tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post4724023183526837336..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: Divinities in Aztec PantheonRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-65699207565935296902010-06-04T13:28:41.655-07:002010-06-04T13:28:41.655-07:00I know what Christian dogma says, Melissa. In the...I know what Christian dogma says, Melissa. In the real world, many people worship God and Jesus as separate but related deities.<br /><br />Many others worship Mary as a mother goddess. Google "Mary goddess worship" and you'll get thousands of postings on whether Mary is a legitimate divinity.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-9850222726515295392010-06-03T17:44:30.823-07:002010-06-03T17:44:30.823-07:00The thing is a deity refers specifically to the na...The thing is a deity refers specifically to the nature and attributes of God or gods (a god being a superhuman regarded as having power over nature and human fortunes). That rules out Satan, who according to Christianity only has the power of being a very persuasive character (he is a type of angel, actually, which would take us to a whole new set of definitions).<br />Certainly the Trinity could be seen as three gods, but as the most important dogma in Christianity is precisely that there is only one God with three persons it just seems that to insist on it being three gods is to obstinately change the nature of the religion to fit your definitions. <br />When it comes to Hinduism, I have studied only the very basics, and attended the temple only a few times, and I don't know whether Hindus consider themselves polytheists or not, but probably the wisest thing would be to ask them or have a go at their literature on the subject instead of guessing wildly.<br />And yes, it is quite fascinating how most religions relate to each other and stem from the same places.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10397834721500788054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-3555094991796146832010-06-03T15:49:49.950-07:002010-06-03T15:49:49.950-07:00Eh? Most would call Christianity polytheism if the...Eh? Most would call Christianity polytheism if they would call Hinduism (in which literally the entire universe is one being) polytheism. You can also consider Christians to have <i>two</i> deities, YHWH and Satan, similar to the Zoroastrian gods Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. (In fact, I'm sure that's where the Bible derives it. The Holy Trinity, OTOH, comes from Egypt.) Of course, Christians don't <i>consider</i> the devil a separate deity (although they're worried about those who worship him abusing their children), or consider the Trinity separate beings.<br /><br />It's actually interesting to see how these tropes spread. The Trinity is a particularly interesting trope because many religions have some concept of it, though the number (Three? Four? Sixteen?) is quite varied.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-58689982943197106752010-06-03T13:52:17.059-07:002010-06-03T13:52:17.059-07:00Just clarifying, Christians do not have 3 deities,...Just clarifying, Christians do not have 3 deities, they have 1. Jesus is 1 of the 3 persons of the deity. Mary is not a deity at all.<br />Rob is right in that Aztecs had a more complex religion than Christians, at least as evaluated from the point of view he has defended. I agree with myk5 in that complexity does not measure a religion's "depth". A comparative analysis of religions is a very complex subject that is usually tackled by academics in long papers and dissertations. <br />However, an argument that tries to admire a culture or belief to the detriment of another is usually both unnecessary and counter-productive. You don't need to do that, Rob, especially when you are right.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10397834721500788054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-33112171056704653332010-06-03T11:08:13.467-07:002010-06-03T11:08:13.467-07:00Your content-free complaint is the only pathetic t...Your content-free complaint is the only pathetic thing here. The number of divinities is a perfectly good measure of a religion's complexity, which is a good approximation of its depth and richness.<br /><br />If you disagree, tell us how you'd assess a religion's complexity and depth. Put up or shut up.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-72062936849787829882010-06-02T15:14:45.088-07:002010-06-02T15:14:45.088-07:00The comment that the Aztecs have such a complex pa...The comment that the Aztecs have such a complex pantheon while Christians barely maintain 3 deities is pathetic. however you may evaluate for quality in a faith, complexity alone is non-sequitur.myk5https://www.blogger.com/profile/17078244353554279781noreply@blogger.com