{Abrahamics Only} Are you truly monotheistic?

[Aštra’el]

Are you truly monotheistic?

Please just relax and think about this with an open mind. Abrahamic mythology has an entire pantheon of spiritual beings who are believed to exist Above and Below and Within in a manner beyond our comprehension. In the Abrahamic religions, the term "god" seems to have evolved to mean the ultimate being of ultimate everything... when before, the roles of many gods and goddesses were more comparable to the roles of many of the angels and demons we learn about in Abrahamic lore.

The heavens and hells are believed to be inhabited by hierarchies of demonic and angelic beings, beings that often have epic, glorious backstories... Celestial or Infernal duties or purposes.... and at times, godlike supernatural powers. Godlike not compared to YHWH, but godlike compared to many divine beings mentioned in other pantheons and mythologies.

Out of respect for the Creator, and for other reasons, most YHWH worshippers do not call these beings "gods" or "deities". They use lesser terms like "angels" and "demons". Regardless of the language used... they believe in these forces... these Celestial and Infernal beings. So... are you truly monotheistic?

Keep in mind, "monotheism" does not mean "the worship of one and only one god". It means "the belief in one and only one god". Are you really monotheistic? You believe in God, but what about Satan, or the archangel Michael? Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel? What about Metatron, Azrael, or Kerubiel? What of the Cherubim and Seraphim, and the Living Creatures? What of Samael, Asmodeous, Lilith, Astaroth, Iblis... etc?

Have you considered the possibility that your beliefs or religion could be considered polytheistic... or more specifically, monolotristic... or perhaps even henotheistic? Monolotrism, or monolotry, is the recognition of the existence of many gods but with the consistent worship of only one deity. Henotheism is the belief in and worship of a single god while accepting the existence or possible existence of other deities that may also be served.

So... are you truly monotheistic? If not, it doesn't change anything. In my eyes, you still worship the highest, greatest, most glorious, most epic, most awesome, most powerful being... regardless if you perceive that being as the only God... or a God of gods.

 

[Aštra’el]

The question posed in this topic is solely directed towards those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in hell and heaven, and demons and angels.

 

[rusra02]

Yes, the Bible acknowledges that there are many so-called gods. "For even though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” there is actually to us one God, the Father." (1 Corinthians 8:5,6) Jesus Christ is called "a god" at John 1:1, and Satan is called a god at 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Even wicked men are called gods, as Jesus mentioned. (John 10:34,35) So, while it is true wicked spirits and wicked people seek to be gods, there is but one true almighty God. Of him, Jesus said; "‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service." (Matthew 4:10) I believe there is only one God worthy to be worshipped, Jehovah.

 

[Pastek]

Out of respect for the Creator, and for other reasons, most YHWH worshippers do not call these beings "gods" or "deities". They use lesser terms like "angels" and "demons". Regardless of the language used... they believe in these forces... these Celestial and Infernal beings.

You believe in God, but what about Satan, or the archangel Michael? Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel? What about Metatron, Azrael, or Kerubiel? What of the Cherubim and Seraphim, and the Living Creatures? What of Samael, Asmodeous, Lilith, Astaroth, Iblis... etc?
In my eyes, you still worship the highest, greatest, most glorious, most epic, most awesome, most powerful being... regardless if you perceive that being as the only God... or a God of gods.

Those are only creatures of God like humans are, we are just different. They would not be alive if God didn't create them.
Why would we believe in them as gods if their powers are limited ?

23.91 Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any God along with Him; else would each God have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others.

21.22-23 If there were therein Gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him). He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned.

16.99-100 His (Satan) power is only over those who make a friend of him, and those who ascribe partners unto Him (Allah).

17.65 Lo! My (faithful) bondmen - over them thou (Satan) hast no power, and thy Lord sufficeth as (their) guardian.

If they have no power because you can be protected against them, they are of no use so not to be considerated as "gods".
Some creatures can have power if YOU decide to let them have that power on you, so it's you who make them to be "gods", but if they were "gods" they would have been capable to do what they want against/for you.

 

[savagewind]

The question posed in this topic is solely directed towards those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in hell and heaven, and demons and angels.

Yes. One God and all other things dwell within the constraints of creation. I do not believe IN heaven, hell, demons and angels. I think that any of them must not be considered apart from certainty. But I believe God can be considered apart from anything else.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

As I believe in neither heaven nor hell as destinations, perhaps this thread is not addressed to me.
As a Christian I believe in one creator God.
However though I believe in Jesus as a Son of God and in the Holy spirit. I have difficulty with the concept of the trinity.

I do not class prophets as necessarily "special" as it is impossible to distinguish if they are speaking for God or themselves. I rather feel that many including Muhammad were of the latter variety.

The ancient Jews had a whole panoply of heavenly beings that were taken by and embroidered even further by Christians in the middle ages.

I can see little reason for there not to be any number of "lesser gods" but no other greater than The creator God.

Whether lesser gods are worthy of worship is an entirely different question and could be a question of authority.

In an ordered society we obey the instructions given by any one in a tier of authority over us. So it could be with the serried ranks of heavenly beings. (At any rate, an instruction from an Archangel could hardlybe taken lightly)

 

[Aštra’el]

The ancient Jews had a whole panoply of heavenly beings that were taken by and embroidered even further by Christians in the middle ages.

I can see little reason for there not to be any number of "lesser gods" but no other greater than The creator God.

Whether lesser gods are worthy of worship is an entirely different question and could be a question of authority.

In an ordered society we obey the instructions given by any one in a tier of authority over us. So it could be with the serried ranks of heavenly beings. (At any rate, an instruction from an Archangel could hardlybe taken lightly)

The highest God, above many lesser gods....

There are those who believe that monotheism is a fundamental tenet of every Abrahamic religion. No exceptions. I do not believe that. I am suggesting that monolotry and henotheism are alternative ways of perceiving the Celestial and Infernal forces of Abrahamic lore in a way that can still be considered "Abrahamic", and in a way that does not go against our devotion to God... and I am also suggesting that by including an entire pantheon of Celestial and Infernal beings such as demons and archangels, that Abrahamic religions may already be blurring the lines between monotheism and polytheism.

Here on Religious Forums, this is of particular significance in the Abrahamic DIR, where it is believed by some that only those who believe themselves to be monotheistic should be allowed to post there. I... feel differently about that.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The question posed in this topic is solely directed towards those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in hell and heaven, and demons and angels.

Thanks for the clarification. I'll leave now ,,,

 

[Sleeppy]

It doesn't work to believe in free will and then claim to be monotheistic.

 

[Flankerl]

The question posed in this topic is solely directed towards those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in hell and heaven, and demons and angels.

So directed towards Christians and Muslims. You should've clarified that in the title of this Thread.

 

[Aštra’el]

So directed towards Christians and Muslims. You should've clarified that in the title of this Thread.

Christians and Muslims definitely make up a large fraction of those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in demons and angels and some form of hell(s) and heaven(s)... but there are others as well who do, outside of Islam and Christianity.

 

[Flankerl]

Christians and Muslims definitely make up a large fraction of those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in demons and angels and some form of hell(s) and heaven(s)... but there are others as well who do, outside of Islam and Christianity.

Well okay the Baha'i do too. And if you count the Rastas... I have honestly no idea whether they do.

But that's it.

 

[Aštra’el]

Well okay the Baha'i do too. And if you count the Rastas... I have honestly no idea whether they do.

But that's it.

Not everyone who believes in these things subscribes to an organized religion.

 

[Aiviu]

The question posed in this topic is solely directed towards those who worship the Abrahamic God and believe in hell and heaven, and demons and angels.

Yes, there is only one. In the end God stands for the love. A love from me to someone i can't love because she simple isn't alive anymore.

e.G.:
You have had to imagine as if i am gone. But you still love me that much that you keep thinking i was meant to be in your life, on your side, your wish from the heart. How long and you'll kept if for untrue? How long you'll search for me in your physical world? You didnt just remembered that you wanted to search for God who i mentioned to find that you'll be in the heaven too. Your last hope to see me again is heaven.

How long will you suffer under it? Till the next one you love? Even if you burden yourself to mine subconsciously? I am with you when you are in love again but merely without me in person. Dont fall from the skies because you are sad that the one you love is not me. This love is the only heaven God can give you from here. But you? You assigned me a liar. That I still live somewhere else or i'd never have been lived.

Angels are the ones who fill their life with love in memorial of the first love who is gone. Demons are the cruel of blind ignorance which forcefully forget about God or trying to revive me in person. Living both demons and angels will turn you into an hypocrite. Its your hell because clearly as you know, i am a love none to existence because you know it needs to be alive to have it.

I want you to know that love shouldnt put you or the others into none existence to the world.

EDIT: Since you are to judge ... Am I monotheistic in believe? Shall I promise heaven after life which in all logical thinking will only be reached in life?

 

[Tumah]

I think my belief is still monotheistic, because I don't ascribe any intrinsic power to them. they are not powerful because they are powerful, they have certain powers because their roles require that they have certain abilities. Calling an angel a god is like calling the king's chef a king.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Some people seem to worship the idea Monotheism itself, with a greater fervour than they worship God.
Christianity says that God requires us not to worship other Gods. It does not say they do not exist or that they are not real.

Certainly some bible stories allude to the Power of God in comparison to the feebleness of other gods, and some also allude to false gods. It does not take the step of saying that all other gods are false.
The Heavenly Host and Panoply of heaven is certainly not made up of gods but of an army of Angels.

 

[Raahim]

I've met many Christians who don't believe in other deities or even magic. I'm not sure how that's possible but that's their opinion.
I am truly monotheistic indeed, I believe in Allah's guidance & submit to His will & existence and I believe there are deities in spiritual sense too but it still makes me monotheist because I don't believe they are equal to Allah.

 

[OurCreed]

Angels, in the Islamic belief, are creations of God, just like humans. The difference between them (the angels), and us humans is that angels are beings which do not disobey any commands of their Lord, nor are they arrogant. Humans can disobey, and they can be arrogant and haughty.

Angels are tasked with various things, they are essentially the forces and laws of nature. Everything in the universe is assigned an angel (a force or a law), that governs its functions. That is essentially an angel.

There is also a law in place when someone dies, and when someone dies, they can never ever be brought back to life, no matter how much we try and rebuild the physical corpse afterwards. This law is governed by another of God's forces, the Angel of Death.

There are also other creations known as jinn which are created from a different substance. These creations, like humans, have free will, they can obey or disobey. These mysterious beings that are part of this universe (which we can't see), are not gods, nor are the angels.

Every single entity is a creation of God, and every single entity can be destroyed if God wills. No Muslim worships these entities, nor should they, because they cannot benefit us, nor harm us.

 

[Raahim]

Angels, in the Islamic belief, are creations of God, just like humans. The difference between them (the angels), and us humans is that angels are beings which do not disobey any commands of their Lord, nor are they arrogant. Humans can disobey, and they can be arrogant and haughty.

Angels are tasked with various things, they are essentially the forces and laws of nature. Everything in the universe is assigned an angel (a force or a law), that governs its functions. That is essentially an angel.

There is also a law in place when someone dies, and when someone dies, they can never ever be brought back to life, no matter how much we try and rebuild the physical corpse afterwards. This law is governed by another of God's forces, the Angel of Death.

There are also other creations known as jinn which are created from a different substance. These creations, like humans, have free will, they can obey or disobey. These mysterious beings that are part of this universe (which we can't see), are not gods, nor are the angels.

Every single entity is a creation of God, and every single entity can be destroyed if God wills. No Muslim worships these entities, nor should they, because they cannot benefit us, nor harm us.

I didn't know about this view on angels, but isn't it that if you "manipulate" jinns you can be harmed by them directly?

 

[OurCreed]

I didn't know about this view on angels, but isn't it that if you "manipulate" jinns you can be harmed by them directly?

We humans do not know much about jinns, we were not given much knowledge about these types of beings. As far as my knowledge goes, there's no real provable way of contacting or even "manipulating" the jinn, nor can they harm us.