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Why do chrisitians maintain that there is only one god when the bible makes it clear that there are many? [Spirituality & Religion]

If there is only one god, why do we have the worlds "El" and "Elohim"? One singular, one plural, both used by the god of the bible.
Why do we have god telling us to worship no OTHER gods before him? Why are there references to "we" to "I" ? Obviously there would be no competition between a fake god who couldn't do anything and real god who could grant miracles and punish the unfaithful.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
There is only one Living God. There are many many non living gods.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@Celine I thought you were done. Guess I can't even trust you to tell the truth.
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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@Celine Still prattling on? Pity no one is listening. Run along little girl you are out of your league.
SW-User
One true God. There are false gods. The plural of His name is explained throughout the Bible. Go back and study.
SW-User
@Celine see? now that really hurt. btw...I just won a bet with my friend. I took the over 7 on how many replies I could get you to make. let me guess. you're next move is the block button?
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SW-User
@Celine anytime babe
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
If you could reason with religious people,there’d be no religion.
ladycae · 100+, F
i'd explain it to you but you'd either:\

1.say i was lying because i didn't want to answer the way you think i should
2. say you don't accept spiritual answers even though you ask spiritual questions
3. demand i debate but but instead you try to control.
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ladycae · 100+, F
were that true you would accept faith based arguments. but you don't so it's asking tell me what this unnamed pie is but don't use any descriptive terns. and as i pointed out no one debates you. and since if someone doesn't answer the way you want to you say they are lying so that negates your third reason. you post here because you are a troll, just like all the other trolls. i'm done now have fun not debating
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SW-User
It is how they address God. Leave your demon behind and better enter to a theology class.
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SW-User
@Celine I doubt. Satan is choosy.😉
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Wraithorn · 51-55, M
That reminds me. Yrs ago I read a thesis by Michael Heiser who has a PhD in ancient Hebrew. He showed quite clearly that the Hebrew bible was mistranslated intentionally to protect monotheism.

He is a christian by the way and he shows that the Hebrew bible speaks of multiple gods. A celestial council of sorts. No less than 71 gods.

I'm not a christian but I found it interesting. It is available online free of charge.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
Because the author was fighting the Roman gods for relevancy
Northwest · M
The New Testament uses parts of the Old Testament, as reference or stating points. When it comes to the use of El and Elohim, it's not clear that the latter is the plural of the former. Given the context, it is a Homonym of the former.

Keep in mind also, that the New Testament, was initially written in ancient Greek, based on a combination Aramaic oral tradition/written text (Aramaic, not Hebrew was the language spoken during the time of Christ).

Christians also come in various flavors. You will find the hateful variety, like HippyJoe, and the Pope variety and other people in between.
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Northwest · M
@Celine [quote]I mean even using the framework upon which the elements of their belief are founded. There are so many denominations of christianity all apparently working off the same book[/quote]

Catholics/Greek/Eastern/mainstream Protestant Christians make up most Christians (more than 85%), and they base their belief system on the New Testament, which has no such ambiguities.
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yeronlyman · 51-55, M
You have to keep the dogma confusing so people will just accept it
imaginary · 22-25, F
The Bible is just a bunch of old Jewish novels that accidentally ended up in the non-fiction section of the library for a while
GeniUs · 56-60, M
It always ends the same, the Christians show unChristian like behaviour and just start being out and out offensive.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@GeniUs Yawn. Do you have a point or are you just going to snipe from the sidelines. As we called your type in the Air Force you are an ankle biter. Not willing to help in the effort but all to willing to critique those doing the heavy lifting. Well done ankle biter well done indeed.
GeniUs · 56-60, M
I think you know more about biting ankles than I ever will, hoping that unproveable supreme being will sort it all out even though he never has done, never will and doesn't exist. But you can sit around doing nothing because you say he exists.
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Ketsan · 41-45, M
If you read the whole of the OT it becomes clear that the authors are Israel - wrestling with God. The bible, especially the OT, isn't really a prescriptive text as such, it's more of a meditation on the nature of God and his relationship with the Jews. God doesn't really tell them all that much, they have to kind of figure it out.
needsmilk808 · 56-60, M
While I was raised a Christian I find the research being done by modern less main stream archeologists into the Sumerian culture and their recorded history exciting. I think the new evidence that's surfacing sheds new light on the origins of modern monotheistic beliefs.
MartinTheFirst · 22-25, M
Celine you really want to enter a religious debate with such a know-it-all attitude as well? I doubt you have the knowledge to do that.

The Bible refers to many gods. There are countless of [i]false[/i] gods. Then there are true gods. Then there is the one Almighty God.

Jesus was crowned as god for everything below him by his Father, we usually refer to Jesus as "Lord" or "King".

Then of course there is the Trinity, but I don't care to get into that false belief.
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MartinTheFirst · 22-25, M
@Celine Because there's a lot of evidence that goes against it. They lay a lot of weight in that Jesus, the holy spirit and Jehovah is "one", but one can be interpreted in so many ways. They like to take that scripture very literal in the understanding that they're the same person, but we believe that it means that the Three are simply so close, they come from each other and they complete each other.

One verse that would clear it all up is where it says that Men and Women will leave their birth-families to start a new one, and become one flesh through marriage. Now if we were to take this verse as literal as we were to take the Three in being "one", then that'd mean that all of our parents would be the same person... But that is not how it is meant to be taken, it's explained that they complete each other, they complement each other with their weak and strong traits.
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SW-User
The plural name of god may refer to the trinity, the other "gods" are what would be put before the "real" one in a person's "heart", false gods, for example money or success, Other religions have similar facets to their beliefs.
cycleman · 61-69, M
bible brainwashing
YouCanCallMeDan · 41-45, M
Why have you devoted your life to questioning other people’s beliefs?
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YouCanCallMeDan · 41-45, M
It’s the same thing over and over@MasterLee
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@YouCanCallMeDan so it seems
I’ve never heard of El and Elohim....I only know of the Trinity....The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Jesus is who Christians worship. He is believed to be the one true God.
I'm not exactly sure which verses you're referring to. But the reference is most likely to the Trinity. The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. All three make up the God of the Bible.
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@Celine I agree. If you study it for yourself, you'll find the Truth. Too many simply follow and never question or challenge what's being taught. Then sometimes, they find out there are good reasons for what was being taught as well.
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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@Northwest Says someone who has had no interaction with me. I suspect you don't even understand what love is. As the writer of Hebrews says
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

He who lets someone wander in error does not love him. In other words you have no idea what love is.
RebeccaSJ · 46-50, F
There is only one.
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SW-User
@Celine But which version of the bible. Organized Religions are just peoples interpretation of the bible and that's all you are doing is interpreting to fit your agenda
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@SW-User which is why there are so many sects and cults.
Because people put their faith in the wrong place, the Egyptians had MANY Gods, and relics to show it. God, the only one, and true God is a jealous God and wants what's best for his flock.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@Snowvixen yes but the god of the bible is a cover for previous attempts like Sumerian or Babylonian. It's a retread.
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@Celine 🤦 In the Bible they spoke of Egyptians as well, it was a mere example. Aside from other cultures who believed in other Gods.
SW-User
An alien will make a human believe anything for their own benifit
GeniUs · 56-60, M
Stop finding fault with god's word, there is an amendment tablet somewhere in the Holy Land we just haven't found it yet.
GeniUs · 56-60, M
For those watching in black and white, my comment was sarcasm (seriously does it need an emoji?)
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@GeniUs no but apparently I should should start using them. 😁
GeniUs · 56-60, M
Haha! The old 'I was joking too' response and it only took an hour to come up with (besides it doesn't even make sense here :? )
KelseyR · 26-30, F
It's more a case of Christians maintaining the idea of a tripartite God in opposition to the Bible suggesting there is but one God.
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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@KelseyR Three parts make ONE whole.
Abbenthewarwolf · 18-21, M
Only 1 "Ture " GOD the rest are little gods. He is The KING of Them All remember that.
xSharp · 31-35, M
it came from Zoroastrianism, 3 or 4 thousand years old

first monotheistic religion
SW-User
Huh is that some kinda 2018 new age edition Bible?
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SW-User
Do you think God has a big neck?
SW-User
@SW-User yep and scaly skin like a reptile
It’s just a bunch of fairytale nonsense.
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valhalla · M
Will have to die to know.

 
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