From: maoh@phyast.nhn.uoknor.edu (Maureen O'Halloran)
Subject: Re: Polytheism
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 04:46:18 GMT

jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff) writes:
>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. . . . 

>:[ lbarrass@phillip.edu.au writes: ]
>: This does not make Satan god. He is a created being, not the creator. 

>[ Young Jeff writes:]
>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.
>  . . . [ deleted]
> 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.

[lbarrass@phillip.edu.au writes: ]
>: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.

[Young Jeff:]
>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.

>: [...] [lbarrass@phillip.edu.au writes:]
>: (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

"I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create
darkness; I make peace and create evil." (Isaiah 45:6 f.)

Satan is actually God having a bad day.
Satan = God   => monotheism.

God created everything therefore the buck stops there.
Seriously, some Jews are honestly monotheists.  Satan in the OT is
more of a folktale, not an actual being. 

Makes you wonder about the kind of God some people believe in that
damns man not only for their own sinful nature but also has created
and permits Satan to constantly tempt and trick them.  

--- Maureen O'Halloran 
(not Jewish as you may guess from the name. Anyone have a slant on the
role of Satan in Jewish theology?)

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