Although criticizing religion is undoubtedly controversial according to many a believer, the concept of having a universal but supreme god prevents many from finding solutions to their problems (Vidal). On the religious side, it can be argued that having monotheistic religions has contributed to the existence of a just society, characterized by law and order. From a critical point, a monotheistic religion prevents the believers from exercising their freedom of worship or freedom of religion and hence, preventing them from visualizing the existence of any world other than the one depicted by their religion. As such, a monotheistic believer will always live in a world of ignorance of the existence of a world lived by a polytheist. A monotheist believes that his/her god is independent of anybody due to self-sufficiency and the controller of all creations. This paper examines the applicability and practicability of Gore Vidal’s article ‘monotheism and its discontents’. Over the entire article, Vidal constantly uses the word “sky-godder’ in reference to proponents of monotheism or one-religion or those individuals who interpret religion from one perspective. Vidal's use of the term sky-godder detrimental because it depicts the level of hatred, disagreement, and impracticability he thinks of monotheistic religions. Literally, a sky-god refers to an unreachable god in the sky
First, Vidal refers to monotheism as being an “unmentionable and greatest evil that lies in our midst’. He points out the three main religions that advocate for monotheism and brands them as sky-godder religions. Vidal goes to an extent of citing these religions as being anti-humans because he believes that their principles and tenets go against the will of humanity. He describes their god as a jealous god,-another level of hatred- who expects every living being to pay allegiance to him. Failure to obey such principles qualifies one to death or forceful conversion. Truly, this seems rightly inhumane, if such accusations are anything to believe. Speaking of the society, monotheism has given birth to totalitarianism whereby certain individuals or political groups on earth use monotheistic tenets to control the rest. Under the umbrella of democracy, sky-godders are using force to control people all over the world (Vidal).
Wendell Berry, in Christianity and the Survival of Creation also agrees with Vidal’s accusations that monotheism is the greatest evil that has affected the planet earth (Berry). Berry argues that Christianity-a form of monotheistic religion-has brought unmentionable destructions to the natural world (Berry). Equally, these monotheists – Christians - are unable to correct their destructions and therefore, their critiques are plainly right as their accusations. Berry cites the notoriety of Christian destruction has being evident all-over the western hemisphere with missionaries, preachers, and priests being the proponents. This has led to economic exploitation as well as cultural exploitation in the majority of traditions. To show farther this level of hatred, berry argues that Christian organizations have remained indifferent in their continued plunder and rape of the world and its natural contents. It is hardly difficult to compare the level of destructions caused by Christian organizations to that level of destruction brought about by industrial organizations. Plainly, the level of inhumanity brought about by industrial-military organizations, in respect to destruction of creation can be equated to that level of destruction brought about by Christian organizations (Berry).
One-sidedness is another crucial setback with monotheist advocators, largely due to their conservationist indictment. Berry argues that Christians believe on the bible and its contents such that they cannot hear of anything related to it. In his arguments, humans wrote the bible, just like any other book, and hence, it is subject to error. This means that the bible is also open to criticisms owing what it advocates, which is largely Christian behavior. Speaking of behavior, many Christian preachers and priests have been accused preaching water and drinking wine. Simply put, the requirements and principles of this monotheistic religion are hard to follow. So one wonders why people should take the expense of trying to force it down on other people. In pointing out other errors within the bible, Berry cites the land ownership issue in Ps. 24:1 where the land belongs to the lord (sky-god) and hence, all humans can dwell in it (Berry). However, this contradicts with the existence of the human law that is defined by land ownership. He also revisits this aspect in Lev. 25:23 where it is arguing that ‘the land belongs to the lord and all people are sojourners and strangers with him (Berry). Perhaps, impracticable in the current world that is governed by property ownership and believe in real estates.
Equally, the bible argues that god is the creator of the universe and all its contents without which nothing could have existed (John 1; 3). The same bible states that god wants the best for everyone and god would not let anything come between its people. However, the world is full of many disasters and calamities such as earthquakes, storms, dangerous animals, and diseases. Therefore, Vidal and Berry in their hatred of monotheism show that the god of sky-godders is jealous and destroys his own people. On the other hand, Christianity forbids idolatry but it encourages people to worship the church and view it as the holiest place. Given that idols refer to something made with the hands, then a church qualifies as an idol.
Finally yet important, monotheism has created a world that is dependent upon certain tenets and principles that seems unlikely to be abandoned. As Vidal puts it, the views of few will continue to control the views of the majority and hence, the continued existence and expansion of exploitative vices such as dictatorship and capitalism under the umbrella of religion. Although difficult, achieving a world ruled by a common humanity might provide the ideal solution to issues relating to religion. However, using sky-god religions to instill superstitions and taboos to other people might fail to help in the realization of this objective. Many individuals are born in such sky-god religions and these individuals will live with the fear breaking the tenets and principles of such religions through independence of thought and mind. It only the few, bold and courageous like Vidal Gore, who are capable of standing up and fighting against monotheisms. Undeniably, Vidal's use of the term sky-godder detrimental because it depicts the level of hatred, disagreement, and impracticability he thinks of monotheistic religions.
Work Cited
Berry, Wendell. Christianity and The Survival of Creation. 7 March 2012. Web. < http://www.crosscurrents.org/berry.htm>
Masudul Alam Choudhury, "Islam versus liberalism: contrasting epistemological
inquiries",
International Journal of Social Economics, (2008) 35.4: pp.239 – 268
Vidal, Gore. ‘Monotheism and Its discontents (the great unmentionable)’. 8 March 2012. Web.
