Monotheism struggles with "the problem of evil," in which the single creator God also has instituted a creation full of suffering. In order to deal with this, many religions have instituted a Satan character that battles God. However, Satan was also a creation of the single God, & his ultimate defeat is inevitable, although God seems to be taking his time about it.
Polytheism asserts that multiple Gods are involved in both creation & interventions in life. Therefore, the problem of evil is managed via a diverse and conflictual spirit world.
Given the problem of evil, can you please explain why most Westerners choose Monotheism over Polytheism?
2007-02-12 06:17:51 · 13 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
People gravitate towards the theology of their rearing.
It has nothing to do with what makes sense. If they went with what made sense they'd all be atheists.
2007-02-12 06:22:40 · answer #1 · answered by Phil Knight 3 · 6⤊ 2⤋
I happen to disagree with your statement on polytheism. Most of the polytheists I know do not believe in the "problem of evil" being managed via a diverse and conflictual spirit world.
Our concepts of light and dark are very different from those of the monotheists.. we don't have an evil versus good struggle going on and therefore, there is nothing to manage.
2007-02-12 14:25:12 · answer #2 · answered by Kallan 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
NH, as you could guess, I'd recommend a process theology text, "God, Power, and Evil" by David Ray Griffin.
What's remarkable is that monotheism in its traditional forms *cannot* offer a coherent theodicy. Only revisionist monotheisms such as process theology (which has been accused, BTW, of being a covert polytheism) have done so.
So basically, people seem capable of living with the cognitive dissonance of holding a form of monotheism with no theodicy. Why? I'd have to postulate primarily political, economic, and social factors. Christianity didn't survive and dominate because it was the most coherent available worldview. It survived and dominated because it was used to buttress the interests of the powerful, from 325 on.
2007-02-12 14:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Many people who are polytheistic don't believe in evil. Even ancient polytheistic cultures didn't believe in evil as the Christians define it, it was merely a god/spirit doing something that really sucked for the people involved. It wasn't evil that Poseidon didn't allow Odysseus to go home, it was what Odysseus deserved (maybe a little overkill). The reason that many Westerners are followers of the Judeo-christian faiths is that Christianity was made law by Rome and being a religion of fear of the after-life and discouraged knowledge or even the ability to read for most of its life, it kinda stuck. It is hard for most people of Chrisian faith to learn about other religions or try one on for size without that nagging fear of Hell.
2007-02-12 14:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Traditional Jewish monotheism was contaminated by the Persian dualism of Zoroastrianism. Pure monotheism is rare, since it means that the single God is responsible for every negative thing in the world.
2007-02-12 14:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me polytheism makes more sense then monotheism when you stop and think about it. It doesn't run into all those problems like you described as well as the paradoxes of omnipotence.
Most westerners choose monotheism simply because that's the way they were raised. They do not examine their beliefs critically.
2007-02-12 14:22:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The reason is simply beceause monotheistic religions are what dominate western culture. Most westerners simply choose the religion they were raised in or the one they have the most exposure to (which includes references in pop culture and the like). So it's not surprising in the west that you see way more monotheists than polytheists.
2007-02-12 14:24:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many Westerners have a first hand knowledge (relation) with the God of the Bible, so they of course believe in what the Bible says.
2007-02-12 14:28:11 · answer #8 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, God !!!! When will this "god" stuff ever end ? What's the difference which, or how many "gods" you believe in ?
No one has ever seen a "god" or ever will. Gods are in the imagination of the superstitious.
We're born, we grow up, we reproduce, we die. The end, there is no more. Thank God for our time on earth because that's where we stay for the rest of time. We return to the earth from which we came.
2007-02-12 14:33:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Monotheism=personal God; God=personal Salvation through Jesus; Jesus=Loving Saviour
Polytheism=confusion=NO HELP from a personal God when in need; wrong beliefs about reincarnation gives sinful man false hope of NO ACCOUNTABILITY to a HOLY GOD.
It is appointed unto man ONCE to die; but after this the JUDGMENT. (Hebrews 9:27)
2007-02-12 14:28:36 · answer #10 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Because the initial premise that there could be a multiple gods takes you back to the scenario of Greek gods fighting amongst each other.
And were all created with two eyes and a nose.
One creator makes a lot of sense here.
I would also suggest you study Islam a little bit.
Because Satan in Islam isnt the opposite force of God.
Its just a creature that tempts man. Nothing else really.
2007-02-12 14:21:49 · answer #11 · answered by Antares 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋