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From: urban@spp2.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Only one God?
Message-ID: <284@spp2.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Nov-84 18:47:45 EST
Article-I.D.: spp2.284
Posted: Thu Nov 29 18:47:45 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Dec-84 05:03:38 EST
Reply-To: urban@spp2.UUCP (Mike Urban)
Organization: TRW, Redondo Beach  CA
Lines: 24


This is a request for information.  Please do not flame
or proselytize in response.

I have been told that the word "God" for the entity who creates
the cosmos in Genesis is a translation of "Elohim", and that
this world has the Hebrew form of a plural.  There are several
other indications in the Old Testament that appear to admit
of other gods (otherwise, how could you have other gods before
the one delivering the commandments?  Or, isn't it funny to
say "I'm a jealous god" if you're the only god there is?)

My question: is there any sort of tradition in the Judaeo-Christian
world that holds that there are other gods?  Can the Old
Testament be interpreted as indicating that the god spoken of
is the god of the Jews, but that there are other (lesser) gods?
Or am I completely misinformed?  Note that Islam is particularly
clear about asserting that there is no other god besides Allah.
Why is this such an important point?

Thanks for your time.  Let's see if we can keep the level of
discussion relatively high for once.

	Mike