But, Fi/Umniyah/Link, that still requires faith. For instance, suppose you're drowning after the boat you were on sunk and there were no other survivors, yet a helicopter came into view just before you were about to definitively go under. You might believe that a single God has saved you for whatever reason, but that still requires faith. Similarly, a polytheist could ascribe this to one of a pantheon of deities with varying dominions with the same faith.
This is why I said that it's all one to me, since believing in one God or many requires just as much faith.
The argument of universal moral standards, yes, could be seen as evidence for a single God... but in polytheistic beliefs there's generally one single deity that created Man and the others represent different facets of the Divine in general which inspired this creation to some part or another. Furthermore, from an evolutionary perspective, it implies that humans originated from a single common societal ancestor which had those standards.
I ought actually to generate a thread on this sort of thing so we can keep questions of that nature in there, but it's late and I've stuff to do...
Thanks for your response
If you believe there is only One deity who created you and sustains you, and gives you all you have - then why are you dependant upon other deities which people create through their own hands? When you are in severe need of help, do you truelly turn to these stone idols etc? Or do you turn to the One who truelly gives you life and is aware of all that you and us all do?
If you turn to the One who gives you life and all you have - then why not worship Him Alone? He is not in need of intermediaries, rather He is the All-Hearing, All Seeing.
What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?
Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."
When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than He are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!
Say: "O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed."
[Qur'an 39: 43-46]
Think about it, the only reason why you do this is because you see this from culture. You know that your God is One, so why not worship Him Alone?
Say: "I have been forbidden to invoke those whom ye invoke besides Allah,- seeing that the Clear Signs have come to me from my Lord; and I have been commanded to bow (in Islam) to the Lord of the Worlds."
It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom.
It is He Who gives Life and Death; and when He decides upon an affair, He says to it, "Be", and it is.
Seest thou not those that dispute concerning the Signs of Allah? How are they turned away (from Reality)?-
[Qur'an [Al-Ghafir/The Forgiving] 40: 66-9]
I really hope you ponder over this.
Because your God is One God, and there is none worthy of worship except Him Alone. The One who created you, the One who sustains you, the One who will cause you to die, and it is Him who will ressurect us all to judge us all.
By the way, take care of yourself insha Allaah [God willing.]
Peace.
