I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.
– Stephen F. Roberts
This quote was given in a recent discussion as to why one should embrace atheism or at least agnosticism. Is the monotheist dismissal of polytheism the same as the antheists dismissal of monotheism?
I contend that logically polytheism is bankrupt, while a case can be logically made for monotheism.
Occam’s razor should take care of multiple gods.
The creator of the razor, William of Ockham, a English logician and Franciscan friar, said, “No plurality should be assumed unless it can be proved by reason, or by experience, or by some infallible authority.”
If gods are needed in the universe, unless there is some evidence to the contrary, a singular God is all that is needed. There is no evidence that multiple gods roam supernaturally through our world, therefore belief in a singular God is the most logical next step.
Polytheism can also be dismissed because by nature God would be infinite and there cannot be two infinite beings. To distinguish between the two, they must be somehow different. If they differ is any way, one lacks something which the other possesses. If one lacks something, then that being is by definition not infinite. Therefore, there can only be one infinite Being, furthering the case against polytheism.
The logical case for the existence of an infinite Being is one on which thousands of books have been written. I will not be able to convey all of that information in blog posts, but as a primer to posts to come this week, here are some of the topics that point toward the existence of a God.
The Cosmological Argument that points to a “first cause.” Included in this, is the Islamic view of Kalam.
There is also the Teleological argument (or design argument) which points to the precise order, purpose, design or direction within nature.
Other arguments include the emergence of morality, the moral code, the existence of truth, the existence of intelligence, miracles and many others.
Hopefully, I will be able to delve into these in the coming days to give a brief overview of the logical argument for a monotheistic God.
