Does the Bible actually tell us there are many gods? That would make more sense given God's prohibition against worshiping other gods... [Spirituality & Religion]

@hartfire

You're welcome, glad to share it. I found it very interesting as well.
Just like you, i find it very strange that god would be so jealous and punitive when it comes to worshiping other gods...if there were no other gods.
And yeah, there just seem to be too many references to other gods to ignore.
It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to believe unless one's faith is rooted in a monotheistic religion.

@hartfire It's my understanding that all references to priestesses in both Judaism and Christianity were obliterated as both religions became more paternalistic with no formal roles for women. Not surprising therefore if Asherah was a victim of such rewriting of history.

@Pikachu I'm actually an atheist.

I find it absurd to believe that the Yahweh of the Bible could be simultaneously omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient [i][b]and good[/b][/i].
If omniscient, then he knew ahead of time how things would turn out, including the developments, actions and motives of Satan, how Eve and Adam would respond, and everything that would happen after the expulsion. There can be no moral justification for condemning sentient beings to inevitable pain and suffering.

I can accept the possibility that there might be a universal consciousness which is the sum of all conscious beings - analogous to the way the internet is the sum of all its participants.

I can also accept the possibility that consciousness may have aspects to it that we don't yet fully understand.

And I can accept the Jungian idea that gods and folk myths function as metaphors to impart important psychological and social messages. They can, if used the right way, assist individuals and whole cultures to evolve towards greater empathy and more beneficial ethics. But unfortunately, the very same gods and myths can also have harmful effects if used in the wrong ways.
So by and large, I'm wary whenever I encounter someone with strong beliefs.
I do my best to wait and see how the nature of their faith works for them in practice - but I confess, here, I often run in the opposite direction. Have encountered far too many with little or no education.

@ArtieKat Exactly!

@hartfire

Yeah...i find the attribution of omni-properties to god to be pretty problematic. I've often thought how much easier it would be to believe in the god of Abraham if he wasn't meant to be omnipotent and infallible.

[quote]They can, if used the right way, assist individuals and whole cultures to evolve towards greater empathy and more beneficial ethics. But unfortunately, the very same gods and myths can also have harmful effects if used in the wrong ways.[/quote]

lol indeed. A bit of a double edged sword.

@Pikachu God is not saying to worship only him for his own benefit but for [b]our[/b] benefit! Because we need him! Because he loves us and he wants to help us!

@Carazaa Yep, but, according to the OT, he was the one who set up the situation so that we needed help in the first place.

@Pikachu That double-edged sword - any tool is only as beneficial as the one who wields it. For me, it's the results that count.
I see humans as capable of empathy, compassion and altruism irrespective of whether they have faith or not.
And I see no evidence that people of faith sin any less than others without faith.
If one were to take Catholicism as one of the examples, it could be said that some religious hierarchical structures predispose the likelihood of atrocities like the systematic rape of children.
I find so many inconsistencies and hypocrisies that for me, at times, it is difficult to shut my trap and be tolerant.
In principle, I agree with the right to live and let live providing it causes no harm.
But the trouble is, real harm is done under some systems, and the powers that be are suspiciously slow to adopt reform. One has to wonder at the sincerity of their basic reasons for belief.

@hartfire
You find it absurd that God is all knowing and good, and let’s Satan deceive those who reject the truth? And that he wants to show us an escape from hell for those who humble themselves and ask forgiveness for their sins and trust in Jesus, God Almighty who came to take our sins on his own shoulders! He who humbled himself as a little baby and was not welcomed in the Inn to show us that he can relate to us and understands what we are going through. All to show us his love for us!
I’m glad you are smart and realize that there might be a conscience out there! But God is much more than a conscience! He is a loving God who wants to show us his nature in the person of Jesus! And is preparing a mansion in heaven for those who love him! I hope you don’t neglect such a great salvation! 🙂

@Carazaa Nope. I find it absurd that God created Satan in the first place.

PS. By your standards, I'm not smart at all. I didn't say conscience; I said consciousness. Big difference.

I was vaccinated against faith as a child.
As a young woman, I did study the world's religions, sects and doctrines, but didn't find any convincing.

I do like the meditative practices of Buddhism - not the religious aspects - but the actual teachings and ethics of Gautama Shakyamuni, C6th BCE.

I could never adopt any of the Semetic versions of faith.

@hartfire I understand! But God created everything including all the angels to protect us and minister to us but Satan rebelled so he was thrown out of heaven and he is roaming to deceive those who reject the truth!

@Carazaa IF God created Satan and is omniscient, then he knew before hand exactly what Satan would do. By the doctrine of omniscience, everything that happens is preordained. There is no choice because God knew exactly what would happen. Nothing else could happen. If he'd wanted it different, he would not have made it the way he did, because he's also omnipotent.
Logically, it's inescapable.

@hartfire
Read my first comment again as I explained this to you!

@Carazaa And I would only refer you back to my first comment, so we'd end up going in circles and getting nowhere.
I understand that you mean well, and are coming from a place of love,
but I need you to understand that I am not open to being converted to Christianity or any other faith. Hundreds have tried.
I've listened, I've read the Bible three times in different versions, I've examined the arguments. I find none of them convincing.

@hartfire Truth does not need to be convincing! It is truth regardless!

@Carazaa Ha!
Carazaa, it may not need to be convincing to you, but for me there must be factual evidence before I'll believe anything. The ancient stories written by men are nothing more than power motivated mythology. They're loosely based on real people and events, but twisted to fit a specific social agenda, one which is full of stuff that I consider immoral, dangerous, and predisposing believers to acts of hypocrisy and crime.
I am not trying to convince you or sway you to my way of thinking.
I have already told you that I am not open to being evangelised.
If you try again I will block you.

@hartfire
Have a lovely day!

@hartfire awesome answer