From: jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff)
Subject: Re: Polytheism
Organization: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 17:42:18 GMT

lbarrass@phillip.edu.au writes:
: In article <1992Aug11.144339.12417@oclc.org>, jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff) writes:
: > I still claim Satan has all the characteristics of a god (little g) such
: > as supernatural power.  Christians like to point out that material objects
: > can be objects of worship, and I agree.  However, this has nothing to
: > do with my point.  They don't possess supernatural powers while Satan and
: > the angels do.  These are the gods (little g) I am referring to.  To
: > state that God said he is the only god is to appeal to authority as
: > an argument.  Since such a claim is contrary to the evidence, I am unwilling
: > to accept it on authority.
: 
:    Yes, Satan does have supernatural powers as do all heavenly beings. They are
: not bound by the constraints of this world. The only reason we think they are
: supernatural is because they go against the natural laws imposed on the earth.
: If you like, what we have is a subset of what is normal in the spirit world.
: This does not make Satan god. He is a created being, not the creator. 

I hate to keep repeating myself, but I don't feel my points are being
addressed.  I don't see why the fact that Satan was created prevents
him from being considered a god.  It didn't prevent the pagan gods from 
being thus considered.
 
: [text about material objects being false gods deleted.  Since Satan
:  isn't a material object, this is irrelevant]
: > 
: > I don't think omnipotence, omniscience, holiness, truthfullness, kindness,
: > etc. are necessary requirements for a god (little g).  Just look at
: > the pagan gods.  Just because God (big g) has all the good characteristics
: > doesn't mean he is the only god.
: 
:   The pagan gods and their attributes have nothing to do with the one and only
: true God! It is because they are false that they don't have the attributes of
: the Father, they are a deception of Satan and are designed to draw people away
: from Jesus.

So what if the pagan gods are Satan's deception.  You are evading my
point.  

1) Henotheism is the worship of one god while admitting the existance of
others.
2) Christians admit the existance of Satan and other beings that possess
qualities generally accepted as god-like.
3) Therefore Christians are henotheists.
Henotheism != Monotheism.

: [...]
: (and me in communicating with you!) is language or semantics. If you look at
: the whole range of verses refering to God and gods, you would see that the
: Bible is not polytheistic.
: 
: 
:    Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts:
:    "I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. And who cn
:    proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me..."
:                                   ISA 44:6-7b
: 
:    Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.
:                                   ISA 44:8c

You see these as evidence of your claim of monotheism.  I see them as
inconsistencies with what Christians actually practice and believe.
You can quote the Bible all day, but the inconsistency won't go away.
-- 
Jeff Young

Opinions expressed are mine alone.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc