Religion

edhopper

(34,708 posts) Mon Oct 1, 2018, 02:39 PM Oct 2018

If you accept the existence of a deity, then how do you know there is only one? [View all]

Atheists do not accept the existence of any deity, so whether the claim is for one or a million, it doesn't matter.

But if you accept the possibility of a supernatural being with great powers. Then why is it limited to one?
Most believers I know keep telling me that it is impossible to understand what a God is, so how can they know there is not more than one?

If deities can exists, the possibility of more than one seems logical.

59 replies

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If you accept the existence of a deity, then how do you know there is only one? [View all] edhopper Oct 2018 OP

Interesting question! Maybe the number is infinite. Croney Oct 2018 #1

Yes edhopper Oct 2018 #6

Are you suggesting that maybe grumpyduck Oct 2018 #2

I am not talking about any particular gods edhopper Oct 2018 #7

It depends on what your definition of a "deity" is...nt ADX Oct 2018 #3

A supernatural entity edhopper Oct 2018 #8

They are innumerable... ADX Oct 2018 #18

Christopher Hitchens said it best... AZ8theist Oct 2018 #4

Love it! edhopper Oct 2018 #9

Now you've done it... NeoGreen Oct 2018 #5

Why can't they all be edhopper Oct 2018 #10

Ahh, truth you are getting closer to! hueymahl Oct 2018 #12

Thanks Yoda edhopper Oct 2018 #14

as someone else said, depends on your definition qazplm135 Oct 2018 #11

"You shall have no other Gods before me" edhopper Oct 2018 #13

as Arthur C Clarke said qazplm135 Oct 2018 #15

Clarke's quote edhopper Oct 2018 #19

dont remotely agree qazplm135 Oct 2018 #20

But I have read science fiction novels edhopper Oct 2018 #22

I don't think we would perceive it that way at all qazplm135 Oct 2018 #29

Clarke's quote edhopper Oct 2018 #33

Clarke's point qazplm135 Oct 2018 #39

I don't agree with Clarke edhopper Oct 2018 #40

It's not about logic zipplewrath Oct 2018 #16

Well thought out post edhopper Oct 2018 #17

obviously that commandment qazplm135 Oct 2018 #21

Then why not say edhopper Oct 2018 #23

Because, at the time and in that region, there were loads of gods. MineralMan Oct 2018 #24

But God is suppose to know these things edhopper Oct 2018 #25

See, there are no gods, actually, so it doesn't matter. MineralMan Oct 2018 #37

Yes edhopper Oct 2018 #38

well first qazplm135 Oct 2018 #27

True edhopper Oct 2018 #34

Maybe there is a God for each galaxy. Alwaysna Oct 2018 #26

It is as simple as you having one Father and one Mother troyanos Oct 2018 #28

Where's mom? Eliot Rosewater Oct 2018 #30

Who is the Mother? uppityperson Oct 2018 #31

Thanks for the definitive answer lordbateman Oct 2018 #32

Can I ask you a question edhopper Oct 2018 #35

Good question troyanos Oct 2018 #41

Do this was after you joined DU? edhopper Oct 2018 #42

Thanks! troyanos Oct 2018 #43

Simplicity almost certainly has much to do with it Major Nikon Oct 2018 #55

Somehow I'm sure you thought that made sense. Voltaire2 Oct 2018 #57

raised Catholic and they had one GOD but wither personalities (??) rurallib Oct 2018 #36

In an eternal and infinite universe, any God or Gods that one can fathom gtar100 Oct 2018 #44

I am open to the idea that God is an infinite number of beings each with a single iota of power ck4829 Oct 2018 #45

Neat. Act_of_Reparation Oct 2018 #49

You may choose for or against the view, that you have a transcendental obligation struggle4progress Oct 2018 #46

could you define edhopper Oct 2018 #47

I mean an obligation that one should try to honor with extraordinary seriousness struggle4progress Oct 2018 #48

Thanks edhopper Oct 2018 #50

Kierkegaard is regarded as an early existentialist struggle4progress Oct 2018 #51

You may choose one item from column A Voltaire2 Oct 2018 #58

Here is an article behind a paywall I would like to read exboyfil Oct 2018 #52

I have said edhopper Oct 2018 #53

Mitt Romney believes he will become a God after his physical death. keithbvadu2 Oct 2018 #54

And 47% of the people on that planet.. Permanut Oct 2018 #56

One iota less goofy than Scientology. Voltaire2 Oct 2018 #59