Debate Info

61

47

True

False

Debate Score:	108
Arguments:	58
Total Votes:	123
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True (32)

False (22)

Debate Creator

atypican (4875)

Christians are polytheist

pol·y·the·ism

ˈpäliTHēˌizəm/

noun

noun: polytheism

1.

the belief in or worship of more than one god.

True Side Score: 61		False Side Score: 47
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StickinStone (649)

3 points

When the bible says "Thou shalt have no other gods before me", it doesn't say "because they don't exist". Prohibition of false idol worship can easily be taken to mean that the worship of a lesser god is the worship of a false idol.

When Ruth married Boaz she forsake her god for his God of Abraham.

The belief in multiple gods does not necessitate the worship of more than one.

I know that this is all old testament, I went that route because anyone can see that the three headed god of the new testament is really three gods with one body.

10 years ago Side: True

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GuitarGuy (6096)

3 points

I made this argument earlier today on another person's debate and remembered about this debate, so I'll post it here too....

In Genesis 1:1 it says, "In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth", but in Hebrew "God" is referred to as Elohim... which is often plural. When added with the verse that you posted, it would make sense that they were actually saying, "In the beginning the Gods made Heaven and Earth".

I know you can't see the verse he posted... and I honestly can't remember which one it was, but long story short... Elohim did seem to be used in the plural sense.

10 years ago Side: True

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2 points

Technically no. A survey was taken near the vadican. The 10th person they pray to the most was jesus. More people pray to saints rather than jesus. It almost seems as if there is many gods in their practice.

10 years ago Side: True

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atypican (4875)

2 points

To be polytheist only requires one to believe that more than one god exists...correct?

10 years ago Side: True

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2 points

mhm .

10 years ago Side: True

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atypican (4875)

1 point

And even Catholics generally believe that god commanded us to put him ahead of all the other gods right? Their god talks about other gods. Hence they believe more than one god exists and are polytheist.

10 years ago Side: True

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thousandin1 (1931) Disputed

2 points

Not so much.

Even if, hypothetically speaking, there was a god, only one god, and that god was the God as depicted in the Bible, any number of deities have been worshipped throughout history by many cultures, particularly around the beginning of the Common Era in that portion of the world.

Whether you believe or acknowledge that, say, Zeus exists, you still refer to him as a god. Referring to him as such does not imply either belief in him, worship of him, or even acknowledging that he exists. Given that idols are not used in all forms of worship, and idol worship is specifically mentioned in the Bible, one could see this as an encompassing term for all the nonexistent gods, whether they are worshipped in the form of idols or not.

Recall that this portion of the Torah/Old Testament originated in Hebrew; this isn't the only portion of the ten commandments that is misunderstood. "Thou shalt not kill" is another; the actual term in Hebrew transliterates to 'ratsakh' which roughly means 'to dash to pieces.' In terms of the actual definition, it is more accurate to say "Thou shalt not commit murder." A soldier killing in wartime is not ratsakh, nor is an execution for a capital offense, nor is killing in self defense.

There are numerous words in Hebrew that are translated as god- what we're seeing here is a confusion of the term god, meaning an actual, legitimate worshipped entity, and another word for god that is merely a term to describe the false deities that others worship.

I'm neither Jewish nor Christian, for what it's worth.

10 years ago Side: False

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Kite626 (714) Clarified

1 point

You're preaching to the choir mate .

10 years ago Side: True

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2 points

Yes it's true we'll being a catholic and Christian I Believe in many gods Virgin de la Guadalupe,Jesus,and the other guy.

10 years ago Side: True

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SecuritronX (106)

2 points

Depends on how you look at it, but the case could be made, I suppose.

God

gäd/

noun

noun: God; noun: god; plural noun: gods; plural noun: the gods

1.

(in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.

2.

(in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.

Obviously definition #2 is the most relevant here. So...

P1: Demons and guardian angels are superhuman beings or spirits possessing power over both nature and human fortunes, making them definable as "gods."

P2: Many Christians believe in the existence of guardian angels and demons.

C: Many Christians are polytheistic by definition.

10 years ago Side: True

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PhxDemocrat (13121)

1 point

A Christian believes in the Holy Trinity but the Holy Trinity is One God in three Divine Persons.

8 years ago Side: True

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6 points

No, we dont' worship more then 1 God. We worship only one God.

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

2 points

But you BELIEVE in more than one god, and simply regard one as superior to all the others correct?

10 years ago Side: True

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Srom (12206) Disputed

6 points

No we don't believe in more than one God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all are apart of 1 God. Just like the government has judicial, executive, and federal branches it's still combined to 1 government.

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875)

2 points

Downvoted for asking a question.... wow! (classy there superswimmer)

10 years ago Side: True

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thousandin1 (1931) Clarified

1 point

I'm not trying to pointwhore so I'll clarify here- this is a case of poor translation from the original Hebrew. More detail on the left under your post.

10 years ago Side: True

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HoldTheMayo (5913)

4 points

I guess you're referring to the father, son, and holy ghost thing? They're all the same, like how Optimus Prime in truck form and robot form are the same guy.

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

2 points

I guess you're referring to the father, son, and holy ghost thing?

No. This discussion is meant to be provocative to Christians who worship the "god of the bible". According to the more popular bibles, god himself acknowledges that there is more than one god. Those who believe there is more than one god are polytheist right?

10 years ago Side: True

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quickscopz (163) Disputed

2 points

god himself acknowledges that there is more than one god.

can you give me evidence as to where god does this?

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

1 point

If the entirety of the bible these verses were taken from is considered "the word of god" then these should suffice.

Genesis 1:26

And God said, let us make man in our image.

Genesis 3:22

And the Lord God said, Behold, then man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.

Genesis 11:7

Let us go down, and there confound their language.

Exodus 12:12

And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.

Exodus 15:11

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?

Exodus 18:11

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.

Exodus 20:3, 5

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.

Exodus 22:20-28

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. (v.20)

Thou shalt not revile the gods. (v.28)

Exodus 23:13-32

Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. (v.13)

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. (v.24)

Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. (v.32)

Exodus 34:14

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Numbers 33:4

Upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

Deuteronomy 3:24

What God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works?

Deuteronomy 5:7

Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

Deuteronomy 6:14-15

Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you)

Deuteronomy 10:17

For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords.

Deuteronomy 28:14

Thou shalt not ... go after other gods to serve them.

Joshua 24:2-14

They served other gods. (v.2)

Fear the Lord ... and put away the gods which your fathers served. (v.14)

Judges 11:24

Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess?

1 Samuel 6:5

Ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods.

1 Samuel 28:13

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:25

The Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 82:1-6

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods. (v.1)

I have said, Ye are gods. (v.6)

Psalm 86:8

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord.

Psalm 96:4

For the Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 97:7

Worship him, all ye gods.

Psalm 135:5

Our Lord is above all gods.

Psalm 136:2

O give thanks unto the God of gods.

Jeremiah 1:16

I will utter my judgments against them ... who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods.

Jeremiah 10:11

The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

Jeremiah 25:6

And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

Jeremiah 46:25

I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods.

Zephaniah 2:11

The Lord will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth.

John 10:33-34

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

10 years ago Side: True

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quickscopz (163)

1 point

Did you confirm these with the original Hebrew and Greek texts to confirm that what is said is exactly what it said? Because the English version is not the absolute. I am sure you're aware of that. Some of these however are logically explainable.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, let us make man in our image.

Now you are aware that God could be speaking to the angels right? They were created before humans. This can be applied to your other verse.

And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.

God is not explicitly saying these Gods exist. They are idols. Egypt saw these as Gods. This should be obvious in the context provided.

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?

This I have no clue. Honestly my best answer is that he could be talking about the holy spirit but I dont think so.

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.

Same as the Egypt verse. Greater than the created idol gods.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.

Same thing. Idols.

Most of these are referencing idols.

10 years ago Side: True

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atypican (4875)

1 point

Even so, believing that some gods are idols, and others are not, is still believing in different types of gods. Which definitely makes one polytheistic.

10 years ago Side: True

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quickscopz (163) Disputed

1 point

No thats not the case. He is not saying the idols are gods. The is phrased so the people who worship false (fake) gods do not worship them. He never explicitly said "other gods like me exist". In each instance you gave me he was talking about worshipping idols. Idols that are treated as gods. He is not saying they are gods.

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

1 point

No thats not the case. He is not saying the idols are gods. The is phrased so the people who worship false (fake) gods do not worship them.

If this phrasing was supposed to help people realize their idolatry for what it is, their idols should be called idols. Besides, isn't it true that an idol cannot truly be worshiped since it doesn't communicate?. An idol is a fetish object. Only living beings can be worshiped.

He never explicitly said "other gods like me exist".

No matter, a polytheist outlook can accept there being unique gods, even one supreme greatest god which is "king of kings" , "lord of lords", "god among gods" etc

In each instance you gave me he was talking about worshipping idols.

Really!? so lets look at Psalm 82......Where it say's "Ye are gods"........You think this translates to: "Ye are idols" ?

10 years ago Side: True

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quickscopz (163) Disputed

1 point

You do realize he said "Your God". Again, he never blantantly, explicitly states that other Gods exist. You are just trying your hardest to conceptualize that there are.

No matter, a polytheist outlook can accept there being unique gods, even one supreme greatest god which is "king of kings" , "lord of lords", "god among gods" etc

No matter? Is that your only answer? Bullshit. Show me actual credible examples of him declaring other Gods exist and show me the Gods these Christians worship. Please, take your fucking time. I'll wait.

Really!? so lets look at Psalm 82......Where it say's "Ye are gods"........You think this translates to: "Ye are idols" ?

Psalm 82 6-8: I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler. Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

Exaclty my fucking point. You are making bulllshit claims. Did you even read the rest of it? He is speaking of kings. Rulers. Potentates. What shit are your trying to pull? Check your shit man.

Besides, isn't it true that an idol cannot truly be worshiped since it doesn't communicate?

No. People worshipped Osiris. Zeus. Odin. Whatever. Worship does not require communication.

Worship: show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites.

Example: "the Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods"

Pulled that from Google but its a great example and a clear definition. No communication is required to worship something. Its just you. So again, bring me some true shit and maybe we can get this thing heated again.

10 years ago Side: False

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Kite626 (714) Clarified

1 point

Bad analogy, it's similar to how ice water and vapor are the same. Just different forms.

10 years ago Side: True

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superswimmer (174) Disputed

2 points

Bad analogy, that would be modelism, Christians are Trinitarians. There is no perfect analogy because who God is isn't perfectly comprehensible.

10 years ago Side: True

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superswimmer (174)

4 points

The LORD is one God, three persons but one God..................................................

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

1 point

Do you worship the god of the bible ?

10 years ago Side: True

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superswimmer (174) Disputed

3 points

"For all the god's of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens" - Psalm 96:5

There is only one God, the first of the Ten Commandments is 'you shall have no other gods besides me." Yes I believe the Bible.

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

1 point

These verses...if true...confirm that there are other gods that are just supposedly not as powerful. Why would a "most high" god warn against having other gods, if their weren't other gods?

You can answer the question or just down-vote.....your choice will be telling.

10 years ago Side: True

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superswimmer (174) Disputed

2 points

Your problem is in the word 'gods'. Isaiah describes these 'gods' as being idols made of wood and stone who cannot speak or move or see. God is described as the Most High because he is most high over everything, not in the context of other deities. Let me ask you a question, what is the definition of a 'god'?

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

1 point

If you are looking for a dictionary definition, feel free to consult a dictionary. Otherwise if you want my perspective, I can tell you that gods are beings that are regarded (by some people), to be worthy of worship. Idols are not communicative beings, like gods are, and therefore cannot really be worshiped.

A question for you...When Jesus said "Ye are gods" what did Jesus mean by "gods"?, Certainly he didn't mean "idols" did he?

10 years ago Side: True

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superswimmer (174) Disputed

1 point

"I can tell you that gods are beings that are regarded (by some people), to be worthy of worship. Idols are not communicative beings, like gods are, and therefore cannot really be worshiped."

So by your definition, a tree can be a god if someone thinks it's worthy of worship. If that is the case, sure there are many gods. However, the fact would still remain that there is only one God who created the world, who controls the world, and who will judge the world, and HE ALONE is worthy of worship regardless of what fallen man

"A question for you...When Jesus said "Ye are gods" what did Jesus mean by "gods"?, Certainly he didn't mean "idols" did he?"

Read the whole verse, it says he called them gods to whom the Word of God came. Jesus called himself the son of God and they accused him of blasphemy. He then quoted Psalm 82 to show the prophecy of how believers would become children of God, to show he was not blaspheming. The meaning of the word 'gods' has to be interpreted according to context, and in this context, he's talking about believers being adopted.

10 years ago Side: False

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TheEccentric (3382)

2 points

Because the each part of the trinity is a different form of the same God like how Ice, Water and Steam are different forms of the same Element (H2O).

10 years ago Side: False

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atypican (4875) Disputed

2 points

Assuming one worships the god referred to as "most high" in popular bibles. This god specifically acknowledges the existence of other gods does he not?

10 years ago Side: True

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TheEccentric (3382) Disputed

2 points

The Abrahamic God used to be believed to be the most powerful out of many. But now he is believed to be the only God by Christians so they are monotheistic now.

10 years ago Side: False

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GuitarGuy (6096)

2 points

Eh, not really. Jesus claimed him and his father (God) were one. Apparently God was manifested in three different forms. I guess that could be up for interpretation though.

10 years ago Side: False

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amylynn93 (115)

2 points

I'm not sure how one could come to this conclusion, unless you're assuming that the Holy Trinity represents more than one God. It's the "Godhead" [Father, Holy Spirit, and Son], representing three higher figures, but one God.

10 years ago Side: False

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Cartman (18192) Disputed

2 points

You have to look at his other arguments. He is not talking about the Trinity. The commandment says though shalt not put any other Gods before me. This only makes sense if you believe in more than one God; the definition of polytheistic.

10 years ago Side: True

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