Intolerance of Polytheism: Why?

[Quintessence]

Pluralism - or the acceptance that many traditions have good ideas or valid approaches to life and living - is prevalent in English-speaking cultures today. However, in spite of relatively tolerant and pluralistic attitudes, it seems there is still a very persistent prejudice against polytheism. This is very sad to see, and I can't help but wonder why. Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising when there's still very persistent prejudice against, say, atheism, but the prejudice against polytheism gets substantially less attention or discussion. In most cases, it is still simply granted that polytheism is simply bad, primitive, or not viable as theological approach.

Why is this prejudice so persistent? What is with the hatred and misconceptions of polytheism in the modern era when we really ought to know better by now?

 

[Vinayaka]

Pluralism - or the acceptance that many traditions have good ideas or valid approaches to life and living - is prevalent in English-speaking cultures today. However, in spite of relatively tolerant and pluralistic attitudes, it seems there is still a very persistent prejudice against polytheism. This is very sad to see, and I can't help but wonder why. Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising when there's still very persistent prejudice against, say, atheism, but the prejudice against polytheism gets substantially less attention or discussion. In most cases, it is still simply granted that polytheism is simply bad, primitive, or not viable as theological approach.

Why is this prejudice so persistent? What is with the hatred and misconceptions of polytheism in the modern era when we really ought to know better by now?

I think that psychologically, it boils down to insecurity. Those who criticize other world views are of the same ilk as a 6 foot tall insecure person will stand beside a 5'5" person only to feel taller. It's sad, but it's part of the lower nature of man.

Sorry not to present a more complex theory.

 

[Orbit]

The why is because we live under Christian hegemony, at least in the U.S.
Pagans are equated with witches, and "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" as the Bible says. It leads to deep-seated prejudice.

 

[joe1776]

but the prejudice against polytheism gets substantially less attention or discussion.

Does the fact that it gets less attention mean that there's greater intolerance? Or does it get less attention because the belief is less common?

 

[Onoma]

Well, there are only a few select religions that say ( Paraphrasing ) " X says I'm " special " because I believe in X and everyone else is wrong "

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I feel it's mostly politics, not necessarily a conflict in theological beliefs in and of itself. In many countries, religions have gotten well quite nicely in a said village where polytheism is prevalent. However, in "one-person" politics and religions, the shift is different. For example, you have one-president, one-winning team, one-(the best) answer, one-king, one-universe (at one time we thought we were the center of such), and, of course, one-god. I feel if it wasn't politicalized to justify wars et cetera, there wouldn't be an issue with monotheism and polytheism. Many African traditions are monotheism but may be seen as polytheism given intermediaries are "gods" in themselves.

I do understand both sides, though. If you were raised in a single family household, you'd look to your parent for advice before looking at other parents who may have a two parent household, or multiple family household. I was raised with a single mother and my former friend with a mother and father. She looked down at me because of it though I don't believe I was any different than she was.

Likewise, if she was a polytheist and I was a monotheist, although in this analogy we wouldn't understand each other's views, we would not make ourselves the victim nonetheless. But all in all, I think it's more politics than anything else. Many of us can be open to get through our biases but I think the "one-idea" thinking could be influenced for the worse because of our environment and government more so than our theological differences.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Does the fact that it gets less attention mean that there's greater intolerance? Or does it get less attention because the belief is less common?

Good point. If polytheism were the majority, there may be some intolerance but I don't know how polytheist thinking is better or worse than monotheism in and of themselves. So, maybe it's not specific to theology differences.

 

[Audie]

Weirdly, Christians won't admit that their faith is
full of lesser gods besides their big guy.

 

[JustGeorge]

Weirdly, Christians won't admit that their faith is
full of lesser gods besides their big guy.

I am not terribly knowledgable of Christianity, but isn't the commandment of "thou shall have no gods before me" admitting to there being other Gods? How could one worship other Gods if there supposedly isn't any?

 

[Audie]

I am not terribly knowledgable of Christianity, but isn't the commandment of "thou shall have no gods before me" admitting to there being other Gods? How could one worship other Gods if there supposedly isn't any?

Sounds like it but with "apologetics" you can turn anything into meaning anytjing.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Weirdly, Christians won't admit that their faith is
full of lesser gods besides their big guy.

They're not lesser gods. It's the same guy (monotheism) with different "clothes" (incarnation or spirit).

 

[Estro Felino]

Christianity has been demonizing polytheism since 380...the year of the edict of Thessalonica.
I think it is time Pagan Religions are taken seriously.

 

[Sir Joseph]

These seem like pretty easy questions to me, so I'll offer a Christian perspective.

Although a majority of Christians today hold certain unbiblical beliefs that undermine their faith (like evolution), they do fortunately maintain the existence of only one true God and Creator of the universe. Thus, it's only reasonable that America's ~65% of professing Christians would hold prejudice against polytheism's multi-god beliefs. That consistency is only rational.

The 3-5% of America's professing Atheists, by adhering to Humanism or Materialism as a religion in itself, would also be consistent in showing prejudice against polytheism. After all, if one doesn't believe in the supernatural, negating the possibility of one god, then certainly there's no room to be considering the claims of many gods.

That leaves a sizable number of Agnostics and mixed belief people that you pose as prejudiced against polytheism. One possible explanation for this behavior could be given by referring to the Occam's Razor principle. If people are unknowing, uncaring, or uncertain about their views of a supernatural presence in the universe, it's simply easier and seemingly more likely to believe in one entity versus many. In other words, if I'm not convinced of one true Creator of everything, why would I embrace something even more complex and harder to prove? I don't think these people have reason to hate or oppose polytheism, but a mild prejudice against it seems rationally justified.

In my view, the burden of proof of any religious belief system is on the faiths' founder(s) and underlying scriptures. Here, the Christian's Bible excels above all others. For example, while the Hindu Vedas may have some historical accuracy like the Bible, and maybe even some similar manuscript authority, they don't have specific, verified, fulfilled prophesy. This alone distinguishes Christianity and the Bible from all of the world's other religions and scriptures.

Finally, presence of a supernatural creator can be shown with a preponderance of scientific evidence that we now have. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's much if any scientific evidence supporting the notion of multiple creators. Thus, a prejudice against polytheism is justified from both a Biblical and scientific view point. Maybe that's why it's not readily accepted by the vast majority of Americans.

 

[Rival]

I think it has less to do with religion, originally, and more to do with politico-religious geography.

Both the words 'heathen' and 'pagan' denote someone living in the countryside, in a rural area. The word 'pays' in French still means 'country', as in 'pays de galles' (literally, Country of Wales) and in English the 'heath' as a certain type of rural land. This etymology seems to reflect the long held urban belief of superiority over the backwards rural folks and their countryside superstitions. Long before the coming of Christianity, rural people had been held in contempt by urbanites who valued their modern philosophies, well-thought out theologies and apparently superior education.

Those in the countryside are known for clinging to folk beliefs much longer than those in the cities, and it was the same with the coming of Christianity - Christianity was an urban religion first and it, too, looked upon its folksy rural neighbours with contempt. It labelled them Pagani in the Latin, and Heathen in the Germanic, as a slur against anyone not living in a town or city.

 

[syo]

Why is this prejudice so persistent?

Most people either mock me (they think polytheist gods are fake, and they make laugh at me for believing that they are real) or they say polytheists are the antichrist. They think I'm worst than atheists.

 

[Audie]

Most people either mock me (they think polytheist gods are fake, and they make laugh at me for believing that they are real) or they say polytheists are the antichrist. They think I'm worst than atheists.

Thats how polytheist Christians act?

Worse than atheist is pretty bad!
Some would hang me from a lamp post.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Pluralism - or the acceptance that many traditions have good ideas or valid approaches to life and living - is prevalent in English-speaking cultures today. However, in spite of relatively tolerant and pluralistic attitudes, it seems there is still a very persistent prejudice against polytheism. This is very sad to see, and I can't help but wonder why. Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising when there's still very persistent prejudice against, say, atheism, but the prejudice against polytheism gets substantially less attention or discussion. In most cases, it is still simply granted that polytheism is simply bad, primitive, or not viable as theological approach.

Why is this prejudice so persistent? What is with the hatred and misconceptions of polytheism in the modern era when we really ought to know better by now?

Prejudice is persistent. You may find that intolerance isn't so persistent.

You have to endure or shake of the stigma of seeming to be dangerous. That's always true for all prejudices.

 

[syo]

Thats how polytheist Christians act?

Worse than atheist is pretty bad!
Some would hang me from a lamp post.

As far as i have heard from christians, atheism is bad, because atheism will lead people to believe in Zeus, and according to christians, Zeus is EVIL.

 

[Audie]

These seem like pretty easy questions to me, so I'll offer a Christian perspective.

Although a majority of Christians today hold certain unbiblical beliefs that undermine their faith (like evolution), they do fortunately maintain the existence of only one true God and Creator of the universe. Thus, it's only reasonable that America's ~65% of professing Christians would hold prejudice against polytheism's multi-god beliefs. That consistency is only rational.

The 3-5% of America's professing Atheists, by adhering to Humanism or Materialism as a religion in itself, would also be consistent in showing prejudice against polytheism. After all, if one doesn't believe in the supernatural, negating the possibility of one god, then certainly there's no room to be considering the claims of many gods.

That leaves a sizable number of Agnostics and mixed belief people that you pose as prejudiced against polytheism. One possible explanation for this behavior could be given by referring to the Occam's Razor principle. If people are unknowing, uncaring, or uncertain about their views of a supernatural presence in the universe, it's simply easier and seemingly more likely to believe in one entity versus many. In other words, if I'm not convinced of one true Creator of everything, why would I embrace something even more complex and harder to prove? I don't think these people have reason to hate or oppose polytheism, but a mild prejudice against it seems rationally justified.

In my view, the burden of proof of any religious belief system is on the faiths' founder(s) and underlying scriptures. Here, the Christian's Bible excels above all others. For example, while the Hindu Vedas may have some historical accuracy like the Bible, and maybe even some similar manuscript authority, they don't have specific, verified, fulfilled prophesy. This alone distinguishes Christianity and the Bible from all of the world's other religions and scriptures.

Finally, presence of a supernatural creator can be shown with a preponderance of scientific evidence that we now have. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's much if any scientific evidence supporting the notion of multiple creators. Thus, a prejudice against polytheism is justified from both a Biblical and scientific view point. Maybe that's why it's not readily accepted by the vast majority of Americans.

You are sure wrong about atheism being a religion, a notion too absurd for further comment.

Wrong about evolution undermining faith.
If it undermines yours, its not much of a faith
to rely on nonsense.

As for science that shows there is a god?

You cannot supply one datum point for that.

Should not be a prob., proof would spoil
faith and the less evidence, the stronger the faith to believe anyway.

Own it!

 

[Heyo]

Pluralism - or the acceptance that many traditions have good ideas or valid approaches to life and living - is prevalent in English-speaking cultures today. However, in spite of relatively tolerant and pluralistic attitudes, it seems there is still a very persistent prejudice against polytheism. This is very sad to see, and I can't help but wonder why. Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising when there's still very persistent prejudice against, say, atheism, but the prejudice against polytheism gets substantially less attention or discussion. In most cases, it is still simply granted that polytheism is simply bad, primitive, or not viable as theological approach.

Why is this prejudice so persistent? What is with the hatred and misconceptions of polytheism in the modern era when we really ought to know better by now?

I think the biggest role plays simple ignorance. The average Christian can't discern paganism from satanism and they believe that witches really can do magic (like, letting crops fail, make people ill, etc.)

And for those who want to know about paganism, here's some reading stuff:

Oh my Gods!
Oh My Gods! Complete Collection (High Res)

Excerpt: