How Many Gods Are There?
by Ron Kurtus (updated 22 December 2022)
The Christian, Islam and Jewish religions believe in one God. But there are many religions that have multiple gods. Some religions also say there is one universal spirit and others do not believe in god.
Questions you may have include:
- What religions believe in one god?
- What religions believe in multiple gods?
- What religions believe in no gods?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Note: This is an educational website. We are not promoting any one religion.
One god
Christian, Islam and Jewish religions believe in one God. However, most Christian religions have an interesting variation, where there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Although these religions believe there is only one God, they also have a commandment saying, "You should have no other gods before Me." That implies that there may be lesser gods.
Note: Could angels be considered minor gods in these religions?
Hinduism
Central to Hinduism is the belief in a supreme God Brahman, the universal soul, which is found in everything. However, Hinduism also has numerous minor gods.
Multiple gods
Ancient Greek and Roman religions had multiple gods, each having a distinct human characteristic and personality.
Sample list of Greek gods:
- Aphrodite: Goddess of love, beauty and desire.
- Apollo: God of light, healing, music, poetry, plague, prophecy, and more.
- Ares: God of war and bloodshed.
- Artemis: Goddess of hunting, wilderness, animals and childbirth.
- Athena: Goddess of wisdom and skill, warfare and tactics.
- Demeter: Goddess of farming, the harvest and fertility.
- Dionysus: God of wine, parties and festivals, madness and ecstasy.
- Hades: King of the underworld and god of the dead.
Romans later included similar gods.
No god
Buddhism and Scientology are examples of religions that do not adhere to the concept of a god. However, some followers of Buddhism have deified "The Buddha" and consider him as a form of a god. Some aspects of Scientology refer to some godlike entity.
Both religions are better described as philosophies of life than actual religions.
Summary
The Christian, Islam and Jewish religions believe in one God. Ancient Greek and Roman religions had multiple gods, as does Hinduism. Buddhism and Scientology do not really believe in god.
Be a good person
Resources and references
Websites
God Is Triune - Answers in Genesis.org
Trinity - Wikipedia
Greek mythology - Wikipedia
List of figures in Greek mythology - Wikipedia
List of Roman deities - Wikipedia
Hindu Deities - Wikipedia
Books
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