Bible and GodS (note plural)

[enteef89]

Just something I have thought about recently. I've thought about this many a time before, but just thought I would bring this public. I'm sure it has been brought up many times, and you've already heard it. Anyway, the Bible says you shall worship no other god before me. Saying, He is the true god, none of the others,so to say. The Bible, in my honest opinion, is clearly stating there really are other gods, but you should only follow this ONE. Christians will say that these gods are only false idols, but the way I see it, its stating the exsistance of other gods. What are all of your imputs on this matter? Blessed be!

[David19]

I think YHWH wasn't really saying that there weren't other deities, but more, worship me first, and then worship whoever/whatever the hell you want, or something like that.

There's many instances of other deities being worshipped in the Bible (specifically the Jewish bible).

[Grimr]

Specifically said elohim if I remember which translates to Gods.

[TheWomanMonster]

Ah, I agree. There are definately references to other Gods in the bible.
The 'creator' god in the bible demands that he is the ONLY god we worship...
(He's the jealous type I guess?)
Personally, that just doesn't fly with me.

Some people have a major problem with this one...

I have had people freak out at me and tell me MY gods were demons or fallen angels. Told me that they were trying to mislead me or harm me.
I tried to show them that particular passage and argue my point, that other Gods do indeed exsist and are even referenced in their holy text. Unfortunately their minds were made up and I was forced to sit and listen to their rantings...

Now I don't really talk about my Gods or Goddesses anywhere but on here...

[Morr]

The word Elohim in Hebrew can be seen as plural male or plural neutral; or an abstract being. Not single, not plural:

אלוהים

El, in Hebrew, is God:

אל


Having my Ancestors being Jewish (Ultra Orthodox only 4 generations ago), and me being Pagan worshipping other Deities and following a completely different path than Judaism, I view the ""conflict"" brought up in the bible in this way:

The Bible (specifically the 10 comandments) was written roughly about 3500 years ago. The social values, situation and entire worldly view of the people writing the 10 comandments were very different than that of Modern soceity living in 2006 CE.

Moreover, the Bible was written in ONE specific are of the world, within ONE tribe of people who had Y-H-V-H as their Patron God/Tribal God/Sovreign God.

Why NOT have him ask his followers to put him on the top of their list?

The only thing that went wrong is that Christianity came much later on and forced these comandments, specifically the ""One God"" topic on EVERYONE. Where the Jewish people (who grew from the Hebrew tribe who was originally dedicated to the worship of Y-H-V-H to begin with) remained enclosed within themselves, not forcing their belief of one God on anyone not of the Jewish decent.

If you look at this through a purely Historical and Sociological prespective only -- It makes sense.


How do I deal with the religous/spiritual conflict between my Ancestry and my Spiritual path in this lifetime?

I am an Irish Reconstructionist. I am the Spiritual daughter of Ireland, even though I am not a blood decendent of any Irish clan in this lifetime (though I married into a very important Irish clan LOL). I am dedicated to the Irish Deities, specifically those of the Tuatha De Danann. They are my family, my tribe. However, part of my Spiritual path is also honoring your Ancestors, blood ancestors. So in effort to do this, I STILL celebrate the Jewish Holidays. I also developed a relationship with Y-H-V-H himself on a very personal level. I carry Tehilim (Psalams) with me a lot of the times. I studied Kaballah. And lately I have begun teaching Hebrew at a local Reform Jewish Temple here, and have become part of the congragation.

Y-H-V-H isnt as bad as the rep he has. A rep created by fanatic followers over the long bloody history since he came up in the history books (one of them being the Bible, since I view it as a history book for the most part). I respect him, I honor him as the God of my Ancestors, I keep my Ancestors traditions along with my own Spiritual traditions.

Surprisingly enough, they dont clash. I feel at home with my choices.

God, or Y-H-V-H, would not consider you a sinner if you followed your heart and found your faith in a different religion, worshipping other Deities. He is just like those Deities. When these Deities were popular and Y-H-V-H was mocked along with his people, and in this age with Y-H-V-H is popular and other Deities are misunderstood -- They remain all the same.

Its people who create this silly competition between each side.

[Meadhbh]

Specifically said elohim if I remember which translates to Gods.

Thats what I thought to. I think he's just jealous and doesn't it say that some where. Its nothing more than an insecure god trying to hold on to his worshippers using feat tactics. Or rather an insecure church trying to hold on to their land and money using fear tactics.

[Johnathan Brisby]

Y-H-V-H has many names as well as facets. he/she/them is a god(s) of paradox- unexplainable

the old testament is very old, and very mysterious- full of metaphores describing the human spiritual experience

[Greyharp]

Being an ex-fundamentalist Christian, their understanding of this subject is that all other gods beside "God" with a capital 'G', are false, demonic entities masquerading as deities to fool sinful humans. Therefore they are not actually gods as such. Any true god in the fundies thinking, would be infinite, omiscient, etc, whereas demons lack these wonderful and limitless powers. Besides, they believe there is only one vacancy and the postion is already filled. :)

[David19]

The word Elohim in Hebrew can be seen as plural male or plural neutral; or an abstract being. Not single, not plural:

אלוהים

El, in Hebrew, is God:

אל


Having my Ancestors being Jewish (Ultra Orthodox only 4 generations ago), and me being Pagan worshipping other Deities and following a completely different path than Judaism, I view the ""conflict"" brought up in the bible in this way:

The Bible (specifically the 10 comandments) was written roughly about 3500 years ago. The social values, situation and entire worldly view of the people writing the 10 comandments were very different than that of Modern soceity living in 2006 CE.

Moreover, the Bible was written in ONE specific are of the world, within ONE tribe of people who had Y-H-V-H as their Patron God/Tribal God/Sovreign God.

Why NOT have him ask his followers to put him on the top of their list?

The only thing that went wrong is that Christianity came much later on and forced these comandments, specifically the ""One God"" topic on EVERYONE. Where the Jewish people (who grew from the Hebrew tribe who was originally dedicated to the worship of Y-H-V-H to begin with) remained enclosed within themselves, not forcing their belief of one God on anyone not of the Jewish decent.

If you look at this through a purely Historical and Sociological prespective only -- It makes sense.


How do I deal with the religous/spiritual conflict between my Ancestry and my Spiritual path in this lifetime?

I am an Irish Reconstructionist. I am the Spiritual daughter of Ireland, even though I am not a blood decendent of any Irish clan in this lifetime (though I married into a very important Irish clan LOL). I am dedicated to the Irish Deities, specifically those of the Tuatha De Danann. They are my family, my tribe. However, part of my Spiritual path is also honoring your Ancestors, blood ancestors. So in effort to do this, I STILL celebrate the Jewish Holidays. I also developed a relationship with Y-H-V-H himself on a very personal level. I carry Tehilim (Psalams) with me a lot of the times. I studied Kaballah. And lately I have begun teaching Hebrew at a local Reform Jewish Temple here, and have become part of the congragation.

Y-H-V-H isnt as bad as the rep he has. A rep created by fanatic followers over the long bloody history since he came up in the history books (one of them being the Bible, since I view it as a history book for the most part). I respect him, I honor him as the God of my Ancestors, I keep my Ancestors traditions along with my own Spiritual traditions.

Surprisingly enough, they dont clash. I feel at home with my choices.

God, or Y-H-V-H, would not consider you a sinner if you followed your heart and found your faith in a different religion, worshipping other Deities. He is just like those Deities. When these Deities were popular and Y-H-V-H was mocked along with his people, and in this age with Y-H-V-H is popular and other Deities are misunderstood -- They remain all the same.

Its people who create this silly competition between each side.

I agree with you, i think YHWH is more a god, who may be jealous (as many deities can be, e.g. Hera when Zeus fools around, also Zeus, i think, can be at times, Pele, the volcanoe god of Hawaii is thought of as being jealous, etc, so YHWH isn't the only one).

I think i agree with what you said about him just asking his followers (i.e. the Jews/Hebrews) to put him on top first, above others, other religions do it, even in Wicca (when 'The Goddess' is spoken about, it makes it seem like she's the main power).

[enteef89]

So thats a point I'm trying to come to terms with, with myself. There are other gods, but is Biblical God the only way to salvation? Must we follow Him? It seems that way. But, like you are saying, the Jewish people did not spread it. So it was sort of too just that one group of people, that tribe and their God. It is all getting a little clearer now.

[omar]

Don't forget Jehova as well as YHVH- which is Yawah,war god of the Hebrew.Elohim means I am him or I am God. In the days of Abraham they still fallowed Alluha which means "Lord of all Gods".

[Morr]

Elohim means I am him or I am God. In the days of Abraham they still fallowed Alluha which means "Lord of all Gods".


This is not true.

As someone who speaks/reads/writes Hebrew and who has studied the Torah and Bible in Hebrew -- Elohim and Alluha do not mean what you said.

Elohim means Gods -- Plural or abstract in either the male or neutral form.

Alluha means one God or Divine Spirit -- Single and either in the male or neutral form.

[shuvanilu]

Thank you. I was just going to point that out.