Whatever constitutes proof one must believe in it, if the proof is to be
effectual. If I am going to prove that the velocity of light is some
value, whether the attraction of gravity is such and such, that the
recession velocity of some distant galaxy is what so and so says it is,
then somewhere along the way I must freely decide whether or not I
believe something about the problem at hand. Even if I am to prove
Fermat's Theorem, somewhere in the process I must assume or believe
other proofs or premises to be true. It appears to be the very nature of
the Universe in which we find ourselves. Everything, including logic and
language comes down to a matter of belief or faith.
And that's the way it is with belief in One God or many gods. The free
choice is ours. People are free to believe whether or not the Sun
revolves around the Earth. People are also free to choose whether or not
they believe the Earth to be relatively young -- or flat. In each
decision many aspects of perspective, study, associations with people
and places, training, upbringing, convictions etc. etc. come into play.
Decisions might seem to be simple but they really aren't. Christians, in
one way or another have freely chosen to accept the notion that there is
One God. Taken a step further they believe that the consilience of all
things is bound up in very "mind" of God. Taken even a step further they
believe that the very first thing that God did was to produce something
"out" of himself, something very different and distinct from himself,
yet something created and sustained by him. Possibly, before the dawn of
time there was some risk taken, something like love as we know it.
St. Anselm's ontological proof of God or Kalam's cosmological proof are
rather convincing if we put sufficient faith in our methodology of
logic. But it is necessary to have that faith first of all. A choice
must be made.
So it would be for a proof of many gods. Everything would come down to
initial premises and faith. We have records and historical data on the
religions of polytheism. We know how they operated and what the results
were. Even now when the pagan notions of old are renewing themselves we
see the results. But the choice is ours.
As for the One God, we have tens of thousands of historical documents,
eye witness accounts, we have the promise of eternal life, life in
abundance, and lovingkindness no matter what the circumstances. We know
it. We hear it. We see it. We feel it. But in the end it's faith alone,
through grace. Some would look to intelligent design, thinking all along
they know what intelligence is, not to mention design. Some would look
for a correspondence to deconstructed metaphors of scripture. Others
would look for anything that precludes faith.
The One God says "I AM". "Who do you say that I am?" is what he asks us.
The many gods are defined by us, we say who they are and they ask us to
believe in ourselves. Either way, our choice; so too, the consequences.
Christopher Morbey