this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024
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I only have a familiarity with Christianity and the "no other gods before me" thing. I am curious what other religions have to say about it.

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[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know if it's a denomination thing, but I am what you'd call henotheistic despite otherwise checking out with the "no other gods before me" thing. Anything may exist.

[–] rufus@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Are you something like mormon? I didn't know that there are christian(?) denominations that allow for the existence of other gods. I was raised catholic and my first of the 10 commandments was "I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have any other gods besides me." So that rules out any other gods. Along with the continuation of the story where god outlaws idols and sends plagues and burns down cities for worshipping anything besides him.

But I think I agree. Technically you're just not allowed to worship them. They may exist. It'd be a bit strange since the bible goes on and on how god created all the animals, angels, satan, humans, does all the things and some get lengthy enumerations... but somehow they forgot to mention that other gods exist... Just slipped their mind as they were writing it down.

[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The commandment, when written as is, is "you shall not have any gods before me". The words "gods" and "before" probably cause some kind of misunderstanding, as the commandment has never been seen as blocking the acknowledgement of other entities to me. Relevantly, in ancient times, the entities in other traditions were acknowledged as saints or demonic forces recognizable by the papacy. Saint Brigitte, for example, is a specific saint tied to a specific figure worshipped as a goddess by the ancient Irish. Angels in general are notable for having powerful or effective qualities.

[–] rufus@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

But if the literal meaning of one word is important, we have to factor in the original hebrew meaning. I don't know what it says. But you cant pick an arbitrary translation you like best. My translation of the bible with "besides me" is equally as valid.

[–] kromem@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The 'religion' I think most accurate is all in on a deity of light.

Given light can be more than one color at once when not measured and different separated eventual observers can each measure different results then as long as a deity of light was fundamentally unobservable during this life and only observed on a relative basis after departing it - such a deity's qualities and characteristics are entirely up for grabs.

Believe what you want. If I'm right, all options are on the table - relative to you. So your beliefs don't constrain anyone else's or vice versa.

Even though I do think there's a rational underlying mechanical objective truth to how that setup may have been achieved, my guess is most people wouldn't like that version nearly as much as their own dearly held beliefs, spirituality, or superstitions, so my genuine hope is that after death what they most hoped to be the case for themselves is what they'll find irregardless of how it works behind the scenes or what it might be for others.

I'm an apatheist. Just don't try and force me to care about your religion or lack thereof.

[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

We are fine with anyone believing anything they want, we are a spiritual mutt church, and all we want for anyone is peace and happiness in whatever you do believe or don't.

[–] IbnLemmy@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

All religions by definition disagree with others and believe the core beliefs of the other religions to be false.

How much a religion implements it's superiority over falsehood (which I suspect is what you are talking about), depends on who is in CONTROL Whoever is in control will bend religion to achieve what they want, and we can argue different till the cows go home, nothing will change.

Welcome to Humanity, enjoy your stay!

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[–] SadLuther@lemmy.kya.moe 1 points 1 year ago

Shintoists be like: "Point at something and I'll tell you if it's God."

[–] WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I am a Thelemite, which means I am a follower of the mystical system designed by The Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley. The idea of other prophets is addressed directly in our primary sacred text, Liber AL vel Legis:

“All words are sacred and all prophets true; save only that they understand a little…”

Most Thelemites I’ve met, myself included, interpret this to mean that most religions have kernels of useful teachings in them, but the difficulty of describing the experience of a prophetic epiphany leads to misunderstandings in the message by either the prophet or the followers.

A common practice among some Thelemites is to not criticize other religions for their ideas since we don’t always know the utility they could have for another person, but we do engage in criticism of religious organizations that are doing harmful things to people, especially actions that prevent liberty or self expression.

The thing that makes Thelema a little different than other religions is that we study a variety of aspirational techniques for self actualization in an attempt to have our own epiphanies about ourselves and the world rather than exclusively taking someone else’s word for it. Thelemites are encouraged to use or ignore even Crowley’s own writings depending on how it resonates with us as individuals. We often combine tarot, meditation, journaling, yoga, ritual magick, and every other aspect of our life to create a focus towards a goal that we believe to be our “true will”, or purpose for existence.

I encourage anyone interested in learning more to check out Lon Milo DuQuette’s videos on YouTube, or visit an Ordo Templi Orientis lodge near you to see our rituals performed live.

93’s to all my fellow magicians if you are out there!

[–] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 1 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

Lon Milo DuQuette’s videos on YouTube

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