Video about Shirk
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Polytheism v Monotheism
Polytheism believes in a metadivine realm, an existince prior to the existence of the gods(water, smoke, fire, fate etc) that the gods were under the domain of and under the decree of and under the dependence of. This is the supreme and ultimate realm and it transcends the deities who are under the laws and power of this metadivine realm. So the gods are limited, there is no absolute divine will and authority. They are not all knowing and all wise since this medadivine realm which is often mysterious and all too powerfull for the gods. The gods can also be limited by the activities of other gods, spirits or natural forces.
Polytheism relies on mytholgy, the stories of the gods. The gods have a begining where they are born and can die and even re-born. Theogony(the stories of the birth of the gods) is a common concept among paganism. Usually the metadivine realm is where the gods are born or emerge and usually this is where all life forms and natural existence came into existence.
Polytheism therefore has a fluid boundary between the divine, human and natural world since they all emerge from the same primordial(before existence) material, the metadivine realm that was in existence before everything. The gods are like exaggerated human beings. Therefore gods and nature are very similar and intertwine with one another such as the god of fire or the god of fertility or war or the god of the ocean or moon etc. So not much difference between the worshiping of god or the worshiping of nature. Hence gods can form or become humans and vice versa since there is a commonality between the gods and nature and humans. Often after death certain humans can become gods and some gods can becomee humans or spirits and so on. There is a fluid relationship between them.
Divine power according to paganism is conceived on material things usually the stuff the primordial existence is made of. Power can thus be attained by manipulating these material things connected to the metadivine realm such as fire, smoke, water etc. These divine powers can be attained through magic or rituals and humans can tap into these divine powers. This power can then be used to circumvent the gods and force them to do what they otherwise wouldn't do. So being able to manipulate these natural or material forces can influence the behavior of the gods since the gods themselves are under the domain of these primordial forces. These powers of manipulation can also protect humans from the gods and the evil spirits etc. Its the metadivine realm that contains the ultimate power and the gods can be used as a medium in some cases to tap into the metadivine realm. Blood, flesh and water and all this material forces that have some connection with the metadivine realm can be used and manipulated to influence the gods and seek protection from harm.
Pagan rituals and festivals often are reenactments of the death or birth of the gods or battles and major events in the life of the gods. This will bring about the powers of the gods and can be used to continue the birth and fertility of life and bring about victories in battles and so on. These reenactments were a way to continue the divine powers and favors. Since the primordial forces(metadivine realm) is what everything, including the gods, emerge from, the primordial forces are resposnsible for all good and bad. So there are good gods and evil gods that often battle one another and interact with one another. Death and disease are confined to these evil spirits who are like sibblings of the good gods. Humans can only rely on magic and rituals to reach the powers of the metadivine to protect them against these evil gods and spirits. Once again the need to circumvent these gods and spirits by connecting with the metadivine where all powers finally rests.
As far as montheism, well you know that better than I do.
That God is absolute, all knowing, a force of only good, and is supreme over all others and things and is complete distinct from nature and eternal and was always is. Everything fall under His will and nature is an expression of His will and there is no blurring between God, nature and man. God is completely distinct yet in full command.http//video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7359195828637989025&ei=TCMOS-3xIYH8wQPSloz0Aw&q=old+testament&hl=en&view=1&dur=3#
Hence when the Quran says that God is all knowing and all hearing and all powerfull, this is an alien belief from all pagans. That God can not fall asleep and was always and is always is and does not fall into fatique or forgetfullness etc, all this was alien to the pagans.
The other aspect of paganism that conflicted with the Quran is of course the resurrection of humans and an after life.
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Thanks for this bigmo handshake peace