How many gods are there?

Feb 16, 2005

Question:

How do you know there is only one God?  Some religions in other parts of the world believe there are thousands of gods and goddesses, and how do you know they aren’t right?  I find the idea rather attractive myself.

Billy Graham’s answer:

I don’t doubt the sincerity of people who believe in many gods and goddesses; I have traveled extensively in those areas of the world.  At the same time, as a Christian, my heart goes out to them, because I know they will never find what they are seeking as long as they stay on that road.  Only the one true God can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart.  Why do I believe in one supreme God instead of many gods? One reason is because it is logical.  Where did the world come from?  No idol could make us, nor could a thousand different gods and goddesses with limited powers.  Only God could make us, one who is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving.

But I believe in one Supreme God because He has revealed Himself to us!  He has not left us to guess what He is like; he has shown Himself to us.  He did this supremely by coming down to earth in the person of His only son Jesus Christ.  I invite you to give your life to Christ, for in Him alone “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

Jen’s response:

I am not sure why Graham, who has read the bible extensively, concluded that there is only one god by reading this book.  Clearly, there are at least 20 gods specifically listed by name in the bible, including the main god of the book, Yahweh (or Jehovah). (Most of the citations of these other gods occur in Kings, however, the other main god mentioned is Baal, and he appears in Kings, Judges, Numbers, and Luke.) 

I think where most Christians get the idea of a single god is that they read the 10 commandments and think, ok, we have been commanded to worship this one particular god, and somehow they get that twisted into the idea that there is only one god.  Regardless, what the 10 commandments actually say, and I am paraphrasing here, is that “I am your personal god and that you shall not worship other gods before me, because I am jealous and will make your life and the life of your progeny to the 4^th generation a living hell if you reject me.  Oh, and by the way, don’t make any images of what is in heaven, below the earth or in the sea, and do not under any circumstances bow down before such images.  Like I said, I get jealous.”  Obviously I am paraphrasing but a quick reading of the commandments will show you that I got the gist right.  There is nothing in here that says there aren’t other gods, just that this particular god gets jealous and if you don’t worship him first, he will wreak his vengeance on your progeny for 4 generations.  As a side note, I have often wondered why people think this particular god is a loving god, because in several places, he says quite clearly that he is jealous, or that jealous is his name.  I suppose they get him confused with his son who was all about love and compassion.

OK, back to the topic at hand.  Are there gods and or goddesses? How many if any?  What are they like?  For me, I am an apathetic agnostic.  I don’t know and I don’t care.  I don’t believe that there are though. But if I did believe, I would go with the multiple god theory just because if such creatures as gods exist, then they are de facto a natural animal and they have to follow the rules of nature, which require procreation etc. which requires more then one.  If they exist at all, they are plural.  Another option is the pantheist option, which is to say that the Universe is God.  Not that god made the universe, but that the Universe itself is God. 

Ok, I tried to move on, but just one last thing.  If God forbids the making of images of anything in heaven, which should presumable include Jesus (as the son of God who has ascended into Heaven), then the making of an image of him and kneeling before it in prayer is clearly prohibited.  I’m just saying.  That’s what the man said, and he did say he was jealous and that your progeny would suffer for 4 generations if you violated this commandment.  You have to admit, there is nothing quite like a god who is willing to seek vengeance on the innocent for good old fire and brimstone fear.  Why anyone would want to worship such a creature is beyond me, unless you had to.  Just my personal opinion.