Is Christianity polytheistic? (pray, worship, trinity, God, Christians)

[WeAreAllOne]

Is Christianity polytheistic? My basis for this is that the Devil is treated as a God, he is even indirectly assumed to be more powerful in influencing people than God is. I see two Gods. What do you think?

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by WeAreAllOne

Is Christianity polytheistic? My basis for this is that the Devil is treated as a God, he is even indirectly assumed to be more powerful in influencing people than God is. I see two Gods. What do you think?

ooooo, good question!

christians don't worship the devil, so i guess they would say that becasue they only worship oen god, they are monotheistic

but then, that rests on your definition of mono/polythiesm - if you define a monotheistic religion as one where only one god is worshiped, then yes it is - if you define a monotheistic religion as only accepting teh existence of one God, then yes (if you accept the devil to have God-like status)

[linwood]

I see at least 4-5 gods in Christianity.

That whole trinity thing y`know, and all them angels.

[WeAreAllOne]

Does the definition of polytheism require the God to be worshiped or only exist?

That’s the question then, after taking into account Mike's post.

[linwood]

Originally Posted by WeAreAllOne

Does the definition of polytheism require the God to be worshiped or only exist?

That’s the question then, after taking into account Mike's post.

I would think merely existing would validate a godlike being.
I realise this is rationalised away because angels and such are "lesser" than the Big-G but to my mind they possess godlike qualities..they are gods.

They may not be worshipped but they are acknowledged.

[Seyorni]

A recurring theme, this.
A lot depends on one's definition of "worship" and "God."

Some defend Christianity as strictly monotheistic, but with a plethora of aknowledged celestial inhabitants.
Others hold that if you pray to it or accord it extraordinary powers it's a "God" and you're worshiping it.

[WeAreAllOne]

how do we define God then? seems like a weird question but I've never thought about that before. hmmm...

[Halcyon]

I made a thread about this subject a while back, you can find it here if you want to read it - its full of counter-arguments as well.

How do you define God? Well, the modern view of what a god is has been warped by the shear number of adherants to the Abrahamic model. Most people will now tell you that God is the creator of the world, the supreme being. But if you look to history, or even in the bible, it is clear that this God is the god of one man - Abraham - his descendants and his ancestors (if you count the mythological figures of Noah and Adam as ancestors), and of the region formally known as Canaan.

The concept of gods and goddesses in the original meaning is one of spiritual beings which number in their millions, each worshipped by and looking after an individual, a family or small group of people i.e. a village. Its only with the advent of Christianity that one god was singled out from the multitude and hailed as Lord of Creation

[linwood]

Originally Posted by WeAreAllOne

how do we define God then? seems like a weird question but I've never thought about that before. hmmm...

Good luck with that!!

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by WeAreAllOne

Is Christianity polytheistic? My basis for this is that the Devil is treated as a God, he is even indirectly assumed to be more powerful in influencing people than God is. I see two Gods. What do you think?

No. Christians confess that there is only one God. See our creeds. www.creeds.net