The logical problem with polytheism

“The deities of other religions (outside of monotheism) were irrational and impersonal and could not serve as the foundation for belief in an orderly and knowable creation (pg. 102).”

- Alfred Whitehead, Mathmetician and Philosopher

THE PROBLEM WITH POLYTHEISM (MULTIPLE GODS) AND NEW AGE MONISM (ALL IS GOD):

There are serious logical and theological problems with polytheism (the belief in multiple gods, such as in Hinduism) and the New Age concept of monism, the belief that 'all is god', therefore, 'we all are gods'.

Essentially, the logic breaks down due to (1) the law of non-contradiction and (2) the physical laws of cause and effect in the universe..

The logical problem with Polytheism: One of the primary qualifying attributes of 'God' is having sovereignty over creation. If there are equally sovereign gods, then no god is truly sovereign because they cannot be sovereign over each other (this would be a contradiction in terms). Further, if they disagreed with one another at any time, then the truth cannot be tested. There cannot be multiple "Most High' (as Yahweh is called in scripture) gods of equal standing.

The logical problem with New Age/Eastern monism (all is god): There are clearly laws of cause and effect, which is why God is referred to as 'the uncaused first cause' in terms of creation, the Big Bang, or whatever someone descrives as ‘the beginning.’ God is the cause of it all, the ‘uncaused first cause’ because He is eternal and an eternal being has no beginning.

Creation itself cannot be God since it did not create itself. Creation is caused by an outside cause, hence why creation is called, ‘creation.’ Scientists will often try to prove why the universe is eternal and not created, but that conclusion does not align mathematically or physically with our universe.

Scientifically, we understand the universe is decaying (cooling off, due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics) and for that reason is NOT eternal, which is why the junction that ‘the universe is eternal and god’ does not work scientifically. There was a finite point, or beginning, of the universe (some call the big bang) that was very hot, which is why as the universe expands, it cools off.

Again, we can know scientifically, there was a beginning of this universe (an uncaused first cause) due to the expansion of the universe and it cooling off; or in other terms, the universe is dying/decaying.

The universe requires a creator that is outside of the time/space continuum (eternal and separate from creation), with superior knowledge and wisdom to create a universe that is fine-tuned and orderly. It is impossible for creation to be God, since creation did not create itself, nor does it even understand itself fully.

Biblical response:

The Bible shows us that God is separate from his creation, “because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen (Romans 1:25).”

Further, the God of the Bible fits the theological profile of what is observed in our cosmos.

Alfred North Whitehead, mathematician and philosopher, stated, “The deities of other religions (outside of monotheism) were irrational and impersonal and could not serve as the foundation for belief in an orderly and knowable creation (pg. 102).”

The Christian God is not inconsistent, unpredictable, and arbitrary, but is rational, responsive, dependable, and an omnipotent being who has created the universe as a “rational, lawful and stable structure, awaiting human comprehension (Ibid).”

Christian, we do not just believe based on arbitrary hope... but with evidence in CREATION!

BE ENCOURAGED.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

- Romans 1:18-20