How many Gods?

The catch-all forum for general topics and debates. Minimal moderation. Rated PG to PG-13.
_zeezrom
_Emeritus
Posts: 11938
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:57 pm

How many Gods?

Post by _zeezrom »

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?
Last edited by Guest on Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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.
_Joseph
_Emeritus
Posts: 3517
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 11:00 pm

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Joseph »

God the mother - who shall remain nameless because there are probably a few thousand of them and who can remember all those names?
"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."
_madeleine
_Emeritus
Posts: 2476
Joined: Sat May 01, 2010 6:03 am

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _madeleine »

Four known gods/goddesses in the Mormon pantheon: heavenly father, heavenly mother, son, holy spirit.

Additional gods/goddesses with unknown names/titles. Would have to be an infinite number, if you take into consideration the King Follet sermon.

As for "depends on your definition of god". That is hilarious. Using a Christian definition, the answer would be Mormons have zero gods, but plenty of ideas about of false gods.
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
_Darth J
_Emeritus
Posts: 13392
Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 12:16 am

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Darth J »

There are at least seven gods specified in official LDS doctrine:

-Elohim
-Jehovah
-Holy Ghost
-At least one Heavenly Mother ("at least" because, given the Church's polygamist history and the teachings of some LDS leaders prior to 1890, Elohim may be a polygamist, but this is unclear one way or another)
-Abraham*
-Isaac*
-Jacob*

*Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.

D&C 132:37

In the Sermon in the Grove, Joseph Smith taught that our Heavenly Father has a Father, and so and on and on. That would put it at at least 8 (including Heavenly Grandfather) that are specified in the teachings of the LDS Church and/or Joseph Smith (8 because other gods are referred to in general, not specifically who they are).
_zeezrom
_Emeritus
Posts: 11938
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:57 pm

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _zeezrom »

The Gods of D&c 132:37 don't count because they are Gods over a different universe.
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.
_MrStakhanovite
_Emeritus
Posts: 5269
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:32 am

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _MrStakhanovite »

I wish they'd stop trying to be like everyone else and just be who they are.

Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions wrote:Henotheism (Grosskreutz, 'one God'). The worship of, and devotion to one God, while allowing that other gods exist. The term was introduced by Max Muller. Kathenotheism is the worship of one god after another, but in the end Muller preferred the name 'henotheism'.
_Tator
_Emeritus
Posts: 3088
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:15 am

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Tator »

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?


And they call all the other religions a mass of confusion?????
a.k.a. Pokatator joined Oct 26, 2006 and permanently banned from MAD Nov 6, 2006
"Stop being such a damned coward and use your real name to own your position."
"That's what he gets for posting in his own name."
2 different threads same day 2 hours apart Yohoo Bat 12/1/2015
_Joseph Antley
_Emeritus
Posts: 801
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:26 pm

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Joseph Antley »

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.

Early Christians were also not held to a strict standard over these definitions; the apostle Paul, for example, is certainly a "monotheist," yet he refers to Satan as a 'god.'
"I'd say Joseph, that your anger levels are off the charts. What you are, Joseph, is a bully." - Gadianton
"Antley's anger is approaching...levels of volcanic hatred." - Scratch

http://Twitter.com/jtantley
_zeezrom
_Emeritus
Posts: 11938
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:57 pm

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _zeezrom »

Ant:

I'm talking about a God that you worship and devote your life to. Do you worship Jesus or not? A simple question expects a simple answer. Surely you don't put Jesus in some low god category like the one Abraham or Satan is in?
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.
_Buffalo
_Emeritus
Posts: 12064
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 pm

Re: How many Gods?

Post by _Buffalo »

If Joseph truly intended to restore "all things" we'd have the god El, his two wife goddesses, his 70 sons (one of whom was Yahweh, eventually taking over as the patron god of the tribe of Jacob) and a few others.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
Post Reply