Polytheistic religion

[Bulldog]

For Hard Polytheism, yes they would have to be seperate deities. But in soft polytheism different gods are considered to be merely different perspectives or aspects of one deity, so the trinity does fall under that definition.

The thing is, members of the trinity are not different gods. they are seperate personalities of the same God.

However, I'm not going to argue this point further, because it's not worth it and I don't feel compelled to. You have your definition of polytheism, and under that definition of polytheism Christianity isn't polytheistic. But there's another definition of polytheism under which Christianity is polytheistic. What does it matter in the end? Nothing much. It's all in the definitions of the word, and arguing about definitions is a rather pointless thing to do.

Fine by me.

 

[Blackguard_]

To borrow from an anti-Christian analogy, the Trinity is like a three-headed monster; the monster has three personalities, but it is still one monster.

 

[Havoc]

Hix,

We only believe in one God. It;s just very hard for many people to understand that the trinity could be tree persons in one God. But that's really what it is.

What it is, is a convenient way to worship three gods while maintaining the semblance that you are only worshipping one.

It's nothing more than semantic juggling to ignore a contradiction.

 

[stevo]

Chrisitianity is a polythiestic religion by definition. However, the use of language makes Christianity an, at times, ambiguous religion. The holy-trinity argument that it is "one god, three essences" makes no sense. An essence makes something "what it is," and if the essence changes then so does the thing. Either way it does not work. Also, the little picture that was shown pretty much shows a group. It is worshipping a collective, and therefore many God. Even if the collective is three "essences" the essences are still being worshipped.

Also, do not forget about the diefication of such figures as the virgin mary and various saints and apostles. They are still worshipped in a heirarchy of gods. Just because one is at the top does not mean that they are not looked upon as gods. In conclusion, polytheism implies plurality, and using the term "God" to describe three is the singularification (probably not a word) of three.

 

[Blackguard_]

Chrisitianity is a polythiestic religion by definition. However, the use of language makes Christianity an, at times, ambiguous religion. The holy-trinity argument that it is "one god, three essences" makes no sense. An essence makes something "what it is," and if the essence changes then so does the thing. Either way it does not work. Also, the little picture that was shown pretty much shows a group. It is worshipping a collective, and therefore many God. Even if the collective is three "essences" the essences are still being worshipped.

It is three persons of one essence. It's "one God, three persons", not three essences.

Also, do not forget about the diefication of such figures as the virgin mary and various saints and apostles. They are still worshipped in a heirarchy of gods. Just because one is at the top does not mean that they are not looked upon as gods

I think you're talking about Catholics here, and they do not deify or worship Mary and the Saints, they just believe they can mediate between humans and God, which contradicts that verse about there being only one mediator between Man and God, Jesus. But they don't think they are gods, just humans with special privleges and access to God. At least that's how I understand it, I'm not Catholic.

 

[Havoc]

In that case, those of us who worship The Goddess in three aspects are also Monotheistic - One Goddess, three persons, Maiden, Mother, Crone.

In fact those of us who worship any Pantheon are also Monotheistic, since all named Gods and Goddesses are many persons, one Divine.

Once you start to water down the meaning of words like polytheism and monotheism they cease to have any real meaning. If Christianity is not polytheism then neither is Paganism

 

[Lifesaver]

Once you start to water down the meaning of words like polytheism and monotheism they cease to have any real meaning. If Christianity is not polytheism then neither is Paganism

It depends on the Paganism. Some forms of Hinduism are indeed monotheistic, for they ultimately believe in one Supreme Being to whom the many "gods" are only different manifestations; or so have I heard.

Ancient Greek mythology, on the other hand, is polytheistic. Each god is completely separate from the next, like people are.

The question is not whether you can try to make any religion seem monotheistic. Indeed you can, and it is easy to succeed at that. The real question is what one believes in: are all so-called "gods" (and why do they call them gods in the first place if they only believe in one?) only different persons of one entity or distinct deities each of them?

 

[stevo]

It is three persons of one essence. It's "one God, three persons", not three essences.



I think you're talking about Catholics here, and they do not deify or worship Mary and the Saints, they just believe they can mediate between humans and God, which contradicts that verse about there being only one mediator between Man and God, Jesus. But they don't think they are gods, just humans with special privleges and access to God. At least that's how I understand it, I'm not Catholic.

Oh, someone a few posts back used the term "essence." If the "person" changes then it is still representing different ideas. God and Jesus seem to be very different in terms of their acts and words.

There is still a heirarchy of worship. Just because one is at the top (or 3) does not mean there is only one god. When you create a level of mediation you create a new category. Polytheism can be the mere belief of more than one god, or diety in this case. Obviously satan, despite not being worshipped, is believed by most christians to have power. The gods of Greece were used to balance each others powers out, just like satan balances out the good of god will evil. And Mary is a mediator? What do you mean? She is clearly admired for various things. The degrees of worship in the Roman Catholic religion (latria, hyperdulia, dulia) further shows the multi-god system. I realize alot of protestants are not involved in the saints/mary worship, but they do believe in satan which creates a duotheism of sorts.

 

[stevo]

The question is not whether you can try to make any religion seem monotheistic. Indeed you can, and it is easy to succeed at that. The real question is what one believes in: are all so-called "gods" (and why do they call them gods in the first place if they only believe in one?) only different persons of one entity or distinct deities each of them?

It is true. Many people consider a god to be a supreme power that is omni-whatever. That would be God. But a god is different; a god can be something worshipped, something with supernatural powers, etc. So the line between monotheism and polytheism is thin.

 

[MoonlessNight]

In that case, those of us who worship The Goddess in three aspects are also Monotheistic - One Goddess, three persons, Maiden, Mother, Crone.

In fact those of us who worship any Pantheon are also Monotheistic, since all named Gods and Goddesses are many persons, one Divine.

Once you start to water down the meaning of words like polytheism and monotheism they cease to have any real meaning. If Christianity is not polytheism then neither is Paganism

This is exactly what I was trying to get at. Christianity is not polytheistic in a strict sense, and there's no real point to calling it that in my opinion, but it is polytheistic in the sense that many other religions which are commonly referred to as polytheistic are. It's all a game of juggling semantics in the end, but it's dishonest to say that say Christianity is monotheistic while saying that modern forms of paganism are polytheistic. That's the only point that matters out of all of this, I think.

 

[happyinhisgrace]

Satan is a creature of God: an angel.
God is only one, consisted of three different persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Their harmony and love is so great that, although three essences, they are one God.

According to Mormonism (well, some in Mormonism), each of these three persons is a different god, resulting in three gods. Plus, they believe (many did and do at different points of time, though others deny it and the church somehow agrees with all and has no official position) that each god is son of other gods who existed prior to him, and that many people who are sons of this god will one day become gods themselves.
That may change (or has already changed), but at some point of time this is what some of the prophets of the CoJCoLDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- the Mormon church) stated and what mormons still believe or once believed.

Yes, the Mormon church is a polythiestic church that believes that God the father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are 3 seperate beings (gods). Christianity believes they are ONE being (God) in 3 persons.

 

[Havoc]

Yes, the Mormon church is a polythiestic church that believes that God the father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are 3 seperate beings (gods). Christianity believes they are ONE being (God) in 3 persons.

Both of which are forms of polytheism

 

[Bulldog]

Both of which are forms of polytheism

Polytheism

n : belief in multiple Gods [syn: pantheism] [ant: monotheism]

By the definiton of polytheism, we are not.

 

[Havoc]

3 persons=3 gods

3 persons but one god = propaganda to avoid the obvious

 

[Havoc]

By the definiton of polytheism, we are not.

Ahh but you are. You worship three distinct personalities, each capable of independant thought, word and action. Each of which is God. In other words, you worship three Gods.

You only insist they are one God in order to avoid being called polytheistic, because that would mean you worship a different God than the OT God of the Isrealites. The best way to avoid the hard truth is just to deny it completely and change the meaning to suit yourself.

I could insist I am a fish in order to avoid being called human. It would not make me a fish.

 

[Bulldog]

3 persons but one god = propaganda to avoid the obvious

Would you call this "propaganda" monotheistic or polytheistic?