It's just occurred to to me, that line could easily be quite mistaken. As I recall, not knowing much about the bible, it doesn't actually deny the existence of other gods, it just says "Thou shalt worship no other gods before me".
Doesn't that pretty much admit there are other gods, but you're just not supposed to worship them?
No, it means all other gods are false gods. And, it doesn't just refer to statues of cows, or cats or some other deity. It is whatever you worship - money, sex, power, status. None of these are a true God which will bring you peace and salvation - if that is what you are seeking.
For instance - we all need money and it is understandable to want to make enough that you can retire and live comfortably without becoming a burden upon anyone. But, what do you gain if you screw people over to save money, are a cheap-skate who barely tips, doesn't give to charity and is able to retire in your 50's instead of 60's? Most likely you are going to be a miserable type of person who no one wants to be around and no one is willing to help out if you should need it.
But you're talking about idolatry, worshipping false idols, which seems to be in a different part of the bible, a separate but semi-related issue.
Kind of like (to use a weird analogy), McDonald's saying "Thou shalt not eat the meat at other burger chains, neither shall thou eat the 'false meat' of vegans."
Make sure you understand this point. I'm NOT trying to convince anyone that there is a God and/or people should be Christian.
Your comparison would be better if McDonald's was talking about their vegan soy burger and they were saying that all other vegan soy burgers weren't really vegan soy burgers. All had some kind of animal product in them. That would make them false vegan soy burgers and people who consume them thinking they are avoiding killing any animal are failing.
Simply acknowledging the existence of something doesn't mean you are acknowledging it is correct/good/accurate. It is like the makers of a wart remover saying that people used to stick their hands in the hole of a tree on a full-moon to get rid of warts.
The Judeo-Christian God is saying that people might claim Baal to be god, but he's really not. Worshipping him will gain you nothing.
Well, my comparison was more about the actual meat, as in "burger king also has meat, but their is not the meat you should worship, ours is. Nor should you worship that vegan soy meat crap, for it is false meat, it contains no meat at all."
And so, you're not actually disagreeing with me, by the sounds of it. The existence of other gods (lower case g) is acknowledged, but it's forbidden to worship them, so no calling them gods.
Doesn't that pretty much admit there are other gods, but you're just not supposed to worship them?
It's not just semantics. What He is saying is that no matter what it is, a statue, a cat, money, an imaginary being in the sky or water or volcano - none of them are gods. None of them can grant you eternal salvation so there is no reason to worship them/it.
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He could be saying it more like a proper title, yes.
There are many gods but only one God in total control, having the most power. He or she or it would have to be a higher level than all the others combined.
My God, he's over 9000.
Notice how naturally that changes in context and removing exclamation points!