ARGUMENTS AGAINST GOD AND RELIGION — Part III Argument from History

has been attributed over the ages to religion, then, independently of those, whose approach is essentially an internal one, they arrange this material in an evolutionary sequence, intentionally omitting any details which might cast doubt on its validity. For instance, after extensive research, anthropologists and sociologists discovered that the concept of God began with polytheism and, progressing gradually, was developed into monotheism. But, according to them, this cycle of evolution has turned in the reverse direction, turning the concept of monotheism into contradiction. The concept of a ‘Multiplicity of gods’, according to them, at least had a certain intrinsic value in that, while putting their faith in ‘Different gods’, people could live in harmony; acknowledge the existence of the gods of other communities. But the doctrine of ‘One God’ has naturally negated all other gods and their believers, thus giving birth to the concept of a ‘Higher Religion’ which, in turn, gave rise to unending wars among the various groups and nations. Thus the concept of God, having evolved in the wrong direction, has dug its own grave in accordance with the law of evolution. The materialistic interpretation of life also dispenses with any definite criterion for the judgement of good and evil. The fact that the concept of God started with monotheism has been totally omitted in this evolutionary sequence. According to known history, Noah was the first prophet who, it has been established, exhorted people to believe in one God. Moreover, ‘Polytheism’ does not mean a multiplicity in the absolute sense, as is commonly understood. No nation has ever been ‘Polytheist’ in the sense that it believed in many gods of the same order. In fact, polytheism implies a hierarchy with one ‘Supreme God’ at the top and his entourage of demi-gods spreading downwards from Him on the rungs of the divine ladder. Polytheism has always carried with it the concept of a ‘God of gods’. This shows how baseless are the claims of this so-called evolutionary religion. The Marxist approach to history is even more bereft of meaning, being based on the hypothesis that it is economic conditions, alone, which are the real factors which shape man. According to Marx, religion came into existence in an age of feudalism and capitalism. Since these systems were tyrannical and fostered exploitation, the moral and religious concepts which evolved under them had, of necessity, reflected their environment. They were no more than doctrines which condoned and