If God exists, is there a problem with offerings to other gods?

[VoidCat]

Another problem I have noticed: in a romantic relationship you need consent from all parties involved to pursue other romantic relationships. In a friendship you do not need consent from your other friends to pursue another friendship...so the question becomes: do you need God's permission to worship other deities alongside of Him or not? What is the nature of your relationship with a deity? Is it typically exclusive or not?

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

I think there is one.

This post is under the premise that God is real - I mean the Creator God as outlined in the Bible.
God gives ressources to a population out of love. If they use it for offerings to some gods that did not provide these things, it's wasting them, which would be impolite towards the (real) creator.

This is at least my stance on the matter.

My neighbors have a shrine. I don't know what god that is, however, I see it occupies:
- 1 m² of their location
- electricity, since there is constanly some light on it
- candles or similar
- there is even fruit on it - but I guess that they still eat it themselves, though, I might be wrong here.
- time. They diligently make this shrine look beautiful.
- time, as they need to go get the ingredients for that shrine.

So these are all resources stemming from the creator getting used for venerating some other god.

Dear @thomas t

The “only” sacrifice that makes sense to God is that of Man’s worldliness - in particular, that of his ego.

Sacrifice the worship of self; of your physical attributes, inwardly gifts and talents. Sacrifice personal attachment to the roles that you play, the achievements you make, the places you come from and dwell in, your possessions and the people you nurture.

Make these great sacrifices to God, so that your time and energy is freed up and made available to be at God’s service to your fellow beings. That is what God wills from Man.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[firedragon]

If God exists, is there a problem with offerings to other gods?

IMO:
How I read the Bible there is no problem to make offerings to other Gods. I found quite a few verses that confirm this

• Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed - Exodus
• They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. - 2nd chronicles
• Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him. - Deuteronomy

 

[firedragon]

I think there is one.

This post is under the premise that God is real - I mean the Creator God as outlined in the Bible.
God gives ressources to a population out of love. If they use it for offerings to some gods that did not provide these things, it's wasting them, which would be impolite towards the (real) creator.

This is at least my stance on the matter.

My neighbors have a shrine. I don't know what god that is, however, I see it occupies:
- 1 m² of their location
- electricity, since there is constanly some light on it
- candles or similar
- there is even fruit on it - but I guess that they still eat it themselves, though, I might be wrong here.
- time. They diligently make this shrine look beautiful.
- time, as they need to go get the ingredients for that shrine.

So these are all resources stemming from the creator getting used for venerating some other god.

Since this guy has not been convinced by a Christian maybe as a neighbour who is a Christian one must take it upon himself some responsibility. At least, it is better than blaming the guy who was never convinced, or never knew.

 

[thomas t]

Ok so here is the scenario; I have a petty jealous love of a girl and give her a gift such as a bracelet.

She loves another guy and offers him the bracelet.

I want to toss her in a lake of fire for doing so.

She calls that vindictive.

I'm not seeing any wrong doing on her behalf here.

good point, however let's add something to the story.
Lets say she gives the bracelet to the other guy saying "thank you, Lord, for the braclet" - that's a lie.
Every lie harms creation, in my opinion. His creation. Lies create disinformation and help build up misorientation.
So, since she harmed creation, what could she pay to make the damage undone - or to provide compensation?

 

[thomas t]

Let’s go with an analogous premise that my parents are real. Parents who are a part of their child’s life as outlined in Leave it to Beaver.

They created me. They gave me the capacity to love others and to share what is mine. Is there a problem with my having my friend’s parents over for Christmas dinner? Am I wasting the capacities and resources my parents gave me on them?

no, but when you say that the friend's parents are yours, it's stepping too far.
But lets assume you won't do this...

Let me give you another comparison:
I had a friend working for a company as a web designer.
So is it a problem when her boss constantly hires external comanies for doing her job?
Yes it was. She constantly did nothing at work. That was nerve racking for her.

 

[thomas t]

Being angry is a human reaction that comes from ego. I would hope any god would be above such pettiness.

being angry could be pettiness, but is not limited to it.
There is anger that is normal.

 

[thomas t]

If God exists, is there a problem with offerings to other gods?

IMO:
How I read the Bible there is no problem to make offerings to other Gods. I found quite a few verses that confirm this

it's your opinion, but it's also an unsupported allegation. No verse in your post.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

If God exists, is there a problem with offerings to other gods?
...the Creator God as outlined in the Bible...
My neighbors have a shrine. I don't know what god that is...

If your neighbors are the ones who are right, and THEIR god(s) is/are the one(s) that exist(s), then it is probably more likely that YOU will find yourself with a problem.

Point being - we can run around spouting these types of hypotheticals all day, but it still doesn't demonstrate, in any way, the truth of the proposition of your God nor any other.

 

[thomas t]

I think the jealousy thing might be right in this case for God.
Jealousy is normal in certain instances, I guess.

Here is a question: if you are in any type relationship with someone...say they kept you from having or staying friends with other people...or from hanging out with other people even...that would be wrong and abusive would it not be? And you could say to you that your relationship with God is special that you shouldnt have a similar relationship with other deities. But your God knows I am a polytheist and already in a relationship with other deities...so if He were to reveal Himself to me He would know I am not gonna stop being friends with those deities just because of Him. It wouldn't be fair to my gods for me to do so as they were there first in my life. He would know I am not gonna change my beliefs just because of Him that I see my gods just as powerful as Him and in some cases perhaps more powerful. So if He were to pursue a relationship with me He would have to keep this in mind.

Bad question to ask me since I am polyamorous and ok with my partner engaging in ethical nonmonogamy..this question assumes monogamy.I wouldnt care as long as everyone involve is ok with the multiple relationships in fact I would be happy that both me and my girlfriend's boyfriend make her happy. My actual ex girlfriend and the person who was her boyfriend at the time of dating the two of them could tell you this. I wouldn't be jealous in the slightest. But I see where you are coming from and what you mean. If your god is not ok with multiple deity- follower relationships and insists on only them being worshipped then having a relationship with another deity would be wrong should you seek to have a relationship with said god.

Note: yes I am asexual. No I am not aromantic. I am biromantic. Just cuz I am asexual doesnt me I cant have a nonsexual romantic relationship. Pointing this out cuz I know I told you I am asexual but never clarified that I am not aromantic.

this all sounds very reasonable to me.
However, the moment I have a girlfriend and she often sleeps at other guys' houses I would miss her.
When I have a girl friend and want her to be with me - during a minimum of time. I would miss her otherwise.

Also, despite of the thoughtfulness of your replies, where do the ressources come from you share with the other lovers?

I don't think that the other deities came first.
When you were born, God let his sun shine on you already, I think.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I think there is one.

This post is under the premise that God is real - I mean the Creator God as outlined in the Bible.
God gives ressources to a population out of love. If they use it for offerings to some gods that did not provide these things, it's wasting them, which would be impolite towards the (real) creator.

This is at least my stance on the matter.

My neighbors have a shrine. I don't know what god that is, however, I see it occupies:
- 1 m² of their location
- electricity, since there is constanly some light on it
- candles or similar
- there is even fruit on it - but I guess that they still eat it themselves, though, I might be wrong here.
- time. They diligently make this shrine look beautiful.
- time, as they need to go get the ingredients for that shrine.

So these are all resources stemming from the creator getting used for venerating some other god.

Are they of abrahamic faith?

Many god religions don't care about each other's gods... not to mention be jealous of them and how they are worshiped.

 

[epronovost]

good point, however let's add something to the story.
Lets say she gives the bracelet to the other guy saying "thank you, Lord, for the braclet" - that's a lie.
Every lie harms creation, in my opinion. His creation. Lies create disinformation and help build up misorientation.
So, since she harmed creation, what could she pay to make the damage undone - or to provide compensation?

Your story starts to sound extremely implausible and filled with plot holes. Why would the woman who received a gift from God, that she knows, she received from God and gives it to another God praising the other God to have given her the gift? That sound like a delusional woman who can't make the difference between reality and fiction. If you say it's a lie, what caused her to lie? People don't lie just for fun. They lie to get something, avoid trouble or in a compulsive manner. You are starting to create a non-person, in a fictionnal scenario with the perceivable goal to justify divine wrath which is a bit weird and moraly questionnable.

 

[Brian2]

If the God of the Bible exists there is a problem because it is jealous, petty and vindictive.

If the God of the Bible exists and is jealous, petty and vindictive then you better make sure you are doing what pleases Him.

 

[Subduction Zone]

When you give a gift to somebody out of love and they use it to burn it to your enemy, how would you feel?
For instance, if you have a girl friend and you sit down pondering about what might please her... coming up with a beautiful bracelet.
How would you feel if she burns it to please another guy, your competitor, who is into burning things?

Being angry is just a natural reaction in this case. There is nothing vindictive about it.

Lets further assume your girl friend calls you vindictive for criticising her, how would you feel?

So there is more than one god? Why would the God of the Bible be jealous of nonexistent beings?

The Old Testament tells us that the early Hebrews were polytheists.

 

[Thief]

ahem......first commandment....

I AM!.....the Lord God
you shall not have other gods before thee

 

[Brian2]

If your neighbors are the ones who are right, and THEIR god(s) is/are the one(s) that exist(s), then it is probably more likely that YOU will find yourself with a problem.

Point being - we can run around spouting these types of hypotheticals all day, but it still doesn't demonstrate, in any way, the truth of the proposition of your God nor any other.

God would think it is not good to worship other gods if there is only one true God. The God of monotheism should be a jealous God.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

God would think it is not good to worship other gods if there is only one true God. The God of monotheism should be a jealous God.

Why did you post this in response to what I said? Basically - if you go read that other response I wrote to you in the thread "John Doe believes in god and you don't. Why do you think he is wrong and you are right?", you should see that you are displaying the exact same lack of critical thinking on this matter as I raised to evidence the idea that theists often make such displays.

Here you are completely glossing over the idea that the neighbor could be the one that is right about their god/gods... and if you were to compare evidence with them (what you have for your beliefs versus what they have regarding their own beliefs) you would very VERY likely see that the same, exact types of evidence are presented. Just like I mentioned in that other thread.

In other words - you want to see a lack of critical thinking in play? Look no further than yourself making statements like the above.

 

[Brian2]

Why did you post this in response to what I said? Basically - if you go read that other response I wrote to you in the thread "John Doe believes in god and you don't. Why do you think he is wrong and you are right?", you should see that you are displaying the exact same lack of critical thinking on this matter as I raised to evidence the idea that theists often make such displays.

Here you are completely glossing over the idea that the neighbor could be the one that is right about their god/gods... and if you were to compare evidence with them (what you have for your beliefs versus what they have regarding their own beliefs) you would very VERY likely see that the same, exact types of evidence are presented. Just like I mentioned in that other thread.

In other words - you want to see a lack of critical thinking in play? Look no further than yourself making statements like the above.

I did not say that the neighbour was wrong, I just said that a monotheistic God should be jealous that people worship gods that are not real.

 

[Brian2]

So there is more than one god? Why would the God of the Bible be jealous of nonexistent beings?

The Old Testament tells us that the early Hebrews were polytheists.

The God of the Bible was jealous of non existent gods and He wanted His people whom He saved from slavery and put under a covenant to see that and stick with worshipping the real God.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I did not say that the neighbour was wrong, I just said that a monotheistic God should be jealous that people worship gods that are not real.

And what if the neighbor's god is the actual, true god? Then what I said originally HOLDS. That is, that the writer of the OP would be the one "in trouble" or finding himself with a problem - an idea you felt the need to reply to with some useless idea that had nothing to do with what I wrote. Re-read my original post in this thread and you will realize that what I said in no way contradicts that any god might be "jealous" or "smart" or "dumb" of have the face of a butt, etc. etc. etc.

Basically, all this talk in the OP about his neighbors is misdirected. He should also be talking about himself. Do you not agree? And if you do not... then consider yourself a non-critical thinker Brian.