# For The Religious: What about other gods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 27, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442 "2014-02-27T19:40:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/81 "2014-03-01T18:01:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So all gods are aspects of the god you believe in. O.k. > As for all that “atheist” stuff? Not what we’re talking about here. It was a thought experiment, as all faiths are aspects that are meant to come together to form a greater picture, and I wanted to explore how atheism would fit in. But back to more of what has been posted, yes my beliefs would include the Roman and Greek gods as part of the family, and the very interesting subject of hybrid children. And the question why did those gods go somewhere else? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/82 "2014-03-02T12:20:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Thank you. Great opening sentence, btw. 😃 My 11th grade class group was “mixed: Applied Sciences and Social Sciences”. Our Philosophy teacher hated science, whether Applied, Social, Pure or Life. He would have burned the Chemistry teacher at the stake if he’d been allowed to (the Chemistry teacher still runs marathons in his 70s, good luck catching him). One day he asked whether it was possible for us to understand the world. I said no, and gave basically the same answer as to your question. He loved it. It’s been 30 years and he still tells me or my relatives, any time we run into him, that it’s a pity I became an engineer and not an investigative journalist or a philosopher. When I heard of Gödel’s Theorem many years later I went “ooooooh! :smack:” I swear those ancient philosophers just keep stealing my ideas! Gödel, Pascal, Augustine… what the heck, guys, give a gal a chance! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/83 "2014-03-02T21:23:44Z")
> [@Trans Fat Og](#): > > So would that narrative be from the Talmud? BTW, I think it’s deeply meaningful, although I don’t believe in any revealed deity. I don’t know if it’s in the Talmud or not. It was in a delightful book titled simply Jewish Folklore. At one of my jobs, the boss kept part of his library in the office’s attic. Employees were welcome to borrow books and read them during breaks and such. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/84 "2014-03-03T07:00:16Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Just to make sure I’m getting you; You both believe in the actual existence of other (lesser) gods than Yahweh. I believe Yahweh Elohim created spirits who have far less power than Him but might seem to be gods to us. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hendoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@The\_Hendoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hendoman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/85 "2014-03-03T13:30:46Z")
One of the ten commandments says ‘thou shalt have no other gods before Me’ so, yes, there are other gods. different gods. Worse, some ideas are considered gods, like the love of money. I don’t think anyone is going to accurately answer whether God means ‘no other gods’ or ‘no other ideas, agendas, etc’ before Me. There’s a line in hosea where God takes ‘baal out of their mouths and replaces it with God’ I’m just gonna stick with God, personally. Tho i do like the part in the Mummy movie where the man is flipping through his necklace of icons and intoning prayers to various gods, until he gets to the one the Mummy recognizes… JIM ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/86 "2014-03-03T14:21:02Z")
> [@The\_Hendoman](#): > > I’m just gonna stick with God, personally. … which one? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/87 "2014-03-03T17:53:12Z")
I’m a Roman Catholic, though on the belief-o-meter I am much more like a Quaker. I believe that God comes to us in whatever form we summon him/her in. I go by deeds, these days. I don’t care so much about professions of faith. In answer to the OP: there is only one Source, with many names. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/88 "2014-03-03T19:48:47Z")
Catholic here. Only one God, the Holy Trinity. There are no other gods. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/89 "2014-03-10T17:55:02Z")
I wholeheartedly believe in the Bible for the most part. There are clearly parts that are difficult to understand and possibly lost to translation, but for the most part, I believe it all. Simply put, I believe that all humans at one time (Noah and his family) were exposed to exactly who God is and what God desired of man. Unfortunately, just like anything else, over time, it was corrupted, changed, modified, etc and failed to substantially reflect God’s true wishes. Abraham was God’s call to create a chosen nation. Jesus was God’s attempt to reach out from there to the remainder of the world. Why He chose to do those things the way He did I cannot say. As for the existence of other gods, I cannot say. I have met this one and no others. ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/90 "2014-03-10T19:58:29Z")
I once had a friend who lived as a contemplative in the monastic tradition. His belief was that there is only one God. Other gods were other faces of God. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/91 "2014-03-10T20:35:17Z")
Maybe this topic should have been posted as a poll? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/92 "2014-03-10T20:52:45Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I wholeheartedly believe in the Bible for the most part. There are clearly parts that are difficult to understand and possibly lost to translation, but for the most part, I believe it all. What is your interpretation as to what the Bible says about the existence of _other_ gods? ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/93 "2014-03-10T20:58:18Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I wholeheartedly believe in the Bible for the most part. The Lord giveth, and the Lord _taketh_ away. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/94 "2014-03-10T21:01:06Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I wholeheartedly believe in the Bible for the most part. …said Tom, impartially. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/95 "2014-03-10T21:08:37Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Maybe this topic should have been posted as a poll? I think this would make a great poll. Someone not lazy should make one. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/96 "2014-03-10T21:50:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This question came to mind after reading for the umpteenth time that atheism is a religion because they cannot, with _absolute_ certainty, _prove_ that God doesn’t exist. Is this reasoning valid when the shoe is on the other foot? It wasn’t valid on the first foot, because atheism is the lack of a belief in god, not a belief that there is no god. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not what this thread is about. You brought it up, see above. > [@Shodan](#): > > So yes, it’s valid. If you define “religion” as “systems of thought that assert things that cannot be absolutely proven”, then both the Abrahamic faiths as well as atheism are “religions”. It’s rather a loose definition, but the syllogism holds. > [ul][li]A religion is a system of thought that makes statements it cannot prove.[/li][li]Atheism states, but cannot prove, that God does not exist.[\*]_Ergo_, atheism is a religion.[/ul][/li]Regards, > Shodan Except, see above. Atheism doesn’t state any such thing. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > So all gods are aspects of the god you believe in. O.k. > As for all that “atheist” stuff? Not what we’re talking about here. Then next time, if you don’t want to discuss it, don’t bring it up. But more importantly, if you do bring it up, don’t botch it. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/97 "2014-03-10T22:10:56Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I wholeheartedly believe in the Bible for the most part. There are clearly parts that are difficult to understand and possibly lost to translation, but for the most part, I believe it all. Nice backpedal there – I was just about to ask about the [contradicting geneologies of baby Jesus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_Jesus#Explanations_for_divergence), or [Why can’t I own a Canadian?](http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/areasontosmile/2011/11/dear-dr-laura-why-cant-i-own-a-canadian.html) > [@MostlyUseless](#): > > As for the existence of other gods, I cannot say. I have met this one and no others. When you met Him, what color hat was God wearing? More imperatively, how do you KNOW it was “the” God, and not a spiritual pretender or a hallucination? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/98 "2014-03-11T03:28:27Z")
I believe that other deities are figments of human imagination. There is no god but God, and Jesus Christ is his only Son, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit binds us together. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/99 "2014-03-11T04:14:52Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I believe that other deities are figments of human imagination. There is no god but God, and Jesus Christ is his only Son, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit binds us together. What makes you so certain that your own version of God, J.C., your Lord & Holy Spirit aren’t equally imaginary? ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442/100 "2014-03-11T10:39:10Z")
As for the existence or non-existence of other Gods, I can’t think of anything in the Bible that says that God gives credence to other gods. The Bible and specifically God mention other gods, but it seems to be more along the lines of ‘your fake little statues aren’t God.’ I have heard it said that anything you place at the top of your priority list is your God, but think that is a bit extreme. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442.md?page=6)