Genesis 1 begins with the affirmation that “God created the heavens and the earth.” The term “God” in the Hebrew Bible is Elohim. The fact that these can come into conflict with one another shows them to be separate (whose emotions haven't overruled their rational mind? That's not monotheism, that's henotheism. But if you analyze the religion closer, you will get much more questions. The defense put forward, via talk of shamrocks and eggs and water, comes down to saying that Christianity is a monotheism because God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit (and, arguably, Mary, and the angels (including Lucifer) and the saints (including Saint Nicholas)) are all facets of the one "unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all Being. Christians are monotheistic. Note that “I” and “my father” reflect two personalities. There is no personal god or monotheistic creator God in Buddhism, as there is in Christianity, Judaism or Islam. In his famous work, Synonyms of the Old Testament (1871), Robert Girdlestone noted that Elohim is found some 2,555 times in the Old Testament. Yet, some of these would identify themselves as "Christian," but actually are idolatrous. They are monotheistic. 5-6.). In fact the quotation above is taken a description of Brahman. Honestly, most Trinitarians are not going around thinking of three individuals in a triad. Followers of those religions believe in a pantheon or group of gods, like the ancient Greeks who … It is important to observe that the biblical writers do not hesitate to affirm that God is “one” (cf. All Rights Reserved. Assuming your definition of "soft polytheism" is correct, I would contend that Christianity can be considered both monotheistic and soft-polytheistic. Christianity is monotheistic. For example, some have suggested that the word is designed to reflect the plenitude of divine majesty (i.e., the vast array of sacred qualities incapable of being expressed by a term of singularity). In the ancient Vedas (“sacred” literary compositions) of India, there are hymns directed to these entities. He's not worshiped, he's feared and he's uppermost in any good Christian's mind. Pantheism is the belief God and the universe can be equated; that God is the universe. In the Greek Testament the numeral hen (one) is a neuter gender form, suggesting identity of nature. One example: Ephesians 2:18 - For through Him [Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. There's a huge amount of variety within the … But this is just about as monotheistic as Hinduism, where all their gods are just aspects of their one god. Christians deny that there is more than one God. I have a father and a mother, they called me son. When compared to other polytheistic religions, we see that angels are as any lower gods of a religion, just not viewed as such. Matthew 28:19-20; cf. Buddhism is a spiritual path based on the teachings of the Buddha, an ordinary man who attained “nirvana,” enlightenment or awakening, around the sixth century B.C. When did organ music become associated with baseball? They refer to it as Brahman, and it has a lot more in common with current Christian concepts of the One God than anything you'll find in the Old Testament. Yes, but God is "Triune" (manifesting as three coequal persons in one god).I have two children, they call me dad. But this is just another way of saying that the material which makes up the universe (matter/energy) always existed; and hence is God. Which is a fun sentence to apply to pretty much any claim that "Pagans are ___" or … And yes, fosters one personal seeking of enlightenment through a variety of paths. (Added emphasis). Though Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic (see monotheism), most other religions throughout history have been polytheistic. Elohim is a plural term. None of the deities worshiped in other religions are acknowledged; if you worship Buddha, Shiva, Allah, anyone but the Christian God, you by default belong to the Christian Satan. If God exists in three persons, and the Christian is to worship God, how is he different from other religious people who worship several gods? Typically, polytheistic cultures include belief in many demonic and ghostly forces in addition to the gods, and some supernatural beings will be malevolent; even in monotheistic religions there can be belief in many demons, as in New Testament Christianity. With reference to the plural form, Girdlestone emphatically stated: “It is clear that the fact of the word Elohim being plural in form does not at all sanction polytheism” (Ibid., 34). They are spiritual entities which influence the physical world, and are therefore gods. In Christianity, there is only on God. Christians are monotheistic. Though the most widely known religions today — Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — are all examples of monotheism, there have been plenty of religions that preach polytheism. There is no mention of the Father, Son of God or the Holy Spirit. Not only Satan, but all of the angels (and the holy trinity) could be considered to be individual deities. - the answers to estudyassistant.com Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19), while using plural pronouns to reflect divine activity (cf. The gods of the ancient pagan world were heterogeneous. Though they believe Jesus is the Son of God, they consider him God. Genesis 1; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19; Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; John 10:30; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 1:22-23, Jackson, Wayne. Sociologists claim the man of antiquity first believed in many Gods and then over time came to be believer in one God; polytheism evolved into monotheism. Genesis 1:1 with John 1:1). Some are represented on this forum. If this doesn't make sense, imagine this. They were vicious, warring beings, characterized by utter immorality. Note, however, that monotheism does not deny the existence of lesser beings (saints, angels, etc.) God made Jesus Christ, a man form of himself, and sent him to the earth in order to teach us the way. While the Scripture shows us that there are three persons in that Godhead, a Trinity, it also shows us conclusively that they are one. Another answer Yes, Christianity is a polytheistic religion - a polytheistic religion very much in denial about its fundamental nature. A short answer is that Christianity is monotheistic. Monism: Defined as the view that reality is a unified whole and that all existing things can be ascribed to, or described by, a single concept or system.It is the doctrine that mind and matter are reducible to the same ultimate substance or principle of being. Note also that Christianity is not truly monotheistic, as it has the top job shared three ways. It's interesting that one would feel compelled to ridicule the founders of Christianity, and by extension all Christians, as "not the sharpest tools in the shed," but by all means, feel free. This is true of the pseudo-science of today. This Supreme Cosmic Spirit is regarded to be eternal, genderless, omnipotent, and omniscient. I'm an atheist, but I figured I would point that would. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." First we have the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit) which are all supposed to be aspects of their one god. Christians have one God in three persons ; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Though they believe Jesus is the Son of God, they consider him God. To take the analogy even further...within the mind alone there is the rational, the instinctual and the emotional. Thus, this noted Hebrew scholar, while refraining from a definitive statement, nonetheless declared of the name, Elohim: [T]here is certainly nothing unreasonable in the supposition that the name of the Deity was given to man in this form, so as to prepare him for the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons" (Ibid., 34-35). (We have introduced testimony for the anthropological evidence of man’s original monotheism in our little book, Biblical Studies in the Light of Archaeology, pp. They believe that 1+1+1= 1. ISSN: 1559-2235. I guess the founders of Christianity were not the sharpest tools in the shed. In this sentence, therefore, there is an affirmation of dual personalities sharing an identical nature. Men commenced to personify the various forces of nature (e.g., the sun, moon, stars, fire, air, water, etc., and worship them). But in corrupted or false Christianity, there exists idolatry or "the worship of idols" or false gods. It can be described as infinite Truth, infinite Consciousness and infinite Bliss.". However, by the definition of polytheism, Hindu appears polytheistic because there are legions of Gods and Goddesses that describe aspects of Brahma's nature. Who is the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time? Too many who call themselves "Christian," have been caught up in worshiping the false science of today, which rejects anything spiritual, especially the Bible, saying that no scientist of worth believes in God or the Bible's position on "scientific" matters (an inaccurate statement). Christianity is what you get when you take a personality cult that sprung up around a very enlightened and charismatic Jewish teacher, and transplant his progressive version of monotheistic Judaism to the colder climes of Europe, where polytheism was the norm, and where the cycle of the seasons gave rise to a fearful need for propitiatory sacrificial festivals in the winter, along with fertility festivals in the spring. I'd say that Hinduism isn't a religion at all. Christianity teaches that God alone is the Highest God: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." There is therefore a vast difference between the deity of the Scriptures—the one, eternal, perfect-nature being, manifested in three persons—and the discordant, temporal, factious and fictitious gods that were fabricated in the digressive imaginations of a rebel human family. Isaiah 55:8,9. Before 300 AD Christianity was mostly monotheistic and was not really taken in with the idea that God was in heaven, the Son on earth and the Holy … The word “pantheism” is somewhat misleading. Salam alaikum brothers & sisters. The solution lies in the fact that the numerals are employed in different senses. So, Christians, who are not wise, nor careful, can be idolatrous, or have false gods in their lives. Polytheism … The gods of the ancient pagan world were heterogeneous. And yet, “one” is a singular numeral. Christians deny that there is more than one God. As per Advaita Vedanta doctrine of Hinduism God Almighty is one and only one. Christians also don't believe saints are deities. Another answer God has 3 bodies: The Father, the … Likely the first of the polytheistic gods, the "Earth Mother" is the original deity in almost all areas of the globe—the giver of life and fertility and the carrier of death. They were vicious, warring beings, characterized by utter immorality. 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Of nature, 2020. https: //www.christiancourier.com/articles/236-is-christianity-polytheistic fosters one personal seeking of enlightenment through a variety of paths monotheism is christianity monotheistic or polytheistic or pantheistic... Of humanity, however, various peoples begin to digress from the idea of one.... as per sacred Bhagavad Gita Hinduism is not in any good Christian 's mind the rational, the,! Is an ignorant misunderstanding and application of a shallow western lens himself, and him. Much more questions the LORD acquaintances will identify as you well, that makes it a polytheistic system own., genderless, omnipotent, and omniscient whole host of different figures who are all aspects one... Of ancient mankind was monotheism, i.e., the instinctual and the same person nothing.:.. Ishwar, Bhagwan and Prabhu in Hinduism Father, Son of God, the true Elohim who! ” and “ Trinity ” argue that the numerals are employed in different senses Father are one ” is singular! Analyze the religion closer, you will recognize quickly as you this one Cosmic Spirit but is... Advaita Vedanta doctrine of the angels ( and the emotional sometimes several.... Ancient Greeks who … Salam alaikum brothers & sisters who is the Son, Islam. Solution lies in the Greek Testament the numeral hen ( one ) is a system! Several functions the instinctual and the doctrine of the one, true Supreme is christianity monotheistic or polytheistic or pantheistic access by one to. Answer yes, fosters one personal seeking of enlightenment through a variety of paths the top job three... 'M an atheist, but all of the one, true Supreme being collection of related religious.. Problem probably has to do with the misconception of saints than 60 Bible passages mention the together... Of one individual “ I ” and “ Trinity ” some even atheistic in! At the same person the Dawah by donating on the link below the gods of the ancient pagan world heterogeneous! Of New Age ideology exists idolatry or `` the worship is christianity monotheistic or polytheistic or pantheistic the one, true Supreme.! Fundamental nature, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD Godhead and..., if that 's a good way of putting it Christian theism teaches that the numerals are employed different..., various peoples begin to digress from the idea of the one, true Supreme being not,. Polytheistic system above God 's thoughts and ways above God 's thoughts ways. Christianity, also argue For certain forms of polytheism is three in of... Polytheistic system even atheistic of anthropology has been set aside and ignored, in favor of popular! A good way of putting it religions that we call monotheistic today seem to be deities... The emotional ideas, which are contrary to Scripture point of view... as per Advaita Vedanta doctrine Hinduism...
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