If you read the Old Testament literally there are references to other gods, you don’t see monotheism until the New Testament. Is the whole monotheistic idea just a way for Constantine to unify his kingdom?
2006-12-19 15:50:09 · 36 answers · asked by Gaara 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe that it referrs to other people worshipping false gods, kinda like alot of people do now with brad pitt and other icons.
2006-12-19 15:52:47 · answer #1 · answered by ExpressWebDesigns.com 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First, the bible does not even confirm the existence of one God, whose name is YHWH. It is assumed by the believer.
Second, you will find in the 613 commandments a restriction of one God. If you search for "no other God", you will have 42 verses (39 in the Old Testament) and 3 in the New Testament.
Third, Constantine is two hundred years later then the New Testament verses. Constantine used existing Christian practices (mainly western) to unite his Empire.
Fourth, There are reference to other gods since Israel a theocracy was surrounded by other countries that worshiped multiple gods. There was no requirement that anyone except Israelites worship one God.
2006-12-19 16:05:15 · answer #2 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, the Old Testament doesn't talk about other actual existing gods. What you're probably thinking of are the idols (ie. Baal) and gods that the people created for themselves...goodness, they would just make statues out of anything and leave the nametag blank until they thought of a god they wanted to create! These gods had no power at all...I mean, come one, they were man made! I think that Constantine employed the monotheistic idea because he himself was a Christian, and wanted all of his people to believe what he did. You're also probably right in saying that it was to unify his kingdom, even though in my opinion it's wrong to force your religion on someone because then it might not be a personal belief, but rather something you have to do or face serious consequences.
2006-12-19 15:59:00 · answer #3 · answered by jennabeanski 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's hard to get into the head of an anonymous author who's been dead for millenia, but it seems that the oldest writings may think of the Hebrew God as a tribal one, and later writers began to move to the idea of monotheism while acknowledging that others worshipped "false gods." Not knowing the religious thinking of the time but feeling one can surmise it on the basis of writing, though, supposes that one has a grasp of the writing style of the person and time, and seems just as full of folly.
2006-12-19 16:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible confirms the existence of other gods (small "g"), and repeatedly in the Old Testament and New warns about worshipping any but Jehovah God (Elohim). Just because false gods (idols) are mentioned, does not mean that Judaism was not and is not montheistic.
Monotheism is confirmed and affirmed throughout the Bible.
2006-12-19 15:54:45 · answer #5 · answered by Bob L 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are references to other gods, these are considered false even by Jews, baal, ashtaroth, etc. The root used to describe these fake "gods" is the hebrew "shaddim" meaning demons. The worship of these gods is considered an abomination, and indeed in the Bible you can see excesses that lead to the ruin of those worshipping them. The Bible states that there is only One true God, in the OT and the NT and any other is an impostor. The name used by God is "I AM", the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
2006-12-19 16:26:39 · answer #6 · answered by defOf 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How does the Trinity fit in with your Monotheism?
Yes the Bible does give hints.
Shall we let them eat of the tree of live and become Gods.
Obviously Satan is of the same calibre or close to that of God. The Mogod?
The anti-God.
God obviously can't or won't vanquish Satan.
If Satan has the same eternal life, then God can't rub satan out.
Satan would then have the same powers and be able to do everything God could.
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
US is a PLURAL
ONE of US
Meaning like GODs plural.
2006-12-19 16:06:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think the bible confirms the existence of other Gods, but the old testament more portrays biased male opinions on God and his creations, and the way people are supposed to live their lives according to them. kinda y i dont follow the old testament, and only really pay attention to the new testament, even though it contains parables that Jesus taught "his children" and others in need of help and guidance. remember, jesus said at a stage that to 'love your Lord (God) with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength', so whoever u see as God is your God. because there is no plural in the word 'Lord' there can only be one God. although, the many Gods we create are based on how we see God as a whole.
2006-12-19 16:17:24 · answer #8 · answered by kristyb872001 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those gods are demi gods or Gods Superintendents. They are like higher angels running the sun, moon, wind, rain, etc. They are servants. IT is not recommended to worship them as God because they are not Him. God is one and He has many servants who run the material creation. That is the misunderstanding of many Hindus, Mayans and other religious groups. Though God does have many names and forms Himself such as Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, etc. But that is referring to the one Supreme God who is unlimited. Also read the original New Testament before king Constantine misconstrued everything. The Gospel of the Nazirenes with historical documentation by Alan Wauters and Rick Van Wyhe. gospelofthenazirenes. Then you can get a clear understanding of Christ.
2006-12-19 15:58:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In fact many references are made to other gods in Old Test. but it is not stated anywhere that they exist literally. As from the beginning, before the creation of man, Satan has tried to take the place of God and that's why he was thrown away from Heaven to earth. As such, he made men believe that the true God doesn't exist by inventing other gods like Mamon, Beelzebul etc... It is good to know that Satan can take any form he desires in order to seduce people, even the form of your passed away parents etc... in order to deviate your attention from the true God. The only power that he don't have is that of creation.
2006-12-19 16:22:09 · answer #10 · answered by Sam 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yahweh started his career as a field god, then he turned into a volcano (ie. Moses on the mountain). Book of Job is the oldest book in the bible and its concept of god is extremely primitive (though some try to justify god’s behaviour in that book). Polytheism was removed from the OT but you can still find traces of it. Same goes for NT, it does contain polytheism if you know where to look. And then there’s the gnostic christians and their Jesus was a polytheist.
2006-12-19 15:59:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋