The One True God™

[SalixIncendium]

By that definition I have many gods.

Freedom, intelligence, equality, knowledge, truth, and willpower being some of them.

And the irony is that a few of these have been humanized as gods.

• Freedom: Liber Pater (and other variants)
• Intelligence/knowledge: Tir, Zao Li, Thoth, Ganesha, Apollo
• Truth: Veritas

This is an an abbreviated list. I'm sure there are many more.

 

[Electus de Lumine]

And the irony is that a few of these have been humanized as gods.

• Freedom: Liber Pater (and other variants)
• Intelligence/knowledge: Tir, Zao Li, Thoth, Ganesha, Apollo
• Truth: Veritas

This is an an abbreviated list. I'm sure there are many more.

I use the word god to mean the most powerful known being in existence. So right now Yahweh is god.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Find me one, just one, dictionary definition that states that an aspect of something is the same as or equivalent to that theme and post the link here.

The definition of "aspect" was given already, as well as clear indication that in the case of persons - gods included - the second definition is the most applicable. Yet again, in the Opening Post you stated that you are of the opinion that all gods worshiped by man are "merely aspects of one God." In other words - using the proper definition of "aspect" - you believe that (for example) Thor is the appearance of this "one God" just as Kali is the appearance of this "one God." That they are the same thing, just a different look. Yet that's quite a different look.

For example, the Goddess Freyja has two aspects. There is Freyja the Lady, and there is Valfreyja - the later being Freyja in a warrior role, leading the Valkyries into battle. Valfreyja is still Freyja, just Freyja with armor and not-so-lady-like. This is a plausible example of a deity having multiple aspects, rather than one god being a theological Ditto, morphing into gods of various roles, genders, and cultural significances.

...you have not given your [opinion], as your too busy trying to prove that aspect means the same.

On the contrary, several of my posts - I would argue all of them - present my opinion fairly clearly; the gods are unique, individual beings, not glimpses at a greater whole or "oneness of the universe".

The plane of the gem is not the gem. It is merely a portion of it. Which is exactly what I'm suggesting (not proving or verifying). All gods man reveres or worships are gem planes of one gem.

And I'm disagreeing. The planes of a gemstone most certainly are the gem. They are not pieces pulled from other locations to form the gem; in fact, they are the result of segments of the gem being removed in an artistic fashion. What's more, each plane - while different in shape or angle - is made of the same material. Each facet is not unique, nor appreciated in it's own right. In comparing gods - even in the same pantheon - you do not find such sameness, nor can you without massively over-simplifying who and what the gods are.

I never suggested ITT that all gods are the same god. That is your inference. I suggested that they are all parts of the same god.

I am of the opinion that all gods worshiped/revered by all religions are merely aspects of one God.

If all gods are "parts" of the same god... they are the same god. Neither your foot, stomach, heart nor brain are individual from the rest of your body. They are parts of you, and they are you.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Intelligence/knowledge: Tir, Zao Li, Thoth, Ganesha, Apollo

If you mean Týr, no. Týr emulates justice, the sky, and self-sacrifice.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

To be fair, Zeus is also a Protector of humanity, who He is said to love, as He is a God of Order in the mortal realm.

That only makes sense if you view chaos as inherently undesirable. Zeus, as far as I know, doesn't protect us from wars, disease or natural disasters. Time & again, Zeus is portrayed as willing to wipe out humanity and start again. He does it with the different races of metal men in the stories. Not so with Thor.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

That only makes sense if you view chaos as inherently undesirable. Zeus, as far as I know, doesn't protect us from wars, disease or natural disasters. Time & again, Zeus is portrayed as willing to wipe out humanity and start again. He does it with the different races of metal men in the stories. Not so with Thor.

Zeus cannot interfere with Natural Law. Wars, disease and natural disasters are part of Nature. They're simply part of the phenomenal universe and also due to human actions. Those things aren't "evil" things, they just are. As for the different Ages and how that deals with humanity, that's just part of the cyclical view of time and human development within Indo-European religions.

However, Zeus did help to make the universe habitable for lifeforms by imposing Order over Chaos (such as by overthrowing the Titans, Who ruled during earlier phases of the universe's evolution, such as when the Earth was forming). In that way, He does protect us, just as Thor protects us against the Giants.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

So far as disease (and please don't read this as me digging on your god; such is not the case) wasn't that as a result of Pandora's Box, which was given to her by Zeus and the Olympians?

 

[SalixIncendium]

The definition of "aspect" was given already, as well as clear indication that in the case of persons - gods included - the second definition is the most applicable. Yet again, in the Opening Post you stated that you are of the opinion that all gods worshiped by man are "merely aspects of one God."

I have made it abundantly clear, not only in my exchanges with you, but in the remainder of the thread that I was describing the parts or features of a whole. While that clearly falls under the first definition of aspect, you chose the second because that best supported your argument.

And I'm disagreeing. The planes of a gemstone most certainly are the gem. They are not pieces pulled from other locations to form the gem; in fact, they are the result of segments of the gem being removed in an artistic fashion. What's more, each plane - while different in shape or angle - is made of the same material. Each facet is not unique, nor appreciated in it's own right. In comparing gods - even in the same pantheon - you do not find such sameness, nor can you without massively over-simplifying who and what the gods are.

Let's imagine a gem so massive that you can only see one plane (kinda like the time everyone believed the earth was flat). You lack the means to have knowledge of any other plane on the gem because it is so large, and have no means to view nor have you ever seen any other plane, so you are hesitant to believe that any other planes exist. It's a magnificent, valuable gem, and you appreciate that plane you see so much that you make it a point to sit before it an meditate on its brilliance every day (or every Sunday, check you respective religion). There are other planes of the gem that can be viewed by others, but your knowledge of these is limited to sacred texts others have written about them. Others have told you they exist, but you don't believe they do because you can only see your One True Plane. Your One True Plane is an aspect of this massive gem. Others' planes are irrelevant to you because you only have knowledge of yours.

I hope this brings you better perspective on the definition of "aspect" I was using in my OP.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

So far as disease (and please don't read this as me digging on your god; such is not the case) wasn't that as a result of Pandora's Box, which was given to her by Zeus and the Olympians?

Don't worry about offending me when it comes to this. I'm actually feeling more drawn towards Heathenry lately. Lol.

To me, that story is a warning against hubris, in this case, Prometheus' hubris in stealing fire from the Gods. But Zeus come off as a bit of an a-hole by having Pandora created and then giving her a box, warning her not to open it, not telling her what's in it and then she opens it - naturally. It reminds me of the Adam and Eve story. However, that was but one attempt to explain the evils of the world. It was written down by Hesiod.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If you mean Týr, no. Týr emulates justice, the sky, and self-sacrifice.

I was referencing the Armenian god.

Tir (god) - Wikipedia

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Let's imagine a gem so massive that you can only see one plane (kinda like the time everyone believed the earth was flat).

Doubly flawed. That only one facet of the gem can be seen does not change the fact that the gem is multi-faceted, and each facet is a part of that gem. Kind of like how even though some people thought the Earth was flat, the fact that it is spherical did not change.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Zeus cannot interfere with Natural Law. Wars, disease and natural disasters are part of Nature. They're simply part of the phenomenal universe and also due to human actions. Those things aren't "evil" things, they just are. As for the different Ages and how that deals with humanity, that's just part of the cyclical view of time and human development within Indo-European religions.

However, Zeus did help to make the universe habitable for lifeforms by imposing Order over Chaos (such as by overthrowing the Titans, Who ruled during earlier phases of the universe's evolution, such as when the Earth was forming). In that way, He does protect us, just as Thor protects us against the Giants.

You make a fair argument. Though I can't get the notion out of my head that Zeus does save one person from death at some point... maybe I'm mixing him up with another god like Dionysus...

 

[SalixIncendium]

Doubly flawed.

The imperfections of the gem are irrelevant to my example.

That only one facet of the gem can be seen does not change the fact that the gem is multi-faceted, and each facet is a part of that gem. Kind of like how even though some people thought the Earth was flat, the fact that it is spherical did not change.

Of course it does not change the fact that the gem is multifaceted. But you (in the example) are unwilling to accept that there exists a whole gem because you are only familiar with one facet.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I meant that your example is doubly flawed.

In this whole "gem" metaphor, you're claiming that each facet (individual gods) comprises this "One God" - the "gem". What you have yet to show or explain is how this can be so, when each individual deity is unique in cultural presentation, function, and encountered experience by those who worship them. An explanation which was denied - and thus failed, really - when you could not (or would not) explain how Kali can be the same as Thor.

 

[SalixIncendium]

That comparison was your crusade when you were tried and failed to demonstrate that "aspect" meant "same". I did not explain how Kali is the same as Thor because clearly they are not. But it is plausible that their individual characteristics (as well as other characteristics of other gods) make up a greater whole. You being a polytheist should be able to grasp this concept more quickly than non-polytheists.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I did not explain how Kali is the same as Thor because clearly they are not.

/topic and your OP claim.

 

[SalixIncendium]

/topic and your OP claim.

Naw. More like...

/Ragin Pagan's obtuse rambling

Your submissions neither proved nor disproved anything in my OP (incidentally proving anything wasn't my intent ITT to begin with).

Thanks for playing.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Sure salix. Rather than show up after a week with nothing further, it would have been better had you just left it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Sorry Ragin, but I do have a life outside this forum. I do typically only post on weekends.

That said, I chose to attempt in vain to help you to grasp the concept I was submitting ITT. I'm perfectly fine with your choice to remain closed-minded.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Close-mindedness is an unwillingness to know or understand; I know quite well what you're driving at. However, I disagree.

If you think that is closed mindedness, then so be it. With this, I am truly done with what has become pointless banter.