I am a great fan of Greek mythology and have intrigue with the Poetic Eda. All those concepts of philosophy with their ideologies do come in dancing about within my mind as well as my heart, though I still offer a realization there must have been a start, a beginning, a 'One God'.
   
   Continuing with the second question we again must define 'real'. That is a lot of fun. To understand that one just needs to recognize the interactions of one individual with another or with an environment. Some have inferred to that as practicing 'Mindfulness', which arrived to us with today's thinking through Buddhist thought.
   
   Recognizing a moment of 'now' with pause without reflection focusing on simply the experience one ponders 'real' is in fact 'real' while it is said to be both enlightening and awakening. Sharing is at times I have discovered one may become quite giddy with such an experience. Sometimes it may be of difference being closer to 'numinous'. At task then for me of least are those following moments of pause with reflection seeking something . . . simply something more than before.
   
   I would next think one who seeks understanding of a God or Gods most definitely is offered many avenues to venture an adventure of learning, understanding, and a bit and byte of acceptance. Again, hinting with the practice of mindfulness while offering pause one's personal foundational base regarding God or Gods must begin with recognition of 'real' with the power of 'acceptance'. That alone may be enough for any one individual needing nothing else required.
   
   Of a personal perspective I lace that heavily with forgiveness offering understanding. Else, with and within those interactions with 'another' as well as the environment those differences may become disappointments, frustrations, and oddities of cause for disenchantment.
   
   Once one embarks on a venture of adventure discovering for one 'self' God or Gods while seeking if there be any delineation I would ponder one must realize of significance is such that is of one 'self' firstly.

   replyreport
5. 88

   Zelkiiroposted 8 years ago

   The funny thing about Christians and their belief system is that they have absolutely no idea about the history of the religion they claim to follow. They balk--absolutely balk--at the reality that the ancient Hebrews basically copy-pasted Judaism from the religion of the Canaanites, which had many gods and was headed by the chief god, El (also called Yahweh by the Hebrews, because obviously someone caught on to the obvious copy-pasting, and so there were tracks to be hidden). The very same El, in fact, that is named as the chief god of Judaism. Another of the major gods was Baal, who had power over rain, which is why there are stories where the Hebrews tried many, many times to appeal to Baal throughout the Old Testament--he was one of their main gods!
   
   And the kicker? Both the Canaanite and Hebrew El had a wife named Asherah. There are pockets of Judaism that acknowledge the marriage of El and Asherah TO THIS DAY. For literally thousands of years, this was one of the most basic and elementary teachings of Judaism and early Christianity, but you mention it to a modern Christian and they'll go berserk, because they're so delightfully ignorant of the religion they claim to believe in.
   
   Now here's where all you Christians out there lose your minds and fly into a rage: El and Asherah were considered to be equals (or, at least, as close to equals as a backwards Bronze Age religion could facilitate). And they were but two of the "host of heaven," implying there were others like them. And to the ancient Hebrews, this was common knowledge. The singular-god idea in Judaism was started by Moses, who may have been influenced by the beliefs of a recent pharaoh named Akhenaten, who advocated the idea that there was only one god, and it was Atum Ra (the sun). And so, Moses' flavor of Judaism was basically a cult, and his conquest of Canaan can be seen as his attempt to wipe out all remnants of the polytheistic religions, including ancient Judaism, of the region.
   
   So to sum up and answer the question: In terms of the Abrahamic religions, there is only one god because a cult that sprang up said there was only one god and killed (or at least tried to kill) everyone who believed otherwise.

   replyreport
6. 81

   Slarty O'Brianposted 8 years ago

   Well in point of fact, the ancient middle east religions told a story about a god who told his followers he was the only god, and was banished from heaven. It seems Jews, Christians and Muslims worship that fallen god.
   
   Well, according to ancient texts, anyway. The reason that what he did was a sin is: gods need worshipers. Their worship is like food. The more worshipers, the stronger the god gets.
   
   Gnostic's also believed that the god that ruled the world was a nasty piece of work, but that Jesus was working for the real god, and against the Christian god.
   
   The modern Pagans, like Wicca, believe in all the gods including the Christian god. They aren't fond of him.

   replyreport
7. 57

   feenixposted 8 years ago

   Even though there are, and always has been more than one "god," only one of them is legitimate, and that is GOD.

   replyreport
   1. 81

      Slarty O'Brianposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's what he wants you to think

      replyreport
   2. 57

      feenixposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Well, He's succeeded -- BIG TIME!

      replyreport
   3. 81

      Slarty O'Brianposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Lol.. Good for him.

      replyreport