When Theologians Attack!
A few weeks ago I linked to an L.A. Times editorial by classical scholar Mary Lefkowitz. Lefkowitz argued for a return to polytheism, specifically Greek polytheism, and extolled its superiority over monotheism.
“Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic traditions. Greek theology openly discourages blind confidence based on unrealistic hopes that everything will work out in the end. Such healthy skepticism about human intelligence and achievements has never been needed more than it is today.”
You didn’t think the monotheists were going to take that lying down did you? So two* Christian theologians (Paul Capetz, and James A. Sanders) have written a joint editorial in response, singing the praises of monotheism and revealing the supposed failings of polytheism.
“…a few theologians apparently have forgotten all the struggles of the prophets, the sages and Jesus. They cast wistful eyes at what seems like a paradise lost of religious tolerance and inclusiveness that is supposed to have characterized Greco-Roman polytheism but, in truth, never did … Polytheism leaves us with a fragmented world of chaos and a failure to see things as a whole. For that reason, we are convinced that only a genuine monotheism can serve as the basis for a truly inclusive mode of thinking and acting in our time.”
Being Christians, their argument is peppered with scriptural references, and they argue that “genuine” monotheism (as opposed to the aberrant “henotheist-monotheists” who engage in intolerant behavior) is intrinsically superior to polytheism, and provide a typical laundry list of polytheists acting intolerantly (the death of Socrates, Roman persecution of Christians). There are also some obvious flaws in their reply, including the cherry-picking from history, equating Greek polytheism with Roman polytheism, and comparing ancient forms of polytheism with (again cherry-picked) modern Christian ethical thinking.
One wonders if this will be the final word, or if Lefkowitz (or some other pro-polytheist advocate) will be allowed to continue this dialog in the L.A. Times editorial pages. If they do, I’ll be bringing the popcorn for round three!
* Two against one is no doubt the standard protocol when monotheist theologians engage in rhetorical “battle” with a polytheist.
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