Is Christianity monotheistic, polytheistic or both?

[David1967]

What do you guys think? I mean it does look like a monotheistic religion, but if you look at the other side, doesn't it look like a polytheistic religion, as well? Apparently, Christians like to worship a supernatural being other than God, like Mary for example or St Christopher. Many tens if not hundreds of millions of Christians carry around Mary or St Christopher talismans. They may be seen on neck chains and on car dashboards throughout the world. They are often called charms because they are believed to act as magical charms to ward off danger. It is clear that millions believe that a supernatural being other than God is able to provide them with supernatural protection, right? Also, Icons are also worshipped.

Depends on what brand of Christian you are talking to. A Trinitarian would say that there is one God who reveals Himself in three persons. A 'Oneness' Pentecostal (for example) would call a Trinitarian polytheistic and say that there is only one God and his name is Jesus. Some say that Jesus is not God ,but the son of God. Some say he is God the Son. Christianity is a much divided lot.

 

[Akivah]

What do you guys think? I mean it does look like a monotheistic religion, but if you look at the other side, doesn't it look like a polytheistic religion, as well? Apparently, Christians like to worship a supernatural being other than God, like Mary for example or St Christopher. Many tens if not hundreds of millions of Christians carry around Mary or St Christopher talismans. They may be seen on neck chains and on car dashboards throughout the world. They are often called charms because they are believed to act as magical charms to ward off danger. It is clear that millions believe that a supernatural being other than God is able to provide them with supernatural protection, right? Also, Icons are also worshipped.

Christianity like every other religion does not have a singularity of beliefs. There is wide variability of beliefs between Christians. IMO, the Christians that worship jesus are definitely polytheistic. Some Christians have up to 5 gods in their pantheon: god, jesus, mary, holy spirit, and satan.

 

[Politesse]

This a generalization that does reflect the reality of Judaism, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith. The belief in three individual beings being distinct yet one God is unique of the Abrahamic religions, including the role of Mary in the Roman Church. The pantheon of angelic beings is also unique. The existence of other beings in Judaism, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith are most definitely do not qualify as deities.

Neither are angels deities in any branch of Christianity, that I am aware of.

 

[Politesse]

Because it's a religion that says you make it to heaven by correct belief.

What Christian says that? It is the grace of god that saves; the Christian does not "make" it to heaven, she is invited. Protestants believe that the invitation is a free one that need only be accepted, other variants require a reciprocal response. But having the correct belief is not, in any denomination, considered the salvific agent.

 

[Quintessence]

From my frankly non-Christian, non-theistic stance it seems that it does in fact matter, mainly because setting itself as a strictly monotheistic religion causes stresses that could be avoided.

In some cases, sure. In others, not so much. IMHO, if one's theological orientation (or one's religious choice) is a source of stress, that individual is following the wrong religion for them and they need to pick a different path.

 

[Rival]

What Christian says that? It is the grace of god that saves; the Christian does not "make" it to heaven, she is invited. Protestants believe that the invitation is a free one that need only be accepted, other variants require a reciprocal response. But having the correct belief is not, in any denomination, considered the salvific agent.

They take it from John 3:16 'The whosoever believes in him shall not perish...'

 

[Politesse]

In some cases, sure. In others, not so much. IMHO, if one's theological orientation (or one's religious choice) is a source of stress, that individual is following the wrong religion for them and they need to pick a different path.

I think that is a disastrous idea; it will have you floating between religions for the rest of your life, never learning the deeper lessons that come from dedication maintained through difficulties. All disciplines, engaged in fully, eventually require a sacrifice of the disciple who has accepted them, and the struggle that ensues is an educational one.

 

[Politesse]

They take it from John 3:16 'The whosoever believes in him shall not perish...'

Okay, and who believes, with you, that it is correct belief which saves? As opposed to the person one is believing in?

 

[syo]

Apparently, Christians like to worship a supernatural being other than God, like Mary for example or St Christopher.

Mary and St Christopher aren't supernatural, they are humans.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Neither Arianism nor Trinitarianism existed in early, first century Christianity. These are third and fourth century terms.

The earliest Christians were binatarian or dyadic monotheists in their worship practices (although they already used a triadic discourse when speaking about God including the term Holy Spirit), as St. Paul (writing in the early 50s AD) explains in 1 Corinthians when he quotes a pre-Pauline creedal declaration:

1 Corinthians 8:6

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
​

The above statement is not thought by scholars to have been composed by Paul, rather they believe he was referencing an already well-known creed of the primitive church, which tells us that the earliest Christians had already come to regard Jesus as a pre-existent divine agent of creation co-eternal with God, here incorporating him into the shema.

There is a consensus in New Testament scholarship now that "high christology" emerged early, before the writing of the Pauline epistles (which are our first Christian documents). See the relevant chapters in Bart Ehrman's 2014 book, "How Jesus became God" for an accessble overview of this scholarly consensus.

Regardless, what Jesus taught is definitely skewed from what it is today

 

[Rival]

Okay, and who believes, with you, that it is correct belief which saves? As opposed to the person one is believing in?

Well no-one believes with me as I'm not a Christian, but it was taught at my Anglican Church when I attended.

 

[Quintessence]

I think that is a disastrous idea; it will have you floating between religions for the rest of your life, never learning the deeper lessons that come from dedication maintained through difficulties. All disciplines, engaged in fully, eventually require a sacrifice of the disciple who has accepted them, and the struggle that ensues is an educational one.

"Disaster" is folks continuing to do something - whether it's a religious tradition or anything else in life - even though it is a significant source of discomfort and stress. That sort of nonsense contributes to chronic mental illnesses. I can't believe you'd condone that, so I'm going to assume you are missing my point.

 

[Sleeppy]

How?

Free will is not monotheistic.

 

[LuisDantas]

Phfffft! Poof!

I value your opinion, but this was not very clear. I take it that you disagree?

 

[Rival]

Free will is not monotheistic.

I think you'll find that most monotheisms include Free Will, or is this going to descend into a 'No True Monotheism' tirade?

 

[LuisDantas]

Free will is not monotheistic.

It isn't?

Far as I know, it was monotheism that demanded the creation of that idea. Nor am I aware of any use for it outside monotheistic theology.

 

[shunyadragon]

I value your opinion, but this was not very clear. I take it that you disagree?

My problem was that your post was empty and did not offer anything substantial one way or another.

 

[shunyadragon]

Neither are angels deities in any branch of Christianity, that I am aware of.

In the Roman Church and possible among some other Christians angelic beings approach the status of deities, as Divine intermediaries. It is primarily the concepts of the Trinity, and Mary that may be interpreted as polytheism.

 

[Politesse]

Well no-one believes with me as I'm not a Christian, but it was taught at my Anglican Church when I attended.

That is not the position of the Anglican church. You can read a useful summary of Anglican positions on the nature of salvation here.

 

[Politesse]

In the Roman Church and possible among some other Christians angelic beings approach the status of deities, as Divine intermediaries. It is primarily the concepts of the Trinity, and Mary that may be interpreted as polytheism.

Interpreted by whom? Not someone who understands what an angel is in Christian cosmology.