Is the God of Abraham Really That Special?

[Skwim]

Consider the First Commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."​

What I've always found interesting is that this goes beyond a simple "have me," or some such commandment ordering people to obey and believe in Him, the God of Abraham, but that it implies the actual existence of other gods. "Yes there are other gods, but thou shalt have none of them before Me." If there were no other actual gods there would be no need to make note of them. At most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me." But he doesn't. As far as actual existence goes, He puts the other gods on equal footing in His first commandment.

So, up in the heavens or wherever, there are numerous gods floating around, or whatever they do, including the God of Abraham. He is just one of many gods, and, as it turned out, caught the ear of the ancient Hebrews and convinced them to forget all the other gods. That he is the guy to go to. Meanwhile, the other gods convinced other peoples of the world that each was the Grand Poo-bah of all the gods. So, His specialness only really derives from his say-so. He declared Himself to be the top dog, and you better believe it of else---to the Hebrews anyway. The rest of the people of the world he left to the other gods. OR, perhaps they left Him to the Hebrews. This isn't to denigrate the God of Abraham, but only to put Him in perspective.

So, other than personal bias and long inculcated beliefs, which have left Him ingrained into the minds of a lot of people that He's numero uno among all the gods, is there any realistic reason to accord Him such a position?

Why is His say-so more crediable than the say-so of any other god?


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[Rapha]

Consider the First Commandment:
Why is His say-so more crediable than the say-so of any other god?.

Because all the other gods were far superior to Yahweh (allah, baal) because their immortal lands are good for spirits.

Yahweh created hell for all who do not obey his dictatorship.

As Jesus said, 'Always Judge an entity by the fruits its bares'. Yahweh only bares wars just like Allah because they are both aliases for the god of war, Baal (Baalzebub).

 

[Willamena]

What I've always found interesting is that this goes beyond a simple "have me," or some such commandment ordering people to obey and believe in Him, the God of Abraham, but that it implies the actual existence of other gods. "Yes there are other gods, but thou shalt have none of them before Me." If there were no other actual gods there would be no need to make note of them..

Not necessarily. If a child were calling someone else "Mom," then Mom might say, "Hey, don't call her Mom. I'm your mom." It doesn't mean the other is necessarily a mom.

 

[Skwim]

Not necessarily. If a child were calling someone else "Mom," then Mom might say, "Hey, don't call her Mom. I'm your mom." It doesn't mean the other is necessarily a mom.

If no one falsely regarded other heaven dwellers as "gods" the God of Abraham would have had no reason to demand the Hebrews not worship them. As I said, at most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me." But he didn't, and as far as actual existence goes, He puts the other gods on equal footing in His first commandment.


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[Willamena]

...at most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me."

That is the essence of what "He" said.

 

[Watchmen]

Consider the First Commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."​

What I've always found interesting is that this goes beyond a simple "have me," or some such commandment ordering people to obey and believe in Him, the God of Abraham, but that it implies the actual existence of other gods. "Yes there are other gods, but thou shalt have none of them before Me." If there were no other actual gods there would be no need to make note of them. At most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me." But he doesn't. As far as actual existence goes, He puts the other gods on equal footing in His first commandment.

So, up in the heavens or wherever, there are numerous gods floating around, or whatever they do, including the God of Abraham. He is just one of many gods, and, as it turned out, caught the ear of the ancient Hebrews and convinced them to forget all the other gods. That he is the guy to go to. Meanwhile, the other gods convinced other peoples of the world that each was the Grand Poo-bah of all the gods. So, His specialness only really derives from his say-so. He declared Himself to be the top dog, and you better believe it of else---to the Hebrews anyway. The rest of the people of the world he left to the other gods. OR, perhaps they left Him to the Hebrews. This isn't to denigrate the God of Abraham, but only to put Him in perspective.

So, other than personal bias and long inculcated beliefs, which have left Him ingrained into the minds of a lot of people that He's numero uno among all the gods, is there any realistic reason to accord Him such a position?

Why is His say-so more crediable than the say-so of any other god?


.

Because he is OUR creator.

 

[savagewind]

Consider the First Commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."​

What I've always found interesting is that this goes beyond a simple "have me," or some such commandment ordering people to obey and believe in Him, the God of Abraham, but that it implies the actual existence of other gods. "Yes there are other gods, but thou shalt have none of them before Me." If there were no other actual gods there would be no need to make note of them. At most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me." But he doesn't. As far as actual existence goes, He puts the other gods on equal footing in His first commandment.

So, up in the heavens or wherever, there are numerous gods floating around, or whatever they do, including the God of Abraham. He is just one of many gods, and, as it turned out, caught the ear of the ancient Hebrews and convinced them to forget all the other gods. That he is the guy to go to. Meanwhile, the other gods convinced other peoples of the world that each was the Grand Poo-bah of all the gods. So, His specialness only really derives from his say-so. He declared Himself to be the top dog, and you better believe it of else---to the Hebrews anyway. The rest of the people of the world he left to the other gods. OR, perhaps they left Him to the Hebrews. This isn't to denigrate the God of Abraham, but only to put Him in perspective.

So, other than personal bias and long inculcated beliefs, which have left Him ingrained into the minds of a lot of people that He's numero uno among all the gods, is there any realistic reason to accord Him such a position?

Why is His say-so more crediable than the say-so of any other god?


.

I think there are no other gods who care about you following them.
To follow in the way of God is like a marriage. The first commandment is stating that it will be no good to follow more than one god.
To follow in the way of God is likened to a road. You just can't be on two roads at the same time.
God is leading people out of the world. You can't rightly follow two or more different leaders.

 

[McBell]

Because he is OUR creator.

really?
How do you know that?
Oh yeah, HE said so.
Which brings it right back to "Why is His say-so more credible than the say-so of any other god?"

 

[Watchmen]

really?
How do you know that?
Oh yeah, HE said so.
Which brings it right back to "Why is His say-so more credible than the say-so of any other god?"

You believe what you want. No skin off my bones.

 

[Kirran]

You believe what you want. No skin off my bones.

It's an interesting point of discussion, doesn't need to be seen as an attack.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

Consider the First Commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."​

What I've always found interesting is that this goes beyond a simple "have me," or some such commandment ordering people to obey and believe in Him, the God of Abraham, but that it implies the actual existence of other gods. "Yes there are other gods, but thou shalt have none of them before Me." If there were no other actual gods there would be no need to make note of them. At most, God would have said "Don't believe in any of the make-believe gods. There is only one actual god. Me." But he doesn't. As far as actual existence goes, He puts the other gods on equal footing in His first commandment.

So, up in the heavens or wherever, there are numerous gods floating around, or whatever they do, including the God of Abraham. He is just one of many gods, and, as it turned out, caught the ear of the ancient Hebrews and convinced them to forget all the other gods. That he is the guy to go to. Meanwhile, the other gods convinced other peoples of the world that each was the Grand Poo-bah of all the gods. So, His specialness only really derives from his say-so. He declared Himself to be the top dog, and you better believe it of else---to the Hebrews anyway. The rest of the people of the world he left to the other gods. OR, perhaps they left Him to the Hebrews. This isn't to denigrate the God of Abraham, but only to put Him in perspective.

So, other than personal bias and long inculcated beliefs, which have left Him ingrained into the minds of a lot of people that He's numero uno among all the gods, is there any realistic reason to accord Him such a position?

Why is His say-so more crediable than the say-so of any other god?


.

He probably defeated all of them in the Sky-God Olympics.

 

[McBell]

You believe what you want. No skin off my bones.

I am merely pointing out that you did not provide a reason within the parameters set forth by the OP.

 

[Watchmen]

It's an interesting point of discussion, doesn't need to be seen as an attack.

I didn't see it as an attack. We all have differing beliefs, and the discussion won't change any minds. I believe the God of Abraham is the creator. Others don't. That's fine.

 

[Watchmen]

I am merely pointing out that you did not provide a reason within the parameters set forth by the OP.

He's the Creator because He said so. You disagree. There's no "proof" either way. We all believe what we do.

 

[McBell]

He's the Creator because He said so. You disagree. There's no "proof" either way. We all believe what we do.

Out of curiosity....
What makes his say-so more credible than the say-so of the other proposed gods?

 

[Rational Agnostic]

He's the Creator because He said so. You disagree. There's no "proof" either way. We all believe what we do.

Well, Zeus allegedly said so too. Why do you disbelieve him?

 

[Watchmen]

Out of curiosity....
What makes his say-so more credible than the say-so of the other proposed gods?

That's my point. It's not, but it's what I believe.

 

[Watchmen]

Well, Zeus allegedly said so too. Why do you disbelieve him?

Because I made a "choice" based on what culture I was born into, my upbringing, my own study and prayer, and so on.

 

[Willamena]

really?
How do you know that?
Oh yeah, HE said so.
Which brings it right back to "Why is His say-so more credible than the say-so of any other god?"

How do you know which mom is Mom?

 

[Rational Agnostic]

Because I made a "choice" based on what culture I was born into, my upbringing, my own study and prayer, and so on.

OK, so you admit the possibility that the deity you chose to believe in does not exist?