How many Gods?
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How many Gods?
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?
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)
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Re: How many Gods?
God the mother - who shall remain nameless because there are probably a few thousand of them and who can remember all those names?
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Re: How many Gods?
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.
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.
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Re: How many Gods?
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).
-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).
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Re: How many Gods?
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)
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Re: How many Gods?
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'.
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Re: How many Gods?
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?????
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Re: How many Gods?
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.'
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.'
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Re: How many Gods?
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?
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.
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Re: How many Gods?
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.
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