Thugs!

Here's where I run into trouble with some of my friends who believe that

1) There's really only one god and he's the big-G everything-monogod, and he includes all the gods I believe in—my gods are illusions of my puny human body because there simply can't be more than one—and theirs is the one and he's a nice guy so leave him alone OR

2) Every god is created equal, just like every person is created equal (which I also find debatable), and therefore, every god is just as ok, so I can go follow my gods, but I shouldn't speak ill of anybody else's god.

Here's my reply to the first point: Harry (let's call him Harry) Harry, my friend, you believe firmly that there is only one god. Perhaps you've only experienced one, poor thing, so that's all you think there is. Perhaps you've never experienced any god, but you've considered the matter carefully and it makes sense to you that there would only be one and he'd be the big one. I've experienced a number of gods myself and I believe just as firmly in the existence of my many gods as you believe in your one big-G god. In fact, if there is a one big-G god, I can't imagine why he'd take a personal interest in us puny humans, what with all the galaxies and dimensions he's got to manage and strings he has to pull. The gods I follow are gods I can see and feel and hear. They may be greater than we are, but they're fallible, they're less than every-there-is, and I love them bunches.

Or, Harry, perhaps you don't believe in a monogod per se, but only in an abstract Universal Creative Force. I understand this point of view because some of my best relatives believe in this. I think it's a fine religious refuge you if you're a rationalist sort of guy, but then there's really no god-person at all and your point is moot.

Next comes Barbara. In point two, Barb, you say you find it offensive that I would speak ill of anybody else's god, but I gotta stand firm on this. Not all gods are created equal. I follow gods of love, but lots of people follow gods that are a substantial threat to humankind and the earth garden. Mammon, for example, otherwise known as money, is the big kahuna here in the United States. Gods of fear, greed, cruelty, and war are everywhere. Celebrity is worshiped in these days, and Power, oh how we bow down before Power.

There are a number of monogods in the world as well, Barbara, and they've got a long history of working for the dominators. The big three, of course, are the old Jewish Adonai, the new improved Christian Adonai, and Islam's Allah. The Adonai followers are so few as to be powerless on the world stage, but the followers of the Christian Adonai and the Islamic Allah are shamelessly exploiting their monogods' authority, so that their dominator elite can use them to fight for world empire. It's disgusting, is what it is. The monogods sold out to human dominators for a couple of books and billions of bended knees.

When a monogod uses his authority and power to slam gay kids, vindicate warlords, justify oppression, excuse murder, encourage plunder and allow the destruction of the earth, what else can I call them? Thugs is what they are! Thugs and criminals! You won't catch me following a god like that.