@ConceptualJames Bro what? Virtually every Christian figure understood that passage to refer to being crucified next to 2 criminals, as well as being unjustly condemned. It was perfectly legal at the time for the disciples to carry swords. Your 'exegesis' is terrible, and I'm not even an EO.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix Paul couldn't be clearer. He says that, although some idols are called 'gods' and 'lords', they don't actually exist. I'll appeal to scholars, like you did: the majority of biblical scholars view 1 Cor 8:4-6 as debunking any form of polytheism and, by extension, henotheism.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix Paul affirms the Christian interpretation in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 incredibly clearly. The existence of other interpretations does not in any way, shape, or form make them valid.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix “Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other” Deuteronomy 4:39, NASB95
“I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God. Isaiah 45:5, NASB95
Scripture seems to disagree.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix The first one wouldn’t be polytheism if you were trinitarian. If you aren’t, then it’s absolutely polytheism. The second one is polytheism if you mean “become gods” to be what you believe the father went through.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix It is very widely known and documented that Mormon prophets taught polytheism. You seem to reject it. Those positions aren’t reconcilable.
@UCStanford@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix 1. That is not the standard understanding of the doctrine. 2. The only way a view like that works is if you believe in what I would call "infinitarianism" where God has infinite persons within himself - but you guys already reject the trinity and call it nonsensical.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix well if you don't believe that great, but then you'd have to label Joseph Smith, Bringham Young, etc as false prophets (if you're consistent anyway)
@UCStanford@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix Dude, quit being dishonest, you’re not actually representing Mormon theology, or you’re lying. “As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.” Your exaltation theology is incredibly clear.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix That’s not gonna work; your theology says the father was unexalted. That absolutely undermines divinity. The father was not God beforehand, he was just like you or me, according to your theology.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix Yes. That is Christianity 101. Being made flesh did not undermine Christ's divinity. The difference is, in mormon thought, the father before being exalted was not divine. You also have the nonsensical infinite regress to address.
@doubt_thomas729@Cervus2Leo@QuetzalPhoenix I have studied; iirc, the father was once in a non-exalted state and then became exalted, being part of a chain of infinite regress. Thus, the father was not always divine, which doesn’t seem to be what you believe…