It does me at times. I mean some claim that monotheism is the only correct way, how can this be so when almost all (or perhaps all I'm not certain) ancient civilizations, as well as surviving ones worshipped The Gods as oppossed to one God?
2007-03-06 01:54:31 · 12 answers · asked by A-chan 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
laura I agree. I never claim I am right, mainly because I don't feel I've the right to do so.
2007-03-06 02:01:43 · update #1
Nikki I couldn't disagree with you more. "All Gods are not one God", there are simply many Gods. Yes some are the same, they just go by different names, however The Gods I worship are separate Beings and individuals. Believing "All Gods are one God" is really monotheism in disguise to me.
2007-03-06 02:04:15 · update #2
I see what you mean noncrazed, however that does not explain all those who lived and died before Chritianity (and other mono religions) that worshipped Gods. I do not believe they were condemned they went to the Afterlife.
2007-03-06 02:12:08 · update #3
As I said above (which I advise you to read before posting) I am polytheist and worship The Gods not The Devine, I do not worship impersonal Gods. They are inviduals and separate entities.
2007-03-06 02:14:00 · update #4
dgon1329 I know what you mean, I'm not Wiccan, but I think you can guess that I am a witch.
2007-03-06 02:25:09 · update #5
Yes, I agree with you. But consider the source, many monotheists have never even looked into other religions or faiths, they are simply spoon-fed their beliefs and parrot them back. To me, monotheism is highly flawed and there is no way I could ever believe there's just one God. It goes against nature and is highly unbalanced.
Pantheism, that is believing that all Gods are one in the same, also makes me cringe. As an Asatruar I find it very offensive when someone tries telling me that all my Gods are just aspects of a "greater whole" or mere archetypes. I believe they are are separate and unique, each with their own personality.
To me, neither monotheism or pantheism allows for a personal God or Goddess, they are too removed from life and essentially unknowable. Whereas if you believe in a multiplicity of Gods, it is fully possible that some of them could take notice of you, and that it is even within their sphere or power to intervene in your life.
2007-03-06 08:51:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It bugs me to no end...but...
You have to remember that most monotheistic belief systems teach the idea that there is ONLY only way and that their way IS that way. The entire structure of those beliefs is such that they do not allow for any alternative view points at all. Most discourage any questioning of the teachings or even any investigation into the history of the belief system. It becomes more of a situation where the followers are simply supposed to accept the authority of their leader, never question it, and make every effort to get others to do the same. Usually by any means necessary.
You are correct about ancient civilizations being polytheistic, even Judaism was its most ancient form. Prior to the introduction of Islam the Persian, Babylonian, Akkadian, Sumerian and other peoples of the area were also polytheistic.
It was the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ankhnaten that introcduced the idea of monotheism to the ancient world, an idea that was taken up first by the Heberew peoples, then the Christians and finally the Muslims.
2007-03-07 02:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by gotherunereadings 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they believe that God revealed himself to only a select group of people. So all those societies that were polytheists were condemened to hell before they were even born. They were not on the chosen list. This is who they claim they alone they are correct - a direct revelation/intervention from God.
Personally, I am not a polytheist, but I understand the reasoning behind it. And yes, iti is annoying when someone comes to me, not understanding my faith what so ever, and claiming they have the one true way. Esepcially when I spent a good portion of my life as a Christian, understanding the faith, and then finally leaving it because I relaized things just didn't add up. I could pretend they did - make passages say what I wanted to hear. Or I could face the facts that they didn't.
I was fortunate enough that God kept wacking me over the head to get me to know her.
2007-03-06 10:04:53 · answer #3 · answered by noncrazed 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello Abby. It does bothers me sometimes, especially when I ask a question intended only for Pagans/Wiccans, and they comment on what they don't know. One person sent me an e-mail telling me that I "would go to hell because Wiccans worship the devil".
There are still many religions today that have thousands of Gods and Goddesses. For instance, in India the people have over 3,000 Gods and Goddesses.
Monotheism is spreading through the world because they have a philosophy of expansion which they call "convertion". They seek that everyone becomes one of them. If you reject it, they call you devil worshiper. What a lovely way to spread their religious beliefs, isn't it?
2007-03-06 10:22:01 · answer #4 · answered by David G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, within most monetheistic religions, there is a recognition of many faces the Divine may wear. The trinities - Father, Son, Holy Ghost - also Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma. Hinduism has many Gods, and although there are arguments regarding who is the true god at times - on higher levels it is understood they are all One. Many facets of one jewell, so to speak.
The Divine is the Divine...and your relationship with the Divine - that is what is important.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-03-06 10:07:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Non is a monotheist, at least Christians and Muslims are not, Jehovah and Alla are two different Gods with different holy books, To Christians Muhammad was a charlatan, to Muslims Jesus was just another funny guy, to a true Muslim all Christan's are going to hell, catholics are sure only themselves are gonna make heaven.
2007-03-06 10:14:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I wouldn't be surprised that you would be annoyed...
But I do want to point out... we can't both be right... so this is a situation in which either there is only one God, or there are multiple deities.
I believe in one God. As He describes Himself in the Bible. In my understanding one God is a supremely more believable and logical choice.
2007-03-06 10:02:17 · answer #7 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. They dont understand that all gods are one god, and all goddessess one goddess, becuase our divine creator understood that cultures would differ, and we have diffrent needs from the gods. The Celts needed a Hunter/Huntress, the desert people needed a strong provider.
2007-03-06 10:01:05 · answer #8 · answered by Goddess Nikki 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes---it is a sign of both arrogance & ignorance --Ironically enough---all the monotheist religions have fragmented into many separate tribes--because they all have a different view of God--which really means--they all have different Gods!!--:]
2007-03-06 10:04:30 · answer #9 · answered by huffyb 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think theres one right way. I believe there could be one god, many gods, or no gods. But yeah, it does annoy me when people think thier way is the only way
2007-03-06 10:00:18 · answer #10 · answered by laura 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋