User talk:Symph123

I hope this is the right place to do this. I just wanted to point out that your information on the old testament that says that it acknowledges the existence of many gods is false. It does refer to what people were worshipping as gods as gods, but it is merely using the common term of the time. Many passages refer to these same gods as "no gods" and "sticks of wood" gods that "can't god" and "worthless gods". So really, your assertion that the old testaments stance on monotheism is different from the christian stance on it, is not true.

Yes it discusses the "gods of other nations" but it only uses the term so the people would know what it was talking about. It is very clear that these gods are not GOD, they can't GOD, and the people might as well just pray to the inanimate objects they believe represent and contain these "gods". I hope you will correct this misunderstanding. Oh crap! I guess I should give you some examples huh?

Only one example comes to mind, but this example is a pretty open and shut case. It explains the old testaments stance on what these "gods" really are, this is Isaiah chapter 44, verse 9-20.

9-11All those who make no-god idols don't amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing—they're total embarrassments! Who would bother making gods that can't do anything, that can't "god"? Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality. 12The blacksmith makes his no-god, works it over in his forge, hammering it on his anvil—such hard work! He works away, fatigued with hunger and thirst.

13-17The woodworker draws up plans for his no-god, traces it on a block of wood. He shapes it with chisels and planes into human shape—a beautiful woman, a handsome man, ready to be placed in a chapel. He first cuts down a cedar, or maybe picks out a pine or oak, and lets it grow strong in the forest, nourished by the rain. Then it can serve a double purpose: Part he uses as firewood for keeping warm and baking bread; from the other part he makes a god that he worships—carves it into a god shape and prays before it. With half he makes a fire to warm himself and barbecue his supper. He eats his fill and sits back satisfied with his stomach full and his feet warmed by the fire: "Ah, this is the life." And he still has half left for a god, made to his personal design—a handy, convenient no-god to worship whenever so inclined. Whenever the need strikes him he prays to it, "Save me. You're my god."

18-19Pretty stupid, wouldn't you say? Don't they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all? Doesn't it occur to them to say, "Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I've used the rest to make an abominable no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!"

20This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can't even look at what he's doing, can't even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, "This is crazy."

Because this is in the old testament, and because it blatantly and in great emphatic detail describes how the "gods" of other nations are NOT gods at all. I would say that this statement:

God is consistently depicted as the one who created the world and guides its history. He is not, however, consistently presented as the only god who exists - monotheism apparently only developed around the time of the Babylonian exile of the 6th century BCE. Nevertheless, he is always depicted as the only God whom Israel is to worship, and much of the historical portion of the Old Testament is about the ongoing struggle between the God of Israel and the gods of Canaan for the loyalty of the Israelites. Despite this, both Jews and Christians have always interpreted the bible as an affirmation of the oneness of God.[6]

Is not true. I mean, how could it be?

Edit: I copy and pasted the full excerpt from Isaiah but it won't display it correctly!!! I'm very frustrated as to why on earth it is cutting out parts of this excerpt! Does anyone know why? It makes no sense!