What is the difference between "God" and the gods and goddesses of mythology?

Question

As Christians, do you believe in Apollo or Zeus and accept that they are gods? Probably not. You think of them as characters in mythology. I don't understand the difference. Why is your god not also a mythological god. Real answers please -- no rantings or bible quotations.

There is no difference between Santa and the Easter Bunny -- they are both make believe.

People who believed in the gods and goddesses of mythology also thought their gods/goddesses were real. That didn't make it so any more than just saying God is real makes it so. What is different?

So what some of you are telling me is that God is real and he comes with a book. Characters from mythology are not real because they were supposed to have physical bodies and live on a mountain. God is real because he what -- has no physical body and lives in the heavens and he watches every single person, knows what they are doing and hears a billion prayers at a time and directs the entire cast of human population. Sure, that sounds believable, right!

Answer 1

i really dont know but when i staudies mythology it seemed pretty interesting

Answer 2

There are several HUGE differences:
1. Many things that are in the Bible have been corroborated by archeological, scientific, and historical discoveries. For example:
a. Archeologists uncovered the ruins of the ancient city of Jericho. They discovered that the evidence pointed to EXACTLY what was described in the Bible. The walls actually did crumble OUTWARDS, and they also found that in one section, to which a house was attached, was still intact. Could that have been Rahab's house? (Joshua 2)
b. The exodus has ALSO been corroborated, but is still up in the air, because it seems that there isn't quite enough evidence to verify it completely.
c. The Cambrian explosion is described in the Bible.
d. All organic matter is composed of quarks. Quarks are sound. God spoke everything into being.
e. There is evidence that suggests that David actually WAS a king, not a fictional character.
f. Various kings and other rulers really DID live, and it has been proven. Repeatedly.
I could go on, on that point.
2. One thing that's different in ALL other mythological writings, as compared to the Bible, are these words: "I have SEEN these things with MY OWN EYES." The Bible says that many times, especially in the New Testament.
3. The Bible was written not by one man, as has been suggested, but by MANY, varying from kings all the way down to common fishermen. And yet, the Bible follows the same theme throughout, with only small contradictions. There is less inaccuracy in the Bible, less in question, than there is in Shakespeare's writings.

Here are some books to consider reading, if you REALLY want to know:
Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
Case for a Creator and Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. But he has MANY other works to look into.
Just about anything by Ralph O Muncaster.
Books by John F. Ashton, Ph.D.

Hope this helped a little, AND I made it through without actually quoting the Bible. Furthermore, I don't think I really ranted. Not too much anyway.

Answer 3

I'm not necessarily addressing Christianity right now, but people who generally believe there is one Creator are usually thinking in terms of the world and the universe and life in general. The thinking (of a spiritual person who may or may not be religious) is that there is either "something bigger" or there isn't.

For people who think there is the name often used for that "something bigger" is "God". Generally, people who believe in God (and particularly who follow certain religions) believe that this one "something bigger" God pretty much created everything; and even that "He" is all of Nature and Love; and that other gods are not "THE" God. There is a connection with the world and Nature that isn't necessarily associated with other gods.

Maybe its simpler to believe if there's any God it would be one "main" God rather than a bunch of different gods with different jobs and different names.

I see your point, but there is - if you really reason it out - a subtle difference between the two types of higher powers. (One point is that in ancient times some people were actually "appointed" god of one thing or another by humans. Some Roman emperor's unfaithful wife got "appointed" as a goddess of something for some reason that had nothing to do with her character.) I know the Greek mythology gods are different again....

Again, you have a point; but there are subtle differences.

Answer 4

God is real. Apollo and Zeus are fairy tales. I don't know what else to tell you except try living for the one real God and see how your life will change and how God will always be there for you. Or you can call out to Apollo or Zeus in your time of need and just see if anything happens.

Answer 5

There are no other gods, goddesses, etc. There is only one God. Also, the easter bunny and santa clause are only make believe for kids. Most adults know this by now!

Answer 6

You answered your own question, Apollo etc. are a MYTH, where as God or Jehovah HIS name is very real and has proved himself a real loving caring god many times...Actually Jehovah is the Almighty God of heaven and earth.

Answer 7

Apollo and Zeus were supposed to have physical bodies and lived on mount Olympus, Jewish people didn't make that claim about their God.

Answer 8

Whatever traits the believers who invent them give to them. How is Santa different form the Easter bunny?

Answer 9

Same lies to explain then control . The false promise is a form of bait and switch and a very effective form of sales .the real basis to religion is not the phony god and promise of salvation but the money that is involved in tithes and donations that promote the lies and exploitation of the weak minded who is often victimized by selling his integrity for social success .

Answer 10

the religions of today are different becouse there still practiced en-mass. when something better comes along people will look at the modern religions the same way.