Polytheism Is Good For You?

Mary Lefkowitz thinks a return to polytheism might be socially useful. But are we actually supposed to believe it? She seems rather coy on that question.

Actually her editor may be to blame for some confusion here. The headline reads, "Bring Back the Greek Gods," but I can't find in the article where she actually recommends that. She certainly has had her fill of monotheism, though; but it's based in some confusions, for example in the way she finds it unable to account for "the evil and confusion in the world." Polytheism's explanation of evil is actually considerably more confusing than the Christian account.

And I wonder where she got her view of monotheism, as implied here:

"The separation between humankind and the gods made it possible for humans to complain to the gods without the guilt or fear of reprisal the deity of the Old Testament inspired. Mortals were free to speculate about the character and intentions of the gods. By allowing mortals to ask hard questions, Greek theology encouraged them to learn, to seek all the possible causes of events. Philosophy -- that characteristically Greek invention -- had its roots in such theological inquiry. As did science."

The Old Testament itself contains numerous complaints directed toward God--especially in the Psalms, the Prayer Book of the Bible. Prayer was, and still can be, genuine, open, even raw. Mortals were free to discover the character and intentions of God. Free to speculate? Sure. But with a true end in mind, or, conversely, with the possibility of arriving at either true or false answers. The Greeks could speculate, but to what end? It was all fiction. Fiction is marvelous, but when it comes to an understanding of God, truth is certainly among the highest values.

Philosophy had its roots in theology--now, I'll agree with that. And so did science--but true, modern science had its roots not in the capricious, unpredictable world of (belief in) many competing gods, but in the later Christians' settled conviction that the universe, like God himself, is rational, orderly, and capable of being known.

Hat tip to Albert Mohler.

Posted: Fri - November 2, 2007 at 12:58 PM |

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Polytheism Is Good For You?

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson