How many Gods?

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_Joseph
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Joseph »

lds-inc teachings in the Temple are very specific that Satan is The God of This World.
"This is how INGORNAT these fools are!" - darricktevenson

Bow your head and mutter, what in hell am I doing here?

infaymos wrote: "Peterson is the defacto king ping of the Mormon Apologetic world."
_zeezrom
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _zeezrom »

Joseph wrote:lds-inc teachings in the Temple are very specific that Satan is The God of This World.

Wasn't it Satan that said that in the Temple? If Satan says it, then you have to know the exact opposite is true. For example, if Satan says "The LDS Church is not true." Then you know for sure the church IS true. If Satan says he is the God (or god) of this world, then you know for sure he is the opposite - the servant of this world (something very ungodly and un-powerful).
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)

The Holy Sacrament.
_stemelbow
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _stemelbow »

zeezrom wrote:There is a fascinating thread over at the middle-higher class American suburb:

The question was asked, "Aside from God the Father (Heavenly Father), what deities are there to talk about?"

I find this utterly fascinating because it appears LDS are terrified of answering it in plain English. It seems the politically correct answer is 1 God. But that answer causes some concern when considering LDS foundational teachings on the nature of God.

Indeed, this teaching is the most fundamental of all (the missionary's 1st discussion) and confusion/trepidation abounds at every turn.

Do we say we believe in one God (HF)? What about Jesus? Don't we worship Jesus? Well, we do but he is just an agent. Just a what? Well, he's God but we worship the Father through Jesus? So is Jesus a God? Well, yeah but it depends on your definition of God...

So what do you think? How many Gods are there?


I think Joseph Antley gave a fine answer, but it appears you aren't happy with it. So what specifically are you asking? what do you mean by God when you ask this? What specifically do you mean by worship?
Love ya tons,
Stem


I ain't nuttin'. don't get all worked up on account of me.
_Joseph
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Joseph »

When Satan says 'if they don't keep what they promise here'(paraphrased) then "They will be in my power" - is that correct or is it a lie?

If Satan can't tell the truth then if all break the covenants, they will not be in Satans Power.
"This is how INGORNAT these fools are!" - darricktevenson

Bow your head and mutter, what in hell am I doing here?

infaymos wrote: "Peterson is the defacto king ping of the Mormon Apologetic world."
_truth dancer
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _truth dancer »

Maybe there really are lots of Gods.... think about this for a minute.

What if Elohim, Jehovah, Allah, Jesus, Ra, Zeus, Ishvara, Brahma, Vishu, Ek, Onkar, El Kantare, Zoroaster, etc. etc., all are real and competing for human devotion?

Maybe there is a contest in heaven to see who can get the most followers?

Hmmm... could be no?

:-)

Regarding your actual question, (smile), in LDS belief, there is one God to worship, Jesus Christ.

(I think)!

~td~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
_madeleine
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _madeleine »

Jesus IS GOD.


So are we.


And that's a wrap. Mormons can't tell the difference between themselves and God. No wonder it is so hard for them to even define the word.
Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction -Pope Benedict XVI
_Quasimodo
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Quasimodo »

zeezrom wrote:The Gods of D&c 132:37 don't count because they are Gods over a different universe.


That's interesting, Z. More Mormon stuff I didn't know. So, if I understand correctly, there are many (g)ods in Mormon philosophy, but only one (G)od that counts. And, they don't talk about (but believe in) a Goddess or goddesses.

Confusing for a heathen.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.

"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
_zeezrom
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _zeezrom »

Quasimodo wrote:
zeezrom wrote:The Gods of D&c 132:37 don't count because they are Gods over a different universe.


That's interesting, Z. More Mormon stuff I didn't know. So, if I understand correctly, there are many (g)ods in Mormon philosophy, but only one (G)od that counts. And, they don't talk about (but believe in) a Goddess or goddesses.

Confusing for a heathen.

I'm out on the fringe here and will likely get called on it. Maybe I would have been more accurate by saying the Gods of D&C 132:37 are Gods over different _Galaxies_. Universe might be too big for a God.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)

The Holy Sacrament.
_Quasimodo
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Quasimodo »

zeezrom wrote:I'm out on the fringe here and will likely get called on it. Maybe I would have been more accurate by saying the Gods of D&C 132:37 are Gods over different _Galaxies_. Universe might be too big for a God.


That begs another question. Is there an unnamed God of Gods ruling the Universe and keeping the "galaxy" Gods in line? Maybe there is another layer of planetary Gods serving under the galaxy gods?

It's starting to sound like Hinduism. :) Hard to know who to pray to.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.

"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
_Dwight Frye
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Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Dwight Frye »

Joseph Antley wrote:Depends what you mean by "god." Since LDS beliefs do not fit the traditional Christian mold, it's also difficult to fit them into traditional Christianity terminology. LDS believe in only one God, LDS belief in three Gods, LDS belief in an infinite number of Gods -- all true depending on which theological definition of "God" you're using.

Interesting post, Joseph. I wonder if you'd mind taking a stab at explicitly defining the word God or Gods as each is used in the following statements:

"LDS believe in only one God."

"LDS believe in three Gods."

"LDS believe in an infinite number of Gods."

Thanks!
"Christian anti-Mormons are no different than that wonderful old man down the street who turns out to be a child molester." - Obiwan, nutjob Mormon apologist - Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:25 pm
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