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	822 reputation	bio	website	estevancarlos.com	visits	member for	1 year, 8 months
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Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @JoelCoehoorn "Is Christianity functionally polytheistic" is not about Christianity enough?
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? Hey Sean. @Flimzy and I already worked this out. You've unfortunately misunderstood my question. I'm speaking of Christianity on a macro level. Not micro. I am also not questioning/proposing that Christianity IS polytheistic. I'm asking whether it acts AS THOUGH it is on a macro level.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy, you're seeing this closer to the terms of how I view it. The idea came to mind when reading some anthropological text about observing a polytheistic tribe. Communities of people worshipped at different totems. The totems represented different gods. From that perspective I wondered how Christianity would appear. If the "greeting cards" go to the same place, that assumes that all worship goes to the same place. I personally don't disagree with this (as I am not a theist) but I suspect some others will disagree that all worship (greeting cards), go to the same place.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? So we may agree that on a micro level Christianity is, of course, monotheistic. On a macro level, I personally am not so sure.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? THANK YOU! @Flimzy I am not here as a theist but I am here to think and to learn. I love this subject and I have to ask these questions. I have to.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy The update is clearer. I believe you're right IF we agree that "functional polytheism" can only be measured by the actions of the individual. I do not concede that point though. I believe "functional polytheism" can ALSO be measured by the actions of a group. Meaning, a person can be monotheistic but their actions combined with others can appear polytheistic. Of course, I'm taking this into a very philosophical direction but I appreciate everyone's tolerance here.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? Seriously, why am I getting down voted? Is my question offensive? Confusing? I don't understand the community here. People question my "intentions" as though that has any bearing on the relevance of my question. Should I down vote everyone who's intentions I am suspicious towards? I thought this was supposed to be a mature community.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy "individuals would have to behave as if there were multiple gods." I would argue (maybe elsewhere) that some do "behave" as though there were multiple gods. Their behavior may be implicit however.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy You may be right about how something is "functionally" polytheistic. If polytheism means the "individual" must worship multiple gods, then you're right. I am positioning this question towards Christianity as a whole though. IF Christianity were a thing, would it appear to be polytheistic? When you look at the definition of polytheism it mentions the worship of more than one god. It doesn't specify the "individual". My question is basically: Does Christianity, as a whole, ACT like it worships more than one god? But yes, if we frame it towards the individual our answer is different.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy, "Do me and my coworker 'functionally' have multiple bosses?" I'm not asking if there is "functionally" multiple gods. I'm not proposing, nor asking, "Are there functionally multiple gods?" That is not my question at all. I'm asking whether the actions are similar to that of polytheistic practice. Re-read my question. We agree that Christianity is monotheistic. I agree with this.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @Flimzy - "Differing and conflicting perceptions and opinions of the same being/entity/object... simply means our perceptions and opinions are different and often times imperfect." I agree. That's more or less my point. If you build off of that, I'm asking whether, due to these "imperfect" perceptions, does it effect the actions of the followers? IF it does effect the actions, do the actions correlate to polytheistic practice?
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @TRiG, okay so you're objection is the question isn't interesting? Can I tell you that your comment isn't interesting as well? I personally find the subject matter extremely interesting.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? I may not understand what you're saying. However I'm coming from the perspective that the sects still represent "Christianity". Despite how "separate" they are, they still represent the whole. Is this what you're disagreeing with? Also, I don't think the believers need to agree on anything. I think the intentions, philosophy and principles of Christianity can still be monotheistic. I think the actions don't require any forethought or planning from the participants. For example, I could say I'm morally pure but still commit sin. I would be "functionally" a sinner.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? I'm probably not explaining my question well enough. Re-read my question. I state that Christianity is monotheistic. I'm not arguing against that. We agree on that point. I'm simply bringing up that the actions of the whole do not correlate with "monotheism". The forest, so to speak, appears differently when you see it in entirety.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? This isn't true. I'm questioning the idea of Christianity how it functions as a whole. I'm not questioning the participants and their intentions.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? @TRiG, I am not calling the believers, polytheists. I'm questioning if the collective called "Christianity" functions/acts as though it were a polytheistic tradition. My question is aimed towards the forest, not the trees.
Dec 15	comment	Does the diversity in doctrines among Christian traditions indicate that there are multiple “truths”? Okay, I think I understand better. Thanks.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? How is it nonsense? Let's ask how a polytheistic society "functions". Def: The belief in or worship of more than one god. If a society is divided into factions with differing definitions of their god, disagreement on how to worship a god, and different practices for worshipping a god, this correlates directly with the definition of "polytheism" - worship of more than one god. Now, each Christian is surely monotheistic. I don't question that but when you take a step back and look at the forest, you have a society that acts very differently.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? That's a good point although I would add that I'm not saying anything is actually polytheistic. I stress, "functionally". However your point still stands. Regarding political parties, that raises more questions. We're discussing whether this belief system, Christianity, ACTS as though it's polytheistic. Your political party analogy almost strengthens my point. It is a useful definition because we do discuss the nuanced affiliations in politics. These parties do select different nominees. These parties do/don't support the president. They (sometimes) function as different parties entirely.
Dec 15	comment	Is Christianity functionally polytheistic? You need to speak to more Christians of different sects. They don't agree on a definition of the god they are worshipping from the bible. Also, I'm not saying Christians worship different gods. I'm asking whether Christians "function" as though they do. Act as though they do their actions. Appear as though they do.