Why are the monotheistic religions so threatened by polytheistic beliefs?

Answer 1

Because Polytheisitc beliefs are capable of incorporating other culture's mythos into their own over time.

If you're polytheistic, you have no problem with multiple gods, and maybe even adding more gods to your personal pantheon. It's one of the problems the Abrahamic religions have with Hinduism. A Hindu might be willing to give lip service to the Abrahamic god, but in the end, they don't give up their gods for him. They just kind of incorporate him into their religion. (Obviously not officailly incorporate him, but on an individual level they can believe in him as just another of their gods.)

Look at what happened when the Catholics went converting after Constantine. They ended up with a lot of pagan beliefs and customs being included in their religion bacuse it was the only way to get them to convert. Polytheists, and in fact any other strongly held religion, are a threat to them beacuse they won't simply convert without retaining some of the old.

Answer 2

This is a good question. I assume you're talking the political structures of these religions, and I'd have to agree with your premise. When the Catholic church first got rid of polytheism, they turned pagan gods into saints (Bridget, Christopher, Isis/Madonna etc) or into demons (Pan, Lucifer, etc) and allowed yearly pagan traditions to be followed for many generations. Gradually though, the people forgot these saints and demons were once their gods and were put into a back corner. Nearly all of Europe was united under one church. It was a "soft" conversion that worked very well. The feast of Oestra, became Easter, the feat of Christ Rising. Even "Christ" a greek term used to represent many humans who ascended to godhood, came to represent only the Messiah, Jesus.
Today though, the Christian churches are many, so rather than having a unified method of stamping out these beliefs, they try to stamp them out, much like a child tries to kill all the ants in an anthill, with blunt force. So, the polytheistic beliefs have returned stronger than at any point in the last millenium. for that which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Wicca, Neopaganism, Reconstructed paganism, and even Native religions flourish within an outside of the tribes who first worshipped this way. This success breeds more contempt. Imagine you makes 20,000$ a year and someone gives you a million. You feel rich, this is what's happened to polytheistic beliefs in recent years. Now imagine you're a billionaire, but someone takes away your money leaving you with only a few million, this is what's happened to monotheistic religions in recent years.

Answer 3

Because all monotheistic beliefs have their origins in polytheism. Even the hebrews, in the old testament of the bible, spoke of other "societies" worshipping other deities. The ten commandments explicitly says, "You shall have no other gods before me." And maybe trinitarians see a little too much of a resemblance between their "3 for the price of 1" god and the polytheistic beliefs of others.

So if it were true, and there were other gods, wouldn't that possibly undermine *their* god's monopoly on salvation?

Answer 4

All, repeat all, of them had their origins in polytheist societies. Early Judaism, Hellenic Christianity and seventh century Islam all arose within polytheistic cultures.

It is no accident that the first four of the ten commandments of Judeao Christianity were about defining a monotheist worldview against a polytheist one, nor the Shadah of Islam "There is no god but Allah..."

Successful religions depend on a point of difference. In polytheist societies that point of difference was monotheism, and it was defended to the hilt.

Answer 5

All relgions including christianity are wrong.

True christianity should be a relationship with God. When you have that, then you are not threatened by anything. You are secure in the knowledge that polytheism are just demons in disguise.

Answer 6

>>"Polytheism is wrong.........and we are NOT polytheists"<<

yes, actually you are.

the trinity is polytheism. if you belive in a truly monotheistic God there is one. period. no of this 3 =1 crap.

and basically polytheism is easier. polytheistic deitys are more personable, more interactable, and so on.

Answer 7

Because they are BASED on polytheistic beliefs.

Answer 8

I don't feel threatened at all.

There is but one God.....who eternally exists in 3 distinct Personalities:

Father, Son & Holy Spirit

3....yet 1.

Polytheism is wrong.........and we are NOT polytheists. And the doctrine of the trinity remains true regardless.

Answer 9

Are they? It seems to me that most of the worlds "believers" believe in a monotheistic god.

Answer 10

Because such beliefs are an affront to and an offense against the one, true God, who rightly deserves proper worship and just praise, from all those he created.