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]

@MistyCee [quote]I've always thought of the bible as sort of "creeping monotheism." The whole first part of Genesis isn't really all that original and most of the stories can be found in other places, but the farther along you go, the more monotheistic it gets.[/quote]

What do you believe?

@GodSpeed63 About God? Monotheism makes at least as much sense to me as polytheism to me, but I wouldn't say that I believe in God, as much as I sort of want to believe, if that makes any sense at all.

@MistyCee [quote]but I wouldn't say that I believe in God, as much as I sort of want to believe[/quote]

What's keeping you from believing?

@GodSpeed63 I've got this thing about "blind faith" and needing to have some way to rationalize my belief, I guess. I don't disbelieve, but even the whole prime mover thing never really completely made sense to me.

@MistyCee [quote]but even the whole prime mover thing never really completely made sense to me.[/quote]

Jesus said in the third chapter of John that we must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. You've had physical birth, now you need a Spiritual birth in order to know God on a personal basis and to see for yourself how much He loves you.

@GodSpeed63 I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass on personal encounters with almighty beings unless they look me up first.

The G-d I grew up with was the Old Testament one, and for the most part, those encounters didn't go so well.

@MistyCee [quote]I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass on personal encounters with almighty beings unless they look me up first. [/quote]

Thank you for your input. If I may, Almighty God knows where you are and is calling out to you. You know, I was scared to death of God being that I grew up in the Catholic religion. I really didn't want Him around because I didn't know Him. This is what religion does to people, it gives a poor description of who God is which is why He hates man made organized religion. I'm not religious anymore but I have Christ in my heart as my Lord and Savior and I know I am loved by Him. This is the God I know.

@GodSpeed63 I'm happy that you're happy.

@MistyCee [quote]I'm happy that you're happy.[/quote]

Thank you but I wouldn't say I'm happy, I'm more or less joyful. Christ gives me joy in times of trouble and in times of rejoicing. I hope you can come to knowing the joy I have.

@MistyCee

That really seems to be the case and it's not surprising that early Judaism is very similar to the religions around it.
There are just too many references to other gods which diminish chronologically through the texts to ignore the idea that Judaism didn't start out as a monotheistic religion.

@Pikachu Even in the Bible, Abraham was the first Jew, and even as a kid reading it in Hebrew, it made sense to me that monotheism was not the thing for Noah and the folks before Abraham.

If you read the Hebrew and not a translation, it almost seems even more clear that Adam and Eve may have been dealing with multiple deities and, although it's not kosher to deconstruct the Bible with some sects, the older portions of Genesis seem clearly to have come from older stories,

@MistyCee

Well my understanding is that parts of the OT are identifiably part of religions which predate it.
I'm jealous, i wish i could read it in Hebrew.

@Pikachu I couldn't do it anymore. I was in 3rd grade then. Nowadays I can sound out the words and recognize a few root words.

@MistyCee @Pikachu [quote]If you read the Hebrew and not a translation, it almost seems even more clear that Adam and Eve may have been dealing with multiple deities and, although it's not kosher to deconstruct the Bible with some sects, the older portions of Genesis seem clearly to have come from older stories,[/quote]

There's nothing before God created the universe and the earth. Adam and Eve are the first two humans made in God's image and likeness. I don't know how this will sound to you but there is only one God in three persons which is the Godhead: God the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit. These three Persons in the Godhead are One in that they are all in agreement with one another in Truth.

@GodSpeed63 I rarely go here in religion, because I don't want to offend people's faith, but this is one of those areas that has never made sense to me.


Was the snake, or yetzer ha ha (evil inclination) that snookered Eve one of God's creatures like humans, another sort like angels, demons (or maybe Nephilim), or another deity type like Loki?

I've heard plenty about the Trinity, but have never understood how it connects to stuff like the serpent.

@MistyCee [quote]I rarely go here in religion[/quote]

It's not about religion, never has been or will be about religion. It's about a close relationship with our Father in Heaven. If you read Matthew 23, you see how God feels about man made organized religion.

[quote]Was the snake, or yetzer ha ha (evil inclination) that snookered Eve one of God's creatures like humans, another sort like angels, demons (or maybe Nephilim), or another deity type like Loki?[/quote]

That's a good question. It's possible that Yahweh called the devil a serpent very much like we'd call an evil person a snake.

[quote]I've heard plenty about the Trinity, but have never understood how it connects to stuff like the serpent.[/quote]

Lucifer was never a part of the trinity. He was a beautiful angel that God had created along with the other angels. Lucifer was too prideful for His own good and tried to put himself above God and left God no choice but to kick him out of Heaven along with a third of the angels that allied themselves to him. I hope this helps answer your questions.

@GodSpeed63 Thank you

@MistyCee [quote]Thank you[/quote]

You're most welcome.