Monotheists: why only one god?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Monotheism is distinguished from henotheism, a religious system in which the believer worships one God without denying that others may worship different gods with equal validity, and monolatrism, the recognition of the existence of many gods but with the consistent worship of only one deity.

Source: Monotheism - Wikipedia

That's right.

So why did you choose monotheism over henotheism (or any other polytheistic system)?

If you're a monotheist, then apparently you're okay with gods in general, so how do you justify believing that there are no gods beyond the first one?

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

One reason Christianity attracted so many followers is because it made no distinction in the worth of peoples based on sex, occupation, etc. Slave or free, one was considered equal as a brother in a way that was completely unheard of in Antiquity

Well, it claimed it. Other people were never equal in society.

 

[Mark Charles Compton]

I believe there is no doubt of intelligent life. Alongside that (probably spurred by science-fiction, but not unplausible) I believe some of that life would be so far beyond us in tech, intelligence, biology, or otherwise that would be indiscernible from a deity or superbeing. That does not make such beings supernatural immortal or infinite. What I deify with traits like immortal supernatural or intemporal is whatever it was that began all of the wonder I call the universe...

As far as I'm concerned, it could be a conscious being, it could be something akin to a particle field (we'll call it the Conscious Conscience Field for this thought experiment ), or it could be the teenager of an advanced civilization that just won first prize at this year's science-fair for creating a simulation of a functional universe which develops a civilization of beings such as homo sapiens sapiens.

 

[soulsurvivor]

I've read Steiner. That was enough. But in any case, that was an answer to a different question than the one I asked

Steiner was not a theosophist (maybe in the very beginning). He started his own thing called anthroposophy.

 

[soulsurvivor]

I've read Steiner. That was enough. But in any case, that was an answer to a different question than the one I asked

You asked why do I believe that and I answered that I have read in theosophical texts and Hindus believe similarly. What kind of answer did you expect - some kind of proof?

 

[soulsurvivor]

I would never accept the wood/plastic/metal/glue idols worshipped by hindus that so 8000 bc

Nobody is asking you to accept anything, but 2000 year old beliefs are pretty old too! Nobody believes physics from 2000 years ago.

 

[ppp]

Steiner was not a theosophist (maybe in the very beginning). He started his own thing called anthroposophy.

yep. I wasn't thinking . Thanks for catching that. I know who Blavatsky was, but haven't read anything by her.

 

[ppp]

You asked why do I believe that and I answered that I have read in theosophical texts and Hindus believe similarly. What kind of answer did you expect - some kind of proof?

At least some sort of rationale. I order coffee and a pastry while I am waiting for friends at brunch. Why did I order the pineapple upside down roll in stead of my usual cinnamon roll? Because it appealed to me.

Is it appeal for you?

 

[Sand Dancer]

I think I asked this a few years ago and didn't get much of a response, so I figured I'd ask again:

Those of you who are monotheists: how do you justify your position that two or more gods do not exist?

I mean, we've seen all the threads here directed at atheists about burden of proof and the like, and plenty of theists - often monotheists, ironically - have gone on at length about the problems they see with the conclusion that no gods exist.

... but here's the thing: if these problems are problems at all, they don't just apply to atheism. All the objections along the lines of "well, what if there's some god out there that you haven't noticed?" work just as well for a second god to a monotheist as a first god for an atheist.

So these objections to atheists saying "there are no gods" can really be seen as expressions of a larger idea: if you think only a specific number of gods exist and no more than that - whether it's 0, 1, 3, or 94 - how do you know there aren't more gods than that?

A lot of the responses to this question I've seen from atheists have been some form of argument that gods are impossible in general... but of course these arguments aren't available to a monotheist.

So monotheists: what gives? Why not two gods? Why not 10?

For those whose god is a creator, it seems awkward to picture different gods creating different things, IMO.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

For those whose god is a creator, it seems awkward to picture different gods creating different things, IMO.

It explains a lot to me lol. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

 

[soulsurvivor]

At least some sort of rationale. I order coffee and a pastry while I am waiting for friends at brunch. Why did I order the pineapple upside down roll in stead of my usual cinnamon roll? Because it appealed to me.

Is it appeal for you?

A detailed rationale would take too long. In short it is far more logical to me.

A Universe with 100 billion galaxies with 100 billion stars each (so probably 1 trillion planets per galaxy) is unlikely to be all ruled by a Christ who died and was resurrected on Earth which I doubt is a unique or very special planet. But the possibility that someone like the Christ is responsible only for our specific planet is not that far fetched.

Other than that, perhaps some links might help?

Information on the God of the Earth and how he manages life/evolution on Earth: World Organization

If after reading the above link (the page is not very long), you still have a 'why' question, let me know.

Another useful link - the many Gods according to Hinduism: Hindu Gods and Goddesses

 

[CG Didymus]

To me God means the highest. There can be only one highest.

And as it is said in the Bible:

….For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;" yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6

What do you do with Jesus and the Holy Spirit? They are less than God, or equal to and part of the one God?

 

[night912]

Monotheism has helped civilization grow from barbaric lawless societies to industrial innovative ones.

Monotheism in practice is what has worked and surpassed most hurdles in society over the ages. Now in my faith, we believe in One God that is composed of multiple persons. We believe that God is a being or corporation not a singular person. God would be compared to a Company that has a CEO a Founder, and a HR with a work force to carry out tasks. A singular God that has infinite moving parts and generates infinite amount of creations.

You mean in such examples as the Supreme Lenin and later Stalin? That's strange because you said this regarding both of them.

Both are equally destructive and give little to no purpose in a societal progression.

 

[1213]

What do you do with Jesus and the Holy Spirit? They are less than God, or equal to and part of the one God?

For me Jesus is for example the king and Holy Spirit is teacher for truth, everything Bible tells they are.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
John 14:26

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
John 16:13

I think they are basically God’s servants.

Jesus tells the one and only true God is the greatest, therefore Jesus and Holy Spirit are not in the same level.

You heard how I told you, 'I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said 'I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:28

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

You mean in such examples as the Supreme Lenin and later Stalin? That's strange because you said this regarding both of them.

Are you assuming that the God that Theist believe in is as selfish, unrighteous, and unloving as Stalin and Lenin?

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

Polytheistic societies gave us all of our foundational knowledge in philosophy, science, geography and so on. Ancient Egypt was a treasure trove of knowledge, from medicine, to hygiene, to architecture, farming methods and more. Greece and Rome also gave us things we still use in the same vein. Our knowledge of the stars and other celestial bodies all come from polytheistic cultures. I could go on for pages about how half our intelligence ultimately goes back to these groups. Mediaeval folks would especially disagree with you, as they were obsessed with Aristotle, Plato and other such famous names.

And atheism giving rise to ego and narcissism is just a nasty thing to say.

You're also assuming societies have to 'progress', which is presumably in a direction you favour.

Polytheistic societies were destroyed by their absence in morals indirectly caused by their liberalness in deities. They had nothing strong to hold on to, other than eventually Caesar who acted as a god in himself which brought death to him and his corrupted republic. I am only a commentator of History not a director of what needs to happen. You could be polytheist if you want. There are plenty of Atheists. However we shouldn't disregard history. We have seen both atheism and polytheism in full force in society and they have never survived very long because they are self destructive. Monotheism has survived even under the cruelest and harshest conditions and continues to dominate the religious infrastructure of humanity in terms of social and financial prosperity.

While agreed that it is a nasty thing to say, It doesn't change that Atheism does give rise to ego and narcissistic behaviors mainly because of what it did to Stalin and Lenin and countless other horrific leaders in the past. The whole idea of atheism is to not stoop down to the theist level of submitting to a fictitious god and instead to just praise his own intelligence and the intelligence of other atheists. I don't know of another classification to put that in other than narcissist and egocentric because if they were to rule they would eventually create what has already failed in comparison. Atheists have contributed much to society, Atheism have done nothing and will do nothing for it.

 

[Rival]

Polytheistic societies were destroyed by their absence in morals indirectly caused by their liberalness in deities. They had nothing strong to hold on to, other than eventually Caesar who acted as a god in himself which brought death to him and his corrupted republic. I am only a commentator of History not a director of what needs to happen. You could be polytheist if you want. There are plenty of Atheists. However we shouldn't disregard history. We have seen both atheism and polytheism in full force in society and they have never survived very long because they are self destructive. Monotheism has survived even under the cruelest and harshest conditions and continues to dominate the religious infrastructure of humanity in terms of social and financial prosperity.

While agreed that it is a nasty thing to say, It doesn't change that Atheism does give rise to ego and narcissistic behaviors mainly because of what it did to Stalin and Lenin and countless other horrific leaders in the past. The whole idea of atheism is to not stoop down to the theist level of submitting to a fictitious god and instead to just praise his own intelligence and the intelligence of other atheists. I don't know of another classification to put that in other than narcissist and egocentric because if they were to rule they would eventually create what has already failed in comparison. Atheists have contributed much to society, Atheism have done nothing and will do nothing for it.

Never survived very long?

Are you kidding me?

Ancient Egypt lasted 3,000+ years, the longest society known, and was polytheistic. It was led by a concept called 'Ma'at' meaning 'order' or 'justice'. Kemet, as it was known, was not a lawless place and was around longer than Christianity has been. I think you're just ideologically led to believe total nonsense.

Your comparison of atheism to Stalin is absurd. I don't classify all Christians on par with the worst popes, and there have been many.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Polytheistic societies were destroyed by their absence in morals indirectly caused by their liberalness in deities. They had nothing strong to hold on to, other than eventually Caesar who acted as a god in himself which brought death to him and his corrupted republic. I am only a commentator of History not a director of what needs to happen. You could be polytheist if you want. There are plenty of Atheists. However we shouldn't disregard history. We have seen both atheism and polytheism in full force in society and they have never survived very long because they are self destructive. Monotheism has survived even under the cruelest and harshest conditions and continues to dominate the religious infrastructure of humanity in terms of social and financial prosperity.

While agreed that it is a nasty thing to say, It doesn't change that Atheism does give rise to ego and narcissistic behaviors mainly because of what it did to Stalin and Lenin and countless other horrific leaders in the past. The whole idea of atheism is to not stoop down to the theist level of submitting to a fictitious god and instead to just praise his own intelligence and the intelligence of other atheists. I don't know of another classification to put that in other than narcissist and egocentric because if they were to rule they would eventually create what has already failed in comparison. Atheists have contributed much to society, Atheism have done nothing and will do nothing for it.

The Roman Empire died out after legalizing Christianity though.

 

[CG Didymus]

For me Jesus is for example the king and Holy Spirit is teacher for truth, everything Bible tells they are.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
John 14:26

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
John 16:13

I think they are basically God’s servants.

Jesus tells the one and only true God is the greatest, therefore Jesus and Holy Spirit are not in the same level.

You heard how I told you, 'I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said 'I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:28

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29

Yeah, I'm sure Trinitarian Christians have their verses, but it's still strange to then have to explain how the one God has three separate but equal parts. But even if Jesus and the Holy spirit, then archangels and other angels are less than God, they are still kind of God-like. Which, to me, is similar to what some polytheistic religions have, the one main God and the lessor, subordinate Gods. And some even have an evil God like a Satan that is not as powerful as God, or as powerful as even the lessor good Gods, and eventually gets defeated. So, even with religions that have multiple Gods, it seems like most have on main, dominate God. So, really... how different are they?

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

Never survived very long?

Are you kidding me?

Ancient Egypt lasted 3,000+ years, the longest society known, and was polytheistic. It was led by a concept called 'Ma'at' meaning 'order' or 'justice'. Kemet, as it was known, was not a lawless place and was around longer than Christianity has been. I think you're just ideologically led to believe total nonsense.

Your comparison of atheism to Stalin is absurd. I don't classify all Christians on par with the worst popes, and there have been many.

It is so funny how you use the word Ancient and continue to try and defend polytheism and call me nonsensical. Haha well I do live in the 21st century and I think I will stay here. It is clear to me that Monotheism is crucial for the advancement and betterment in society, because it has produced far more unity and acceptance than any other ism. Popes do not represent Monotheism as they do not claim to be God nor the voice of God or prophets. Stalin represents Atheism because he claimed all the powers to make it so. You can live in the 'Ancient' days and not accept that all you want, but when you finally catch up to the rest of the world, I hope you see that the reason people choose Monotheism is because it works. Anything else has been tried and failed miserably eventually.