Monotheist or Polytheist... or both... or neither...?

[Eddi]

Hello everyone! I'm back having taken a few months off from RF!

I have been thinking a lot about my religious beliefs and right now I am unsure whether I am a monotheist or a polytheist. Or both. Or neither. Allow me to explain myself:
"
I believe in a self-existent unmoved mover which I call The Supreme Being. I don't like to call it God although it roughly corresponds to the Deist notion of "God"

For me it answers the important question of “why is there something rather than nothing?”

To me it provides an answer to that question but not much of an explanation...

It does little apart from this

It is a God of gaps and there is only one of it

If someone were to come up with a better explanation then I'd be all ears and may even drop the notion, but the idea of a self-existent unmoved mover makes sense to me even though there is zero evidence to support it

So in that sense I am a monotheist

However, I believe that the dimension of reality that I’m in now – and that you’re in too – was created by beings who are higher than us whom I think of as being called The Gods

(just to note, I don’t think this was done by computers, I categorically do not believe in simulation theory)

I believe that The Gods arose naturally from the existence that was caused by The Supreme Being and that they eventually created us, and provided us with our own existence but that the way they actually did this cannot be fathomed by any puny human mind

According to my beliefs The Gods created us. And sustain us. And when the time comes they will bring about the end of us...

(I think the word "destroy" would be a bit harsh)

I believe that The Gods have vast powers over us, so much so it is sensible for us to call them Gods – the relationship between we humans and those beings is the same as the relationship between any creature you’d care to mention any God or Gods you might care to imagine

So in that sense I am a polytheist as to me there is a multitude of Gods

So…… am I a polytheist or a monotheist? Or neither? Or both?

I would be interested to hear what people think

These are my thoughts: I believe in a single deity and a multitude of Gods

 

[mangalavara]

So…… am I a polytheist or a monotheist? Or neither? Or both?

I would be interested to hear what people think

As a theistic Hindu, if you were to ask me if I am a monotheist or a polytheist, my answer would be ‘Yes.’ I am comfortable and content with this being my answer and that putting my theology into a box is not necessary. This could be the same case for you if that is what resonates with you.

These are my thoughts: I believe in a single deity and a multitude of Gods

I share the same thoughts.

 

[mangalavara]

According to my beliefs The Gods created us. And sustain us. And when the time comes they will bring about the end of us...

(I think the word "destroy" would be a bit harsh)

The term destroy does indeed sound a bit harsh. It almost sounds like the gods have it in for us! Lol. I personally like to use the term dissolve. The cosmos, in my worldview, is originated, sustained, and dissolved in a cyclical manner. Do you view time and the process as linear or cyclical?

 

[PureX]

These are my thoughts: I believe in a single deity and a multitude of Gods

I see no reason to presume that these are mutually exclusive concepts.

The "supreme being" that you refer to would by definition be a phenomenon far beyond our comprehension. As evidenced by the fact that such is inexplicable to us. Leaving us to conceptualize it any way can. And in your case that means via lots of 'demigods'. It's actually a fairly common theology (Hinduism, Shinto, Santeria, some Taoism, Wicca and so on).

 

[SalixIncendium]

These are my thoughts: I believe in a single deity and a multitude of Gods

In my understanding, gods are deities.

That would make you a polytheist.

What am I missing here?

 

[Eddi]

Do you view time and the process as linear or cyclical?

I don't know and I don't think anyone could ever really know

I mean it would look the same to someone in it whether it was linear or cyclical so how would it be possible to tell?

 

[Eddi]

In my understanding, gods are deities.

That would make you a polytheist.

What am I missing here?

I use the word "deity" to refer to The Supreme Being

And "Gods" to refer to the beings who made the dimension of reality we are all in

I think The Gods and The Supreme Being are very different entities

But that's just my own personal usage

 

[Eddi]

I personally like to use the term dissolve

Yes, that's a good word for it!

 

[SalixIncendium]

I use the word "deity" to refer to The Supreme Being

And "Gods" to refer to the beings who made the dimension of reality we are all in

I think The Gods and The Supreme Being are very different entities

But that's just my own personal usage

Many polytheistic religions have a hierarchy. They are still considered to be polytheistic due to having more than one god.

 

[Eddi]

Many polytheistic religions have a hierarchy. They are still considered to be polytheistic due to having more than one god.

The thing is though, I don't believe The Supreme Being has any personal qualities and that it takes no interest in human affairs

I see it as the source of all existence so in my theology it has little to do with the beings I call The Gods who I believe arose out of nature and who do have personal qualities and do take an interest in human affairs

So I wouldn't place The Supreme Being in any kind of hierarchy that also includes The Gods

But yes, I suppose The Gods could be ordered into some kind of hierarchy

 

[SalixIncendium]

The thing is though, I don't believe The Supreme Being has any personal qualities and that it takes no interest in human affairs

I see it as the source of all existence so in my theology it has little to do with the beings I call The Gods who I believe arose out of nature and who do have personal qualities and do take an interest in human affairs

So I wouldn't place The Supreme Being in any kind of hierarchy that also includes The Gods

But yes, I suppose The Gods could be ordered into some kind of hierarchy

What qualities does The Supreme Being have that would qualify it as a deity?

 

[Eddi]

What qualities does The Supreme Being have that would qualify it as a deity?

It has all the omnis - it is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent etc.

And it has always existed, it is above and beyond existence, it is a self-existent unmoved mover so is the ultimate cause of everything that exists

But it shuns contact with any being who exists in the existence it has caused

 

[SalixIncendium]

@Eddi, thanks for the replies. Despite your definitions, I would still consider you a polytheist. Even if you do not count The Supreme Being, you still have multiple Gods, which is essentially the textbook definition of a polytheist.

You can feel free to reject this opinion if you feel it's wrong. I'll take no offense.

 

[Eddi]

You can feel free to reject this opinion if you feel it's wrong

I think I actually do accept your opinion

After all, The Supreme Being has no impact on the affairs of humans so it may as well not exist so could probably be disregarded

The Gods on the other hand do intervene in human affairs, so they are more relevant to humans on a day-to-day basis

So I think all those beliefs do indeed make me a polytheist

 

[JustGeorge]

I find I have elements of both monotheism and polytheism in my beliefs... Yes, it all springs from One source.... but it appears as many. The concept of many deities has been a focus in my own personal path, so I identify as polytheistic rather than monotheistic.

The term destroy does indeed sound a bit harsh. It almost sounds like the gods have it in for us! Lol. I personally like to use the term dissolve. The cosmos, in my worldview, is originated, sustained, and dissolved in a cyclical manner. Do you view time and the process as linear or cyclical?

I feel the same way about the word 'destroy'. When I hear of Shiva being called 'destroyer', it doesn't seem to fit. Destroy is when someone mindlessly tears stuff up, with no benefit to anything or anyone(in my view). But, redeeming made more sense. I take my cans to the redemption center, they take the metal, and make good with that which is left. So I guess 'redeem' is what I use.

 

[The Hammer]

@Eddi it seems like you are Polytheistic to me.

Odin would be my version of your "Supreme" and then there are All the other Gods from Thor down to nature and ancestor spirits (all deified imo).

 

[The Hammer]

I feel the same way about the word 'destroy'. When I hear of Shiva being called 'destroyer', it doesn't seem to fit. Destroy is when someone mindlessly tears stuff up, with no benefit to anything or anyone(in my view). But, redeeming made more sense. I take my cans to the redemption center, they take the metal, and make good with that which is left. So I guess 'redeem' is what I use.

I don't mind the term destroy. Because to me that is the direct opposite of "Creation".

Creation and Destruction often occur simultaneously, as a painter destroys a perfect blank canvas, to paint a masterpiece. The paint was created by destroying rocks and other things to create pigments, then mixed with oils that are from destroyed plants or animals. So on and so forth.

 

[SalixIncendium]

The term destroy does indeed sound a bit harsh. It almost sounds like the gods have it in for us!

What makes you think they don't?

I feel the same way about the word 'destroy'. When I hear of Shiva being called 'destroyer', it doesn't seem to fit. Destroy is when someone mindlessly tears stuff up, with no benefit to anything or anyone(in my view). But, redeeming made more sense. I take my cans to the redemption center, they take the metal, and make good with that which is left. So I guess 'redeem' is what I use.

I don't have a problem with it, personally. I see it similarly to @The Hammer.

In a cycle, what is has to be destroyed to make way for the new. If Shiva doesn't destroy, then how can Brahma create?

If you are reborn, do you want to be born into a emulsified body...or in a recycled one?

I think it's attachment to things in this reality that bring a negative stigma to the word.

 

[JustGeorge]

If you are reborn, do you want to be born into a emulsified body...or in a recycled one?

I think it's attachment to things in this reality that bring a negative stigma to the word.

I want a recycled one, with the recycling symbol right on my new butt.

I agree, its attachment that does this. I'm being honest with myself by admitting I still have it. Maybe I'll get over it one day?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I want a recycled one, with the recycling symbol right on my new butt.

I agree, its attachment that does this. I'm being honest with myself by admitting I still have it. Maybe I'll get over it one day?

I wanted to rate this funny and optimistic, but it only let me do one, and since the first line made me chuckle, I went with funny.