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In addition, YHWH had many different names in the early Hebrew scriptures which reveal a strong influence from the Canaanite pantheon. It isnt until the Book o

In addition, YHWH had many different names in the early Hebrew scriptures which reveal a strong influence from the Canaanite pantheon. It isnt until the Book of Judges that monotheism starts to become firmly established.

s_q_b 12y ago
That's right. Early in Hebrew scriptures, there are several passages that suggest, not an outright exclusion of the existence of other gods, but rather an assertion that YHWH is the god of Israelites, which evolved into an assertion that YHWH is the only God. Later in Christianity, not only Judaic influences, but the influences of Persian Zoroastrianism (cherubim, seraphim, and God's angels), Manichaeism (dual entities of good and evil under a single Monotheistic God), Mithraism (risen son of the chief God from the dead), the cult of Dionysius (the eucharistic ceremonies), various Pagan religions adopted by Constantine's mother redesignating Roman pagan holy sites as Christian holy sites, the cults of Mary Mother of God and Mary Magdalene in France, and finally the patron saints, which are virtually indistinguishable from the concepts of caretaker pagan gods with individual responsibilities. Religions are all melting pots, adopting and co-opting the beliefs of the native people as they spread. This makes them neither more or less valid, and it is rather remarkable the dedication Christianity has preserved to the teachings of a single man two millennia ago.
- cperciva 12y ago
  Early in Hebrew scriptures, there are several passages that suggest, not an outright exclusion of the existence of other gods, but rather an assertion that YHWH is the god of Israelites Indeed, even what is probably the best-known line, "I am the LORD thy God", doesn't rule out the existence of other gods; all that is commanded is that the Israelites should not worship said other gods.

s_q_b 12y ago

That's right. Early in Hebrew scriptures, there are several passages that suggest, not an outright exclusion of the existence of other gods, but rather an assertion that YHWH is the god of Israelites, which evolved into an assertion that YHWH is the only God. Later in Christianity, not only Judaic influences, but the influences of Persian Zoroastrianism (cherubim, seraphim, and God's angels), Manichaeism (dual entities of good and evil under a single Monotheistic God), Mithraism (risen son of the chief God from the dead), the cult of Dionysius (the eucharistic ceremonies), various Pagan religions adopted by Constantine's mother redesignating Roman pagan holy sites as Christian holy sites, the cults of Mary Mother of God and Mary Magdalene in France, and finally the patron saints, which are virtually indistinguishable from the concepts of caretaker pagan gods with individual responsibilities. Religions are all melting pots, adopting and co-opting the beliefs of the native people as they spread. This makes them neither more or less valid, and it is rather remarkable the dedication Christianity has preserved to the teachings of a single man two millennia ago.

cperciva 12y ago
Early in Hebrew scriptures, there are several passages that suggest, not an outright exclusion of the existence of other gods, but rather an assertion that YHWH is the god of Israelites Indeed, even what is probably the best-known line, "I am the LORD thy God", doesn't rule out the existence of other gods; all that is commanded is that the Israelites should not worship said other gods.