Monotheism -v- Polytheism ?

[GayComputerDude]

but it is all fascinating .. and I love debating it .. and chances are when debating I will side with atheists

plus I love to see a guy get his religion up .. among other things
hahaha

[fjp999]

I was brought up a Seventh Day Adventist and I know that it messed me up concerning my sexuality. Took some time to accept myself as a good gay person.

I know it was religion because couldnt care less what some stranger thought (society can kiss my ass).

I imagine there are some people who really need religion but I would love to have been brought into a world without any.

Acutally, Japan was kinda like that. Many Japanese pick and chose religions based on their "performance art pieces".

For a wedding they may chose a white wedding gown with a priest or minister in a church but Shinto for a funeral or a Buddhist ceremony for a birth. I thought that was pretty cool.

frank

[Shadow]

Fair play that IS pretty damned cool ... so they pic 'n mix the religious events to compliment the occasions ...

... nice !!

!?!?! Shadow !?!?!

[Michael]

Since you know already that I am an athiest....I wil say that perhaps back then I might have taken to the whole polytheistic approach. What could have been more fun than waiting breathlessly at night wondering who might fly through your window to ravish you with his glorious presence.....

I also like the approachability of it. Not onyl could you beg, plead, bet or bribe these gods....but they were also fallible. Since they were able to communicate ( so it goes..) with these gods, it also promoted ideas, creativity and problem solving. Unlike our ALL SEEING ALL KNOWING ubendable send them to hell version who doesn't answer anything but expects to be obeyed and not questioned.

All in all I find the idea romantic and in the end makes much more sense. Even a god would have problems containing the entire universe. Split it up, share the glory...God of the fields, god of the forrests, god/goddess of love and food and drink and creativity and glutony and war.....Everyone respected, but pick your favorite for what best compliments your life. OR mix and match.....

If this was still the case I might be a believer......Who was the god of ravashing young gay men in their lonely rooms at night? Bet he looked like a Tom of Finland drawing....sleek, sweaty and muscled, probably with wings and a HUGE aura..... ;-)

I saw a porno years ago with Pan as the main character..mmmmm. I'll never look at a forrest quite the same again!

[cleopatrajason]

i was raised to believe that there was one god who loved everyone and cared for his "flock". i came out as being gay and was banned from our church by the minister-i now dont believe in a god!

[spotysocks]

Excuse my ignorance , not a religious guy here but do we have monotheism now though? We have a god and lots of saints!

Monotheism and Polytheism is like the 'Tomato' or 'Tomeito' debate. :tongue:

[Shadow]

All good points - however, Spotysocks, I think (and please do correct me if I'm wrong) that the Saints play more of a role in the Catholic faith than in the regular C of E don't they ?

I went to a funeral recently *shivers* where the Catholic Reverend did this thing (the name of which sadly escapes me) where he bade the Saints to come and take delivery of the departed's soul ? Which I thought was interesting ...

I do see what you're saying, and it's a good point, so for the sake of clarity, my original question was keeping Christianity and Islam as "One God" religions, and Pagan, Ancient Greek and Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, Indian, Chinese etc., etc., as Polytheistic Religions ... mile:.

Cheers babe,

!?!?! Shadow !?!?!

x

[spotysocks]

All good points - however, Spotysocks, I think (and please do correct me if I'm wrong) that the Saints play more of a role in the Catholic faith than in the regular C of E don't they ?

I dont know the difference between the Catholic faith and C of E but i think both support the Saints. So does the Orthodox Christian Church. both reject polytheism and i dont understand how this goes with all the Saints and the Churches they build in their names. I admire how the Greek Gods were created years back and i know for fact there is a group of people in Greece who choose to believe in them. I ve heard there is a forum dedicated on that.

[Shadow]

Sweet mile: !

Yeah, I can see (as I say) what you're saying ... to my mind the Saints wouldn't rank as Gods alongside the one god, which is what would make Christianity polytheistic - they are bestowed a level of divinity in recognition for their actions whilst in life, but that's kinda where it ends ...

... but I really am impressed that you pointed out the similarities between the two systems, as I myself had COMPLETELY overlooked it !! It's almost like looking at two drawings, one of which is a tracing of the other - subtly different and yet it's a semantic issue, I agree xx

!?!?! Shadow !?!?!

[XRIMO]

One other thing I absolutely love about polytheistic religions, especially the ancient Greeks is that the gods usually are not perfect. They experience the same emotions of love, lust, jealousy, hatred, and humour as we do. The Greek Gods were flawed, and that made them more accesible to the people. The gods were just a higher race that protected mankind, since the Zeus created man.

That is one reason I don't like the monotheistic religion. The one God is meant to be a perfect entity that makes no errors and has no flaws. It is hard to imagine or identify with such a being.