Polytheistic Vs. Monotheistic which is better?

Question

Recently I gave up on monotheism, as a christian, and am now polytheistic, under my own system of beliefs, so in your mind which do you think is better

Why? and do you think it is "sinful"

Answer 1

One belief system is not "better" for all people. Everyone is naturally attracted to the belief system whereby they can extract the most knowledge for their particular needs. Once they have extracted all the lessons and benefits, they move on. Everyone is where they are supposed to be.

Answer 2

One of the big problems with so-called monotheistic religions (which are never in fact monotheistic) is why things that are harmful to humans exist. Unless the single god is a trickster or inconstant or arbitrary, if in fact the single god is all-good, there has to be another god of bad things. OR "God" has to be kind of a conflicted being.

So there's an essential conflict here. If God is what is responsible for everything, then there needs to be an explanation of why bad things happen to people, even pious people. In monotheistic religions, this essential conflict is sometimes served by giving "God" two natures; loving and punishing; creating and destroying, and so on.

The dual nature of a monotheistic "God" means that some people will emphasize the loving side, and some will emphasize the rule-making, judgmental side. THAT seems to be a matter of personality on the part of the worshiper.

Accommodating both personalities of "God" is a problem for most people, and that's why they resort, in the end, to giving up the attempt to reconcile the different sides of "God's" personality, or come up with very convoluted explanations that make no sense to outsiders (people who have a different conception of "god").

To many people, it makes a far better explanation of the world that they experience to say that there are many deities.


BY the way, jon c. you are so VERY wrong on that one. Funny that you should use the word "civilizations" in your reply; because that word was coined by the Romans to mean "citified", and THAT was what Romans were, while they were emphatically polytheistic.

You have it backwards. MOST religions started as polytheistic, with the multiple deities being those of place - a river god or goddess, a forest god or goddess, a god or goddess or rain and sun and moon and so on. Monotheism started in Egypt LONG after there were many "civilizations" that were polytheistic. Read a history book sometime, you might decide you enjoy learning about how things actually happened.

Answer 3

Polytheistic is far more tolerant of other beliefs, in my experience.

Monotheistic is intolerant by definition. Afterall, the first rule is that there is ONLY one true god.

As an Atheist, I don't have a belief in either, but I do think that Polytheistic religions are far more positive than the intolerant and fear based monotheistic religions.

Answer 4

Study history - pretty much all civilization started as Monotheistics. Check out the reasons why many changed into Polytheistic cultures... you will see it has much to do with human corrupted heart.
If you really want an honest answer, you have to go deeper yourself. The only one who can decide is you, after all, you're playing with your destiny.
I accept ONE God because I have enough evidences He is real. if you haven't had yet, allow it to happen.

Answer 5

Whatever works for you. Many Polytheistic beliefs actually feel that the many Gods are attributes to help us understand the many dimensions of the main God. The Trinity is like that too. You can be both. Or one. Whatever helps you see better.

Answer 6

Not too many history buffs in here evidently or you would realise Polytheistic nations have had more than there share of wars. Did none of you realise Rome had many Gods as did the Greeks, the Egyptians, and many many more. If you disagree I welcome your thumbs down but only if yo go and ask a history teacher first.

Answer 7

I think whichever works best for that particular person is the best. You can't be part of a religion you yourself think is bull.

I am Jewish so I believe a monotheistic religion is right for me. You're not, you believe in polytheism, and that's right for you.

I do not think it is sinful, it is just not what I believe.

Answer 8

Polytheism is kinder to humanity. When the world became a place of "there is only one God and he's my God not yours", that's when religious extremism, hatred, wars and all manner of horrors began. Monotheism is historically a scourge.

Answer 9

Poly: many, Mono: one,; a: no god at all. Much simpler, the last.