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When I was searching religions, I tried to follow Germanic paganism. But I always ended up seeing the different gods as aspects of one God, and BOOM, I right back at monotheism.
Buddhism is neither polytheistic nor theistic. It worships no deity. It follows the ways and teachings of the mortal Buddha, and is mostly philosophical.
Hinduism is monotheistic. The one God (Brahma) is represented in numerous forms, in a similar way as the Christian God is represented by three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). A big difference with them is reincarnation and continued existence, as opposed to one death and one afterlife.
Interesting that you liken the triple godhead of Hinduism to the triple godhead of Christianity. That Christianity and Hinduism are both trinitarian. But Hinduism came first.
Although most people think that Polytheism is practiced only by primitive tribes, there is actually at least one polytheistic religion that has survived into the Modern day civilization. And that religion is Shintoism. Because Shintoism continues to be practiced in Modern-day Japan. One of the main gods is Amaterasu the Sun goddess but there are also other deities such as the Inari (the Fox).
Although most people think that Polytheism is practiced only by primitive tribes, there is actually at least one polytheistic religion that has survived into the Modern day civilization. And that religion is Shintoism. Because Shintoism continues to be practiced in Modern-day Japan. One of the main gods is Amaterasu the Sun goddess but there are also other deities such as the Inari (the Fox).
I've always found it weird that Abrahamism says that it is Monotheism but has Immortal Heavenly Beings called "angels" in it. Isn't that just a form of Monolatry, not Monotheism.
What is a "God" supposed to be anyway? What stops there from being infinite "never started" beings?
Why do people feel the need to believe in any type of god?
It makes no sense at all.
I guess some just can't fathom that what we experience as an evolved human species that will go extinct more quickly than the other animal species that have lived on earth for millions of years...is simply how the Universe works.
What cracks me up about the god folks is if we are so specially created by this fabulous god then why are we driving the extinction of tens of thousands of other animal species that were here long before we showed up as the worst species to ever populate this earth?
We have only been around for a mere 200,000 thousand years compared to other species that have lived in harmony with earth for millions and millions of years. Not only are we driving the extinction of other species we are creating a hell on earth for every living thing.
Now back to this god concept...it's pretty ridiculous when you actually stop to think about it.
Does anybody here believe in Multiple Gods? For example in Shintoism, there is both a Male God and a Female God who co-exist. And Shintoism is still being practiced today.
That Shinto belief seems to resonate with me because I feel that both male and female are needed in order to strike a balance. Male and female have different characteristics but they complement each other. Maybe that is the principle behind the Shinto religion.
No, I am not a follower of Shintoism at all. But I am also open-minded and receptive to different ideas. Even though I might not embrace the belief, I still respect it.
Christians believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit. Three Gods? Is this polytheism? Christians say no. These are merely aspects of the one true creator Being.
Hindus worship hundreds of deities. Ultimately however, Hindus say that these various deities are really merely aspects of the one true creator Being.
Them that create the beliefs get to create the rules.
A Mormon leader once said, "We are gods in embryo," so I guess that saying "we are all gods" is not all that different.
I think that is exactly what the Bahai'is belief according to their scriptures, actually. Well, at least the embryo part, if not the "god" part merely as the immortality idea.
I know a lot of Evangelical and Protestant Christians criticize the Latter Day Saints for "believing themselves to eventually becomes gods, there is only one god, its God!" kind of thing.
So my first question from post #24 is highlighted here again: What is a "God/god" supposed to be anyway?
I doubt that the Bahai'is believe that merely being immortal or having some slight superhuman powers makes one a god. Is mere worship or veneration or respect enough?
So my first question from post #24 is highlighted here again: What is a "God/god" supposed to be anyway?
Without giving it a great deal of thought, I'd probably say that a god is someone with powers greater than those of mortals. That's probably more vague than you're looking for, though.
We humans are strange creatures. We create many versions of God with all manner of ridiculous and absurd attributes and stories and then some of us pretend that by refuting those versions and stories we refute the existence of God. It is beyond silly. God may be many things but it is unlikely that we know anything about them so it is preposterous to proclaim what God MUST be to qualify as God. At a bare minimum God simply needs to be responsible for our existence and the existence of everything else. Any other attributes would be superfluous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katzpur
A Mormon leader once said, "We are gods in embryo," so I guess that saying "we are all gods" is not all that different.
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