I saw a few responses to some other questions where I asked about the possibility of the existence of other gods. A lot of my christian fellows said that you are not supposed to worship other gods, etc.
I'm not concerned about who is right or wrong in their beliefs etc. I'm simply asking if acknowledgement is the same as worship.
I do not believe it is. To me worshipping other gods and goddesses is devotion to them.
Other folks believe in their gods and goddesses as strongly as Christians believe in YHWH. So is acknowledging that there is a possibility that their deity exists? You cannot prove or disprove it so why not just accept it?
Your thoughts?
2007-11-04 23:16:30 · 27 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Michael B - I think giving other gods in the same level of devotion would be to worship them. You can acknowledge them without giving them your heart. That's what Yahweh is after.
2007-11-05 01:09:50 · update #1
There are different ways to understand God, much of which is culturally bound. Some of us understand God through God's many facets, both masculine and feminine, assertive and passive, thus we have a polytheistic understanding. Others understand God as all facets rolled into one, and thus we have a monotheistic understanding.
If we outright reject another's understanding, we have no chance of understanding them or communicating intelligently or spiritually with them. What harm is there in accepting their understanding for them? In no way does it diminish our understanding if it is different. Even within the same faith, there are variations as no two minds are exactly alike. Truth is relative to our understanding under any circumstances. None can comprehend it all.
2007-11-04 23:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by jaicee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, acknowledging is not the same as worshiping. But monotheists insist that it is wrong anyway, because they are monotheists. Actually, as I recall the first commandment was about having no other gods BEFORE me. Doesn't say anything about lesser gods.
One of the things you learn here on R&S is that there are many, many different ways to view religion and spirituality. You can believe a god or goddess exists in some form or another, and not worship it. You can believe it MIGHT exist. You can believe there are no such things at all, or no creator uber-god, or whatever seems most real to you. Creativity is perfectly valid in some religions, especially paganism.
But if you join a religion that has you recite a creed during services, you are a hypocrite if you do not believe that creed. However, depending on your reasons for being there (such as going along with the dominant belief in the town where you do business for the good will), that may not be such a big deal.
Or perhaps being honest is important enough to you that you make decisions like I have, to remain silent when the pledge of allegiance says "under God."
The choices are all yours, and the consequences of your choices are all yours, too.
2007-11-04 23:45:40 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is quite possible to acknowledge other gods without necessarily worshiping them. Part of the difficulty that people have with that is the fact that the idea of believing that a deity exists and worshiping them is used so interchageably in some traditions (Christianity for one) that many people cannot separate the ideas nor even consider that the IS a separation of those ideas.
I am a follower of the Norse deiteis, however I acknowledge that the Greek, Celtic, Egyptian and other deities exist as much as any other but that does not mean that I worship them, it does mean that I respect their traditions and their rights of thier followers to worship them in whatever way their religion demands without interferance from outsiders.
2007-11-05 07:23:36 · answer #3 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't sure how to answer your other question on other gods. And I'm still not sure, because it kind of makes me uncomfortable in that I'm not sure HOW to answer it. As a Christian, one of the core beliefs is that there is one God. Now, we know that throughout history there have been many who believed in other gods, but those gods were all false according to Christian doctrine.
Acknowledging is not the same as worshipping. But if you acknowledge that other gods "exist" then where do you place them in the hierarchy without offending God? It's a difficult question. I guess I can acknowledge that other people believe in other gods, but I cannot acknowledge that any other real god exists. I'd have to say while other gods are worshipped, I believe they are false and there is only one God.
2007-11-04 23:53:27 · answer #4 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. I acknowledge that other people believe in other gods and worship them. But I also believe it when God says that He is the only living God. All those other gods, according to Him, are cold statues that can't hear, can't answer the prayers of those who fall before them, and can't love them back. And I can see that evidence borne out in the countries where people follow those other gods. I don't believe those other gods really exist. Not to mention that if God says they don't...well, don't you think He knows better than you do? He is God - and you aren't.
Anyways....no, I don't think acknowledging them is the same as worshipping them. But I do think it is foolish considering what the Bible says.
For me it comes down to, do I really believe the Bible? Do I really believe God and trust what He says? Or do I just think that the Bible is "nice" and it's a "guideline" but rely instead on my own understanding to get me by?
2007-11-05 01:19:36 · answer #5 · answered by Blue Eyed Christian 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the spiritual realm, if a lot of people beliieve a spirit or God exists, a spirit will form in the image they project. So these gods and goddesses do exist. But there is only one real God, these gods work more as intermediaries, to help connect more easily with God. You don't have to use them, to believe they exist. You may feel they are not very useful, or harmful, it up to you to find, the right way for you, to connect to God. Some ways will be more intuned with God than others.
2007-11-04 23:41:11 · answer #6 · answered by astrogoodwin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If by just acknowledging that other gods exist means you are worshipping them, would that then make these same Christians Satanists? They do believe he exists and sometimes talk more about him than they do the God they claim to worship.
=)
2007-11-05 00:12:46 · answer #7 · answered by River 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is a very good question. Would acknowledging the existence of Satan imply worshiping him? If so a lot of Christians are in deep trouble!
2007-11-04 23:32:11 · answer #8 · answered by in a handbasket 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I believe that we can recognize someones right to worship another "god". God gave us ALL freewill with the ability to use it as we see fit (either for his glory or someone/something else). I do not acknowledge their existance. As a Christian, I believe that their is only one God, one Son (Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the father) and one Holy Spirit (which resides in all who have found redemption in him). No, I can not, on paper, prove or disprove it but through God's Holy Spirit and his word I can disprove it to myself.
2007-11-04 23:29:24 · answer #9 · answered by ChaRiaLer 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
believing they exist & worshiping them are 2 different thing I believe all the old Gods still exist but only worship the ones I want
God the father of Christ, Goddess mother spirit of the earth, & I worship them through Christ their son!
2007-11-04 23:40:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋