Was Israel's god initially viewed as just another god amongst many? (worship, quote)

[yydanay515]

I maintain that the early Hebrews/Israelites were NOT monotheists, but rather, henotheists, a people who believed other gods existed but were sworn to the worship of only one; in this case, YHW (Yahweh).

Your thoughts.

[RDSLOTS]

Originally Posted by yydanay515

I maintain that the early Hebrews/Israelites were NOT monotheists, but rather, henotheists, a people who believed other gods existed but were sworn to the worship of only one; in this case, YHW (Yahweh).

Your thoughts.

How early do you want to consider, yydanay515? Seems to me most all peoples who ascribed to a faith or religious beliefs were not monotheistic. Even when Yahweh became established at the one true God of the Hebrews, some wanted to hang onto earlier beliefs in other gods.

Interesting question. One author's supposition of this idea is presented in Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, where the women segregate during their 'unclean' times of the month, and in the security of the tent, pull out their little stone idols, and pray to the goddess of fertility, and the like.

I used to teach World Literature to HS 10th graders, and we always got tickled over the argument(s) on religion between the missionaries and the Africans in 19th century Nigeria. The Nigerians didn't understand how the Christians could 'trouble' their one god with all of their problems, and explained this as their reason for the worship of many.

[yydanay515]

Originally Posted by RDSLOTS

How early do you want to consider, yydanay515? Seems to me most all peoples who ascribed to a faith or religious beliefs were not monotheistic. Even when Yahweh became established at the one true God of the Hebrews, some wanted to hang onto earlier beliefs in other gods.

Interesting question. One author's supposition of this idea is presented in Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, where the women segregate during their 'unclean' times of the month, and in the security of the tent, pull out their little stone idols, and pray to the goddess of fertility, and the like.

I used to teach World Literature to HS 10th graders, and we always got tickled over the argument(s) on religion between the missionaries and the Africans in 19th century Nigeria. The Nigerians didn't understand how the Christians could 'trouble' their one god with all of their problems, and explained this as their reason for the worship of many.

Well the early Old Testament and older Psalms seems to show badly edited areas where there are still hints of beliefs that indicates Israel's god was one amongst many. As the culture evolved over time, he was elevated to the one and only god, rivaled by a counter-deity to set up the perfect good against evil dualisitc theology. There is one scripture in Deuteronomy that is critical to this theory.

[coosjoaquin]

I think early judaism was henotheistic.