Day 53 – One
For I am God, and there is no other. –the book of ISAIAH
God is One. So say the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But what is the basis of this belief in the unity of God? What answer can be given to those who worship several gods?
My Christian faith was birthed on a monotheistic platform. To this day it is one of the few beliefs that I have not felt the slightest inclination to question. Ironically, it is also one of the most subjective beliefs I possess. This is not because there are no rational arguments for it. In fact, several good defenses of monotheism have been written,1 and these have served to buttress my belief. Still, when it comes to this topic, I have always leaned most heavily on a long-standing subjective assurance that there is only one God. This has always seemed to me the most plausible option.
If pressed by you to offer my own logical take on the subject, I would first remind you of the objective defenses of others. Next, I would put forth this, my own argument in favor of the unity of God:
The Argument from Design is essentially “outside” information, obtained by looking around us. As such, it does not tell us how many gods exist. If you recall the illustration from Day 16, those three robbers could not tell by looking at the dollhouse in my attic if one or more builders constructed it. In the same way, you and I may realize by looking at the universe’s design that it was created. What we cannot discern is whether one God or several gods did the creating and designing.
In contrast, the Argument from Fairness is “inside” information. We discover by looking within us that there are rules of right and wrong in the universe. Now rules are much different than designs. If you think about it, you will discover that there is behind every rule a unity of origin. One hundred politicians may work together to enact legislation, but we speak of one entity, the Senate, being responsible for it. If both Senate and House confer on a bill, we say that it came from one body called the Congress. Nine separate judges may make a ruling, but the newspaper will label it the sole work of the Supreme Court. Twelve men and women may judge someone innocent or guilty, but the verdict is said to come from one jury. A group of people may determine how golf is to be played, but we refer to the USGA Rules of Golf, again the work of a unified body. Even when a mother and father lay down rules, the child (perceiving them to be a unified force) will say, “My parents did it.” That is the way rules are in general. It is best to speak of them as coming from one origin, albeit one that may have multiple dimensions to it. A rule may have more than one personality behind it, but in the end it is always the product of the one.
Likewise, the Moral Law. Its Source must be unity, not plurality. Its rules of right and wrong must stem from one entity: God. For sure, this one God may be multi-dimensional. As we shall see tomorrow, Christians have been saying this for years. But these Trinitarians will tell you that the three “personalities” are facets of the one and only God. They do so with good reason. God—the giver of the Moral Law, the Author of the Rules—must be seen as unity (i.e. one entity), beside whom “there is no other.”
The arguments others have offered are probably sounder philosophically than the one I just presented. I include it here because it works for my faith and perhaps may be of some benefit to yours. If not, do not be dismayed. There are those other defenses of monotheism out there for you to consider. And you can factor in your subjective opinion as well. Like a mother’s intuition, it can often be a reliable source of information. If the phrase “all things considered” is put into play, one of the things that should be considered is what seems right to you.
God is One. This has always seemed right to me.
1I refer you to the writings of the greatest minds in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. All affirm belief in only one God.
Daily Quotation
Isaiah 45:22 (NIV)
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