I don't think that Budhists and Shinto's actually believe in the same kind of god (as a distinct concious entity) as the Pagans or Monotheists. I'm too familiar with them and suspect that there are different sects in different countries.
Buddhists = Atheists (no god)
Jew, Christian & Muslim = Monotheists (one god)
Pagans = Polytheists (many gods)
Most Christians accept the Trinity which some view as polytheistic, hence a pagan heresy (Jews are strictly Monotheists, as are Muslims, but the latter accept Christ as a prophet). The Jehovah’s Witness faith (one of a number of American Religions) is largely based on that distinction, IIRC. Another American Religion, Mormonism, believes that people become gods themselves, therefor it is a very polytheistic religion.
The ancient Jewish people are largely the inventors of Monotheism, it was their one outstanding intellectual endeavour. Their intellectual efforts in science, technology and government were well eclipsed by ancient Egypt, Babylon, Greece & Rome. But today, 2000+ years later, modern society stands on the shoulders of Greece & Rome for our civil & scientific roots, and monotheism for religion. |
