Re: Book review: Breaking the Spell (Daniel Dennett)

Ron Peterson wrote:

> Is there a true monotheistic religion that doesn't have lesser
> gods?

The non-literalist branches of Judaism probably come as close as
any--especially if they consider Satan and the angels to be
literary symbols. At that point, the theology is much akin to
Deism (or Pantheism). Indeed, Spinosa, the grandfather of modern
Deism, was a Jew.

Christianity, especially Catholicism, is overrun with gods. You've
got Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for starters--and never mind the
bull*** that they spew about them being different manifestations
of the same being; that's the exact same thing as Hinduism's
holy trinity, as well. Nobody mistrakes /them/ for anything but
separate gods.

Then there's Satan, of course. He's every much a god as is the
Egyptian's Set (from whom Satan is directly descended) or Hades or
any other god of the underworld.

Lucifer only tangentially appears in the Bible--especially in the
form of Jesus--but most Christians consider him an evil lesser
god, too.

Rounding out the hellish trinity, of course, is the Beast. Is
Cerberus a god? Yup. You better believe the Beast is, too.

Then there's the hordes of angels and devils, every much lesser
deities as those found in any polytheistic religion. Rounding out
the Christian pantheon are all the ancestor spirits they worship
(``venerate''): the saints. Even non-Catholics will ask the spirit
of a deceased loved one for help, comfort, advice, or the
like--it's the exact same thing.

I get a kick every time I hear Christianity described as a
monotheistic religion. ***, they've probably got more gods than
the Hindus--and they /certainly/ have /far/ more in active
rotation.

Cheers,

b&

--
EAC Memographer
BAAWA Knight of Blasphemy
``All but God can prove this sentence true.''

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