About other gods-question for theists

[orangebox21]

As a theist you believe in a god. But what about all the other gods? How can you say yours is the only true god when the fellow next to you has his own holy book or ways of worship?
How do you know there is not more than one, are maybe you are worshipping different faces of the same supernatural being who is having a laugh?
If your god is the true one, why does he allow other gods to be worshipped?

Offering a Biblical perspective.

The Biblical God says that He is the only God (Isaiah 44:6,45:5). This statement is either true or false. If this statement is true then there are no other God's. If this statement is false then either there is no God, many God's, or another one God but not the one in the Bible.

From a Biblical perspective, is it possible that there is one God with many faces? (I'm assuming your speaking of ecumenicalism-many paths to one God) No it is not possible. A simple answer is found when Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.

If you prefer a more intellectual approach consider a comparison between the Bible and another 'holy book'. If the Bible is true then there is only one God and this God cannot lie. If there is one God then all books claiming to be from God would be from the one God. If God cannot lie then there would be no propositional statements between the books that violate the law of non-contradiction.

For example let's look at the Bible and the mormon theology. From the Journal of Discourses, volume 1 page 121, "Remember that God our heavenly Father was once a child and mortal like we are, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, and in the school of advancement has moved forward and overcome until he has arrived at the point where he is now." From the Doctrine and Covenants states in section 130, verse 22: "God the Father has a body of flesh and bone as tangible as man's."

The Bible states: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit.." And to qualify what a spirit is: "They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a spirit. Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, ..." So spirit equals not flesh and bones.

So we have two propositional statements that cannot both be true. "God the father has a body of flesh and bone" and "God the father does not have flesh and bones." The mormon church claims the Biblical God is true, then deny Him.

From a Biblical perspective your choices will always be between the Bible and something else. Therefore there isn't "one God many faces."

[Jenny A]

As a theist you believe in a god. But what about all the other gods? How can you say yours is the only true god when the fellow next to you has his own holy book or ways of worship?
How do you know there is not more than one, are maybe you are worshipping different faces of the same supernatural being who is having a laugh?
If your god is the true one, why does he allow other gods to be worshipped?

Offering a Biblical perspective.

The Biblical God says that He is the only God (Isaiah 44:6,45:5). This statement is either true or false. If this statement is true then there are no other God's. If this statement is false then either there is no God, many God's, or another one God but not the one in the Bible.

From a Biblical perspective, is it possible that there is one God with many faces? (I'm assuming your speaking of ecumenicalism-many paths to one God) No it is not possible. A simple answer is found when Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.

If you prefer a more intellectual approach consider a comparison between the Bible and another 'holy book'. If the Bible is true then there is only one God and this God cannot lie. If there is one God then all books claiming to be from God would be from the one God. If God cannot lie then there would be no propositional statements between the books that violate the law of non-contradiction.

For example let's look at the Bible and the mormon theology. From the Journal of Discourses, volume 1 page 121, "Remember that God our heavenly Father was once a child and mortal like we are, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, and in the school of advancement has moved forward and overcome until he has arrived at the point where he is now." From the Doctrine and Covenants states in section 130, verse 22: "God the Father has a body of flesh and bone as tangible as man's."

The Bible states: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit.." And to qualify what a spirit is: "They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a spirit. Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, ..." So spirit equals not flesh and bones.

So we have two propositional statements that cannot both be true. "God the father has a body of flesh and bone" and "God the father does not have flesh and bones." The mormon church claims the Biblical God is true, then deny Him.

From a Biblical perspective your choices will always be between the Bible and something else. Therefore there isn't "one God many faces."

Yes but why believe the Bible instead of the Koran? Or the Book of Morman?

[Lek]

The answer to this question was answered when the bible was written. Jesus died for all mankind. He's calling all of us and we all have the opportunity to come to him. I don't understand why nobody answered the question.

"Whosoever believeth in me, he shall have eternal life." ---- doesn't appear to apply to atheists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. We don't believe.

That's true. We have to change in order to come to him.

[Jenny A]

"Whosoever believeth in me, he shall have eternal life." ---- doesn't appear to apply to atheists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. We don't believe.

That's true. We have to change in order to come to him.

So that answers the original question doesn't it? Atheists don't go to heaven. ---- Don't worry, I'm not hurt. It's a little like a toddler threatening his father that Santa won't come.

[Minimalist]

Too much to ask for an unsupported allegation like jesus freakdom.

[Lek]

That's true. We have to change in order to come to him.

So that answers the original question doesn't it? Atheists don't go to heaven. ---- Don't worry, I'm not hurt. It's a little like a toddler threatening his father that Santa won't come.

I guess if you put it that way...........

[FatAndFaithless]

So that answers the original question doesn't it? Atheists don't go to heaven. ---- Don't worry, I'm not hurt. It's a little like a toddler threatening his father that Santa won't come.

I guess if you put it that way...........

Do atheists go to hell?

[Jenny A]

So that answers the original question doesn't it? Atheists don't go to heaven. ---- Don't worry, I'm not hurt. It's a little like a toddler threatening his father that Santa won't come.

I guess if you put it that way...........

I do put it that way. I think God is exactly as likely as Santa.

---

I guess if you put it that way...........

Do atheists go to hell?

Back to Santa. Many Christians do think atheists are going to hell. I accept the concern or the nasty intent as the case many be (Christians differ) but it's hard to be afraid of never-never-land even if it's a horrid never-never land.

---

As a theist you believe in a god. But what about all the other gods? How can you say yours is the only true god when the fellow next to you has his own holy book or ways of worship?
How do you know there is not more than one, are maybe you are worshipping different faces of the same supernatural being who is having a laugh?
If your god is the true one, why does he allow other gods to be worshipped?

Offering a Biblical perspective.

The Biblical God says that He is the only God (Isaiah 44:6,45:5). This statement is either true or false. If this statement is true then there are no other God's. If this statement is false then either there is no God, many God's, or another one God but not the one in the Bible.

From a Biblical perspective, is it possible that there is one God with many faces? (I'm assuming your speaking of ecumenicalism-many paths to one God) No it is not possible. A simple answer is found when Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.

Which brings me back to my original question. Why believe the Bible instead of the Koran? The Koran also says it is true. What made you choose the Bible?

[ignoramus]

Some adults in their wisdom find god in other religions, but the vast majority are indoctrinated at a young age usually by parents.
So in effect, these people grow up believing something someone else wants, but will die defending it!
Geez, that makes good sense.

Just one of many reasons why religion is bad.

[orangebox21]

Yes but why believe the Bible instead of the Koran? Or the Book of Morman?

A good question.

From a spiritual perspective, God has elected me, regenerated me, and given me belief. This is nothing I did on my own, nor nothing I deserve, but rather it is the work of God that no man may boast.

From a logical perspective, the Bible, the Koran, and the book of Morman all claim the Biblical God to be true. The Koran and the book of Morman then go on to deny the truth of the Biblical God. The Bible remains logically consistent with it's position, the Koran and the book of Morman do not.