You read that right. The three major monotheistic religions--Christianity, Islam, and Judaism--are not truely monotheistic. They are dualisms.

Now, a dualistic religion has two powers: good and evil. White and black. Light and dark. Matter and antimatter. Most of the time, these powers are made known in the form of gods. One is good, the other is bad. The good god made the Universe and everything in it, and the bad god wants to destroy it all. The good god is generally the one that's worshippped the most.

A true monotheistic religion only has one god and one god only. No more, no less. There is no "other" power. There aren't such concepts as good and evil, only one or the other.

So, all three of the major religions have the two powers present in a dualism: God and Satan (the Devil). God is to be worshipped. God created the Universe. Satan wants to destroy everything and steal the souls of the people God created. Thus they are dualisms for they have two equal gods, one good, one bad.

But wait! Satan isn't equal to God, you say. Yes he is. If God was more powerful than Satan, wouldn't God be able to wipe out Satan and evil altogether? God's whole purpose is to rid the world of evil. But God obviously can't do that because we do have evil. So Satan must be equal in power to God. The two are trapped in a deadlock, which is how dualisms are.

Interesting, isn't it?

quote:

If Satan isn't a deity, minor or major, then what is he? Fallen angel? That story isn't in the Bible, I'll have you know. Satan first appears as a snake whose origins we never find out. You don't know that he hasn't been around as long as God has.

Actually in Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

So Satan is on the same level as Michael an angel created by God.

If God is all-powerful, why is he powerless to remove Satan? He had no qualms killing everyone with the Great Flood. If God is all-powerful, why is there evil? He could just make everyone worship him. And why is there free will? It just seems to be doing exactly the opposite of what he intended.

I beg to differ on all those points you've made Baber.

God is not the only deity, it even says that in the Bible. Something like "I am the God above all other gods," implying that there are other gods, but your God is the best one. Did God create those other gods, too? Why is he more powerful than them? Wouldn't Satan count as one of these "other" gods?

If there aren't two sides, why do we have good and evil? Why not just good? Is evil not a legitimate "side"? Leaving us mortals to choose between one or the other is unnecessarily risky for an all-knowing, all-powerful being.

And if good has the upper-hand, why does evil give good such a run for its money? Evil seems to be pretty strong.

If Satan isn't a deity, minor or major, then what is he? Fallen angel? That story isn't in the Bible, I'll have you know. Satan first appears as a snake whose origins we never find out. You don't know that he hasn't been around as long as God has.

Perhaps you can answer these for me, and perhaps I'll be slightly less confused about the whole matter. But no guarantees.

Excuse me, Christianity doesn't call Satan a minor diety in anyway, this is a very misleading statement. God is the only diety, everyone else is just creation. So everyone including Satan that is created by God is subject to God. There is no two struggling sides where one doesn't have the upperhand. God is omnipotent or all powerful.

But there are people who worship the devil. Look, for this scenario, I'm assuming the Christian/Muslim/Jewish God is the only "supreme being", per se, aside from his old pal Satan, of course. Just those two, which, oddly enough, is how the Big 3 religions say it is. So, if there is only those two, a person has the option of either worshipping Satan or God. And since most worship God (obviously), he's the "major deity" in this dualism. Satan would be the minor one. Perhaps that will clear up some confusion.

well, we certainly dont worship the devil, so we are people who worship one God. Some say that the Devil was actually an angel, but God kicked him out and he made his own place for Hell. Don't know much about it....

I deal in realities, my friend, not mysticism. Ask a priest.

Since you know so much perhaps you can tell me why God loves us?

Baber, I know more about Christianity than you do. Try me sometime.

As for the point of this thread, which many people missed, I originally made it to point out one of the many flaws of Christianity, and monotheistic religions in general. It was for a good discussion, which was indeed had by all. I don't need patronizing and I definitely don't need accusations of not knowing what I'm talking about.

But I do believe all that can come out of this thread already has, so I'll let it die.

If there need be any further proof I'd glady explain it further.

Ok...I've tried my best to stay out of this topic, but...I believe in the Christian faith, so I'll gently put an end to this thread politely


1. Christianity is a monotheistic religion,(how?)

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit=ONE

God is the father the creator(Alpha, and Omega=the beginning and the end). Jesus is the son of God, who came and died for the sins of humanity that we may all come to the father openly and repent our sins(recieve salvation). The Holy Spirit was sent by God as the comforter...

Ok, I know I just lost some of you, so I'll put it like this:

God=Judge
Jesus=Lawyer
Holy Spirit=The Comforter

Of all the many sins that we committ on a daily basis, God(Judge) himself has become increasingly irritated, and ashamed upon what he see his children do. BUT there's this thing called "grace" and "free-will" that allows us to keep living how we live without God pouring out his wrath on all of us for a while. Jesus(Lawyer) came to die for the sins of man, that we may have eternal life. Thus once he was crucified and rose again he stated: "All power on heaven and earth is in my hand"..."The Father is in me and I the Father, we are ONE."(Jesus is the redeemer of man=God) Of all the wickedness that man has in his life, Jesus serves as the lawyer to plead our case to his Father(God) on why we should be kept under his mercy, and not turn his back upon the sinful man. The Holy-Spirit(the comforter) is the spirit of God that Jesus sent to reaffirm the world that he would never leave or forsake us, that he would be with us even until the end of time.

God, Jesus, and The Holy-Spirit aren't seperate individuals, but one of the same(he is the Hebrew God of many names). The Holy Trinity.

clpo13 you don't know anything about christianity do you? I mean because if you did you would know that God is God period. Satan was created by God. God has power over Satan. In reality it's onesided. God just allows Satan to be in existence(don't ask me why i would have destroyed him the moment he became prideful). I hate it when people act like they know what they are talking about, but really have no idea what it is they are talking about. No offense to you clpo13 it's just that you really are misinformed about christianity.

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
Because we need something to care about.

Exactly...besides the Spirituality board is always looking for new topics that don't say "Why do you believe in God," or "Please Tell Me About Wicca"

*sigh*

Because we need something to care about.

Oh.

Cause we don't have social lives.

I have a question: Why do you people care?

quote:

Originally posted by finn620:
The only flaw in your explaination is that if I don't want the gift someone gives me, they generally do not condemn me to suffering for all eternity. That is usually considered inpolite.

They don't condemn you? Well, then someone I know is getting a nasty letter.

The only flaw in your explaination is that if I don't want the gift someone gives me, they generally do not condemn me to suffering for all eternity. That is usually considered inpolite.