Hellenic Polytheism

[Deukal]

Hi! Id like to ask members of this forum about their opinions or questions about Hellenic Polytheism (Greek Polytheism)

Thanks,
Deukal

 

[Glorthac]

Yes, why do you think the gods are Gods? I mean, I call my God God because He is the greatest, but you yourself admit the gods aren't the greatest, because there are multiple gods, and there can only be 1 greatest.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Hi! Id like to ask members of this forum about their opinions or questions about Hellenic Polytheism (Greek Polytheism)

Thanks,
Deukal

Greetings. Can you give a few examples of or define what Hellenic Polytheism is? Thanks

 

[Deukal]

Yes, why do you think the gods are Gods? I mean, I call my God God because He is the greatest, but you yourself admit the gods aren't the greatest, because there are multiple gods, and there can only be 1 greatest.

I see your point, and id like to say that in my belief, there are many deities,and all have differing control over aspects of nature. The 12 Olympian deities would be considered the greatest and highest, as they are considered the major gods and ruling council over the other minor deities.

And i see why in your belief that one god must be greatest, but id like to say thats where i think monotheism and polytheism differ, in what higher being(s) are considered "greatest".

 

[Fuzzy]

Hi! Id like to ask members of this forum about their opinions or questions about Hellenic Polytheism (Greek Polytheism)

I don't have a problem with it

Welcome to CF in general and NCR in particular, Deukal

 

[Glorthac]

I see your point, and id like to say that in my belief, there are many deities,and all have differing control over aspects of nature. The 12 Olympian deities would be considered the greatest and highest, as they are considered the major gods and ruling council over the other minor deities.

And i see why in your belief that one god must be greatest, but id like to say thats where i think monotheism and polytheism differ, in what higher being(s) are considered "greatest".

But wouldn't the universe in which the 12 Olympians indwell be the God over them? After all, it has all their power, since they are a part of it, and it has more power, since they aren't all of it.

 

[Deukal]

Greetings. Can you give a few examples of or define what Hellenic Polytheism is? Thanks

Certainly!

Modern Hellenic Polytheism is the modern adaptation of the traditional ancient greek ways of belief and worship.

In essence, its the belief in the deities spoken of in Greek "Mythology"

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I see your point, and id like to say that in my belief, there are many deities,and all have differing control over aspects of nature. The 12 Olympian deities would be considered the greatest and highest, as they are considered the major gods and ruling council over the other minor deities.

And i see why in your belief that one god must be greatest, but id like to say thats where i think monotheism and polytheism differ, in what higher being(s) are considered "greatest".

From what I know of the religions of Judaism and Islam, they are both monotheism.
Depending on how one interprets Deut 6:3/Mark 12:29 of the Bible. God bless

Scripture4All - Greek/Hebrew interlinear Bible software

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear-thou! Yisra'el-- YHWH, Elohiym of us, YHWH one. [Mark 12:29]

Mark 12:29 The *yet JESUS answered *him "that first of all *the commandments* 'be thou hearing! Israel-- LORD, the God of us, LORD one is'". [Deut 6:4]

 

[Deukal]

I don't have a problem with it

Welcome to CF in general and NCR in particular, Deukal

Thanks!

 

[Deukal]

But wouldn't the universe in which the 12 Olympians indwell be the God over them? After all, it has all their power, since they are a part of it, and it has more power, since they aren't all of it.

Well, what is greatest? highest or having the greatest control? One could argue that all the Gods are equal in power, seeing as they all have a certain "piece" in the broader spectrum of day-to-day events (nature).

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Certainly!

Modern Hellenic Polytheism is the modern adaptation of the traditional ancient greek ways of belief and worship.

In essence, its the belief in the deities spoken of in Greek "Mythology"

The Greeks are also mentioned in the NT/NC of the Christian Bible as well as in the jewish/hebrew book of Daniel.

Scripture4All - Greek/Hebrew interlinear Bible software

Daniel 11:2 And now truth I shall tell to thee. Behold! Yet 3 Kings, ones-standing to-Parac.
And-the-4th, he shall be enriched riches, great, from-all. And as to be strenghthed in his riches, he shall rouse all the Kingdom of Yavan/Greece [Zech 9:13].

03120 Yavan {yaw-vawn'} probably from the same as 03196; TWOT - 855;
AV - Javan 7, Grecia 3, Greece 1; 11
Javan = "Ionia" or "Greece" n pr m

Reve 9:11 They are having upon of them, King--the Messenger of the Abyss name to him to Hebrew, Abaddon and in the Greecian/ellhnikh <1673> name he is having Apollyon/apo-lluwn <623>

1673. Hellenikos hel-lay-nee-kos' from 1672; Hellenic, i.e. Grecian (in language):--Greek
1671. Hellas hel-las' of uncertain affinity; Hellas (or Greece), a country of Europe:--Greece.
1672. Hellen hel'-lane from 1671; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew:-- Gentile, Greek.
1676. Hellenisti hel-lay-nis-tee' adverb from the same as 1675; Hellenistically, i.e. in the Grecian language:--Greek.
1675. Hellenistes hel-lay-nis-tace' from a derivative of 1672; a Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew:--Grecian.
1674. Hellenis hel-lay-nis' feminine of 1672; a Grecian (i.e. non-Jewish) woman:--Greek.

 

[Glorthac]

Well, what is greatest? highest or having the greatest control? One could argue that all the Gods are equal in power, seeing as they all have a certain "piece" in the broader spectrum of day-to-day events (nature).

Mind if I reask my question, because this is my main problem with polytheism, and I think you didn't get my point.

You see, I understand how your saying they all have a certain "piece". But aren't they inferior to the universe in which they indwell? After all, because they are a part of the universe, the universe contains their certain "piece", and other pieces from different spectrums.

Therefore, the universe has all 12 Olympians certain "pieces" and more, and therefore, each 12 Olympians isn't the greatest, they're only equal to the universe in regards to their certain "pieces", and inferior to the universe in regars to "pieces" they don't have.

Therefore, they're no god at anything at all, the universe is the God at all their pieces, and even more so.

So, I must ask, isn't this true?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

LLOJ unsubscribes since the RCs seem to have it all figured out..........

 

[Deukal]

Mind if I reask my question, because this is my main problem with polytheism, and I think you didn't get my point.

You see, I understand how your saying they all have a certain "piece". But aren't they inferior to the universe in which they indwell? After all, because they are a part of the universe, the universe contains their certain "piece", and other pieces from different spectrums.

Therefore, the universe has all 12 Olympians certain "pieces" and more, and therefore, each 12 Olympians isn't the greatest, they're only equal to the universe in regards to their certain "pieces", and inferior to the universe in regars to "pieces" they don't have.

Therefore, they're no god at anything at all, the universe is the God at all their pieces, and even more so.

So, I must ask, isn't this true?

Ah, i see your point now. And in theory, thats definetly true.

But, in my belief, The Universe in its pieces are the gods, basically the piece and the god are one and the same. Basically, The gods are the universe.

 

[Aesjn]

Yes, why do you think the gods are Gods? I mean, I call my God God because He is the greatest, but you yourself admit the gods aren't the greatest, because there are multiple gods, and there can only be 1 greatest.

If you do not define God as necessarily being the greatest then that is not a problem. In Hellenismos deities are deities by virtue of being of the kind/type of things that are Gods... their parents are Gods, therefore, they are Gods.

There are actually several theological systems that the ancient Greeks had, some of them monistic, some polytheistic... So it is hard to actually make sweeping statements about it like this. Some like the Stoics would say god (Zeus) is in control of everything, Epicureans while they're usually portrayed as atheistic said that the gods are perfect and do not interfere in human affairs...

And while Roman religion is not a perfect copy or imitation of Greek religion like most people think, it is closely related (Zeus Pateros and Jupiter are cognate names, not borrowed from eachother but originally the same and shared with dozens of cultures), and the Romans also called Jupiter Optimus Maximus - Jupiter Best Greatest. So it would be likely the Greeks thought similarly of Zeus but I'm not familiar with his epithets.

 

[Glorthac]

If you do not define God as necessarily being the greatest then that is not a problem. In Hellenismos deities are deities by virtue of being of the kind/type of things that are Gods... their parents are Gods, therefore, they are Gods.

There are actually several theological systems that the ancient Greeks had, some of them monistic, some polytheistic... So it is hard to actually make sweeping statements about it like this. Some like the Stoics would say god (Zeus) is in control of everything, Epicureans while they're usually portrayed as atheistic said that the gods are perfect and do not interfere in human affairs...

And while Roman religion is not a perfect copy or imitation of Greek religion like most people think, it is closely related (Zeus Pateros and Jupiter are cognate names, not borrowed from eachother but originally the same and shared with dozens of cultures), and the Romans also called Jupiter Optimus Maximus - Jupiter Best Greatest. So it would be likely the Greeks thought similarly of Zeus but I'm not familiar with his epithets.

Hmmm... if Zeus is the greatest, why do you call the others gods? Because their parents are gods? What makes their parents gods? Because you've been told so?

 

[Fuzzy]

Hmmm... if Zeus is the greatest, why do you call the others gods? Because their parents are gods? What makes their parents gods? Because you've been told so?

In a way, yes. They, or a member of any other polytheistic concept of divinity, have reportedly done remarkable, or 'godly' things. Those acts are conveyed to mortals or non-gods via revelatory acts (oracles, stories, direct conversation with a god).

Even God mentions there being other gods.

 

[Glorthac]

In a way, yes. They, or a member of any other polytheistic concept of divinity, have reportedly done remarkable, or 'godly' things. Those acts are conveyed to mortals or non-gods via revelatory acts (oracles, stories, direct conversation with a god).

Even God mentions there being other gods.

So a god is a god if he does something extraordinarily moral? I guess you can define god however you want, but I refuse to worship someone just because he's done something good.

I worship my God because He's the greatest. Because my God is the greatest, even if your gods existed, they wouldn't be able to do their moral deed without His permission, and therefore, my God deserves the honor, not yours.

(And I hope you understand why I'm coming down so hard on yall, I want you to realize where I'm coming from)

 

[Fuzzy]

So a god is a god if he does something extraordinarily moral? I guess you can define god however you want, but I refuse to worship someone just because he's done something good.

I have no idea where you got "moral" from. Gods do remarkable things mortals usually cannot. Like drink an ocean of beer (Thor), or transform people into trees (Zeus), or destroy cities (Poseidon).

(And I hope you understand why I'm coming down so hard on yall, I want you to realize where I'm coming from)

You're a hard monotheist, and a devout Christian.

 

[Glorthac]

Oh, so its not morality as much as extraordinary acts. Either way, my position still stands, Thor couldn't drink the ocean of beer without my God's permission. Therefore, my God deserves the praise, not Thor. Any problem with this?

I really like these conversations, they help us understand our differences and bring us closer together.