Humans are polytheistic in nature; monotheism is against the grain, what do you
By kritipen
@kritipen (4082)
United States
February 14, 2007 5:34pm CST
Even though many religions started monotheistic, they ended up being polytheistic. Let’s go with each religion and see how monotheistic they are,
Hinduism – Started as polytheistic religion and has grown into monotheistic. But most of its followers remain polytheistic
Christianity – Started as monotheistic and has grown into polytheistic. Started with trinity (Father, son and the spirit), then there are many angels added to it. And now we keep adding saints increasing list of gods or demi gods etc.,
Islam – Started as monotheistic and has grown into polytheistic. Started with on god and then banat al-lah got added as angels and roped for a while. Then whole set of 12 generation relatives of the prophet got raised to above human level…(of course even though these are not called gods, they are all treated as gods for all practical purposes. Many durgas are created to commemorate some great people in their religion and now people visit these places to grant wishes etc., again few more keep getting added
I feel humans are polytheistic in nature. Start any monotheistic religion and it gets transformed into polytheistic over time. May be we all need multiple gods to help us through our life. One god might not satisfy all of us. Monotheism is just a starting point, what do you feel?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
15 Feb 07
There is not a change in Christianity from being monotheistic to polytheistic. Angels and saints in Catholicism are not worshipped as gods but are looked upon as God's servants and Catholicism is only a section of a great body or religion called Christianity.
If ever there is a trend at all in changes, it's more toward monotheism from polytheism that God is one and all in all.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Feb 07
I think this discussion is funny because I've seen things going in the opposite direction. Many polytheistic "pagan" religions have become full of people who say "all gods are one god" meaning that the different gods worshipped by our ancestors are all just faces of one "supreme being". I personally follow a polytheistic faith, but I don't really believe humans are "naturally inclined" to it.
Personally I think you're going to face a lot of opposition here. While Hinduism is easily seen as polytheistic, the other two religions you've mentioned are not so easily reconciled. To say that angels/saints/demigods etc make a religion polytheistic is to put them on the same level with "God" and most people in those religions wouldn't find it acceptable.
I'll be interested to see how other people respond to this.
@shogunly (1397)
• Libya
15 Feb 07
I already posted a correction to the stated observations on Islam . However in the case of Christianity , the remnants of Ancient Mythological belief-systems are easily discernible ,you don't have to be a historian to see them . The Father figure is omnipresent in many religions of the world (patriarchial), while in other primitive beliefs the Mother figure is deified (the earth , fertility ,the origin ) , and so is the theme of a Son coming to save the world (Hercules ,Perseus in Greek , Gilgamesh (?) in Persian mythologies) .Not only has christianity been permeated by Polytheism , the CROSS is obviously proof of a tendency towards IDOLATRY . These "modifications" to the original message were BY NO MEANS COINCIDENTAL ##### They were INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED to facilitate the replacement of already existing belief systems with Christianity .
## There is a Psyco-analytic , Anthropological , Sociological EXPLANATION for every aspect of MYTHOLOGY and RELIGION ,because they were developed BY MAN to satisfy INSTINCTIVE NEEDS ,that are common to ALL MEN and to ALL TIMES ,so it is expected that Christianity ,being as ancient as it is ,could not have completely severed itself from the continuum of religious thinking that existed immediately before it's advent .
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Feb 07
I'm aware that there are many aspects of Christianity that are modified from earlier beliefs. Many Christian holidays are held at the same time of the year as earlier celerations, and many of the old traditions for celebrating those holidays tagged along. Hence all the "Christmas" stuff that has nothing whatsoever to do with the birth of Christ. Also, some of the Catholic saints have been proven to be based on gods and goddesses of other religions. This doesn't really invalidate Christianity as a religion, because no religion exists in a void. Anytime cultures and religions meet, there are things that get assimilated and merged.
