JCS

Me either, and I might add, I also have not been given any insight as to why I should accept theology much less a particular flavor.

So do I.

But your explantions require that we ignore what we do know or accept an un-warrented complexity to the things we don't know.

Ojuice5001

Yes. My comment is this.

There are many entities, human, animal, plant, and inanimate in the world, and their interests are completely different. Each acts on its own interests, so that the world is pluralistic rather than unified. This means it makes less sense that the world is governed by one god, but rather as if it is governed by many gods. A world ruled by one god would have less competition and more clarity of purpose.

Christian theology realizes this, in a way. That's why they believe in Satan. An angels-vs.-devils theology of the world is better than pure monotheism, but it's still wrong because that is also false to the world we see. There are numerous ways to choose and pursue your goals, not just two. Christian theology would have you believe that angels have free will like humans, but unlike humans, all have chosen to be either pure good or pure evil.

I was gone for just three days, having trouble accessing the Internet. And I missed both good threads like this one, and the creation of the temporary Iraq forum. Past, I like this site.

Infidelettante

Originally posted by Ojuice5001
Yes. My comment is this.

There are many entities, human, animal, plant, and inanimate in the world, and their interests are completely different. Each acts on its own interests, so that the world is pluralistic rather than unified.

And so the Divine is pluralistic. Is that what you mean? If so, I like the thought that the Divine reflects the structure of this world rather than it constructs the world to reflect itself.

Christian theology realizes this, in a way. That's why they believe in Satan

And they have the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son. As a polytheist I see three gods here. How could it be otherwise? I'm sure the Catholics will object to this but the adoration of Mary approches the worship of Godhead. Many Pagans, including me, see her as an aspect of Goddess, though one dimmed by the male dominated church.

A Catholic friend invited me to Palm Sunday service some years ago. I said I would be happy to attend and that I had an interest in the adoration of Mary. The next half hour I spent listening to his rather fierce denial of that adoration.

The service was lovely. It was held in a beautiful church called The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. I never mentioned this to my friend as I didn't care to listen to it all again.

JT