Monotheists, where is your evidence?

[Smoke]

Monotheists typically believe in one omnimax God. But how can they know that there are no other gods? Isn't it impossible to know for sure that no other gods exist? Wouldn't an honest monotheist admit the possibility of other gods?

And how can one possibly know that God is an omnimax God? It's impossible for any human to experience omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence, so how can they claim to perceive these qualities in God?

 

[RomCat]

I believe there is no possibility of other
gods. There is one God. All knowing,
all loving, all merciful, all powerful, and
all present are some of God's attributes.
Rational thought tells us there cannot
be more than one God. How could God
be all-powerful in there was a second
god that was all-powerful too?

 

[Magic Man]

I believe there is no possibility of other
gods. There is one God. All knowing,
all loving, all merciful, all powerful, and
all present are some of God's attributes.
Rational thought tells us there cannot
be more than one God. How could God
be all-powerful in there was a second
god that was all-powerful too?

You might want to re-read the thread title and OP.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I believe there is no possibility of other
gods. There is one God. All knowing,
all loving, all merciful, all powerful, and
all present are some of God's attributes.

How do you know?

Rational thought tells us there cannot
be more than one God. How could God
be all-powerful in there was a second
god that was all-powerful too?

Why do you think multiple all-powerful gods would pose a problem? If they wanted different things, I suppose we could have a messy situation, but if they agreed on everything, what would be the issue?

Plenty of religions have a dualist theology with two opposite but equal gods. How do you exclude this possibility?

 

[waitasec]

Monotheists typically believe in one omnimax God. But how can they know that there are no other gods? Isn't it impossible to know for sure that no other gods exist? Wouldn't an honest monotheist admit the possibility of other gods?

And how can one possibly know that God is an omnimax God? It's impossible for any human to experience omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence, so how can they claim to perceive these qualities in God?

well, if i am reading the OT in the bible right, god is a jealous god
you shall have no other gods before me...
in the NT
1 cor 10:22 "Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is? "
well if god knows we are not as powerful than he is, is he insecure?

 

[eman resu]

God is above humans, above animals, above all other living and nonliving things. just the fact that He is above man means He posses no human characteristics. most polytheistic religions have a god that represents different aspects of life. for example the god of war, the god of love, the god of well being etc (im not referring to any particular religion here)....but aren't these all human attributes? how and why would god have to go to war? how and why would god make love? that proves that there is no reason for there to be multiple gods. on top of that, most polytheistic religions have one god that rules over all (the god of gods so to speak), if the other gods are so powerful, what is the point of having one ultimate god? wut is his job/role? to control the other gods in what they are responsible for? i prefer to believe in one god that is all powerful

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

well, if i am reading the OT in the bible right, god is a jealous god
you shall have no other gods before me...

But what about after?

 

[Tathagata]

I believe there is no possibility of other
gods. There is one God. All knowing,
all loving, all merciful, all powerful, and
all present are some of God's attributes.
Rational thought tells us there cannot
be more than one God. How could God
be all-powerful in there was a second
god that was all-powerful too?

This completely misses the point. Which God is the true God.

The Christians will claim Yahweh is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all good supreme being.

The Greeks will claim Zeus is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all good supreme being.

The Hindus will claim Ishvara is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all-good supreme being.

The Muslims will claim Allah is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all-good supreme being.

So again, how do you know that your God is the one true God? What logical method do you use to rule out the other Gods and what evidence is there for your God over the others?




.

 

[waitasec]

But what about after?

or next to?

 

[Antibush5]

The Greeks will claim Zeus is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all good supreme being.
.

Though there is slight evidence that one greek town started to move towards a monotheistic idea of Zues, I doubt all ancient Greeks thought that.

 

[Man of Faith]

I've only ever seen one God in action.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I've only ever seen one God in action.

Are you sure that you've seen even that much?

How would you distinguish between one god in action and two (or more) gods in action?

 

[Tathagata]

Though there is slight evidence that one greek town started to move towards a monotheistic idea of Zues, I doubt all ancient Greeks thought that.

This is irrelevant to the point I am making. Though, the Greeks did actually move towards the idea that Zeus is the one supreme God over all the others.

Also, I never claimed that all ancient Greeks believed that. When I said "Greeks," I was refering to those who believed in Greek mythology/theology.


.

 

[Quiddity]

Ok ok ok.......I'll come clean; I'm really a Henotheist.

 

[LuisDantas]

well, if i am reading the OT in the bible right, god is a jealous god
you shall have no other gods before me...
in the NT
1 cor 10:22 "Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is? "
well if god knows we are not as powerful than he is, is he insecure?

Isn't that in fact a claim that there are other gods? If there were none there would be no point in that request (or order, or whatever).

Besides, IIRC the OT was written with the Jewish people in mind, so the most natural interpretation of that verse would be that YHWY wants dibs on that people, yet recognizes that other gods do exist and will be adopted by other people.

As for Corinthians, well, what I see is a statement of fear of God's power. That is hardly any sort of evidence about the existence of other gods.

 

[eman resu]

Isn't that in fact a claim that there are other gods? If there were none there would be no point in that request (or order, or whatever).

Besides, IIRC the OT was written with the Jewish people in mind, so the most natural interpretation of that verse would be that YHWY wants dibs on that people, yet recognizes that other gods do exist and will be adopted by other people.

As for Corinthians, well, what I see is a statement of fear of God's power. That is hardly any sort of evidence about the existence of other gods.

or it could mean that He doesnt want us humans to make up gods and start worshipping them....

 

[ChristineES]

It's kind of hard to know. The commandment "Thou shalt have no Gods before me" can actually suggest there are other Gods. It can also suggest that you can look at an object and call it God, too (idolatry). But I don't have the answer. I assume there is but one God.

 

[Beaudreaux]

I've only ever seen one God in action.

Cool! Now THAT's evidence of the almighty. What did you see? It must have been extraordinary!

 

[rusra02]

This completely misses the point. Which God is the true God.

The Christians will claim Yahweh is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all good supreme being.

The Greeks will claim Zeus is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all good supreme being.

The Hindus will claim Ishvara is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all-good supreme being.

The Muslims will claim Allah is the omnipotent, all-knowing, and all-good supreme being.

So again, how do you know that your God is the one true God? What logical method do you use to rule out the other Gods and what evidence is there for your God over the others?


.

Actually, that is a good question. The Bible says there are many gods, and that Satan is a god (2 Corinthians 4:4). 1 Corinthians 8:5,6 says: "Now concerning the eating of foods offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him."
The true God will provide evidence of his Godship. Jehovah has done this. Isaiah 46:9,10 says: " Remember the first things of a long time ago, that I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me;the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, ‘My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do’. Jehovah has acted throughout mankind's history, foretelling the future and unfailingly bringing about what he has foretold.
The false gods have no evidence for their godship.
All that he has created also gives evidence for his Godship. "“How many your works are, O Jehovah! All of them in wisdom you have made. The earth is full of your productions.” (Psalm 104:24)
All the false gods that have faced Jehovah have been humiliated, including the gods of ancient Egypt and Babylon, Baal, Molech and
other false gods.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

All the false gods that have faced Jehovah have been humiliated, including the gods of ancient Egypt and Babylon, Baal, Molech and
other false gods.

A god can't be humiliated if it doesn't exist. So are you saying that all these gods do exist?