10.01.2016:
Reflection
on Polytheism-monotheism and polygamy/ polyandry-monogamy:
‘Man is the measure of everything’ so goes a saying! Jesus is said to have told
the Pharisees in Mark 2:27, “Sabbath was made for man, and not man for
Sabbath…” However, man is not the last word in our planet or universe.
There are powers beyond man’s reach and
understanding and they exert influence on him as well. These powers, though
seemingly act differently, work at tandem towards a greater end. That which
synchronizes those different powers for a common end could be termed as the
universal spirit or god.
And man always
tried to bring it under his domain addressing it as he wanted… This may be how different
concept of god arose, quite often mutually competing, if not contradicting.
Some are said to be a jealous ones not tolerating any other. They advocate
annihilation not only of those following such ones, but the demolition of such
other gods…
Man was at awe
before the powers of nature such as floods, storms, lightning and thunder and
so on. Till he understood them and brought them under control, he attributed
them divinity. Even lesser powers and creatures were attributed divinity. Thus,
came up pantheism. Polytheism is a developed concept where in there are more
than one god-head. Man’s craving for power and more power made him to invent an
all encompassing god, a monarch god, one god who subdues all other gods and
reigns supreme. Thus arose monotheism.
In this write
up, am attempting to see possible correlation between polytheism and polyandry/
polygamy and monotheism and monogamy…
Concentration
seems to be the hall mark of worship. But the faithful/devotee is sufficiently
distracted with other gods, lesser gods like the saints. Go to any temple or
church, you would find a number of such characters there.
-
Many gods – pantheism – polytheism – many deities…
-
Nirguna Brahman –
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Mono theism – ‘veneration’ of saints…
-
Adoration and veneration….
o
Monogamy
o
Polygamy
o
Human morality – a farce – pretension…
o
Animal world – procreation – population
§ No want – starvation -
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