Demoting the gods

Heaven ain’t big enough for all of them

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

Although Judaism and Christianity are both monotheistic religions, the Bible sometimes implies that other gods exist. One example, coming from the Old Testament, is Psalm

82: "God presides in the great assembly; He renders judgement among the gods… The gods know nothing; they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken."

The passage suggests that God has power over other godly figures and can demote them. In the following passage, God then announces that he has decided to demote the other gods, turning them into mere mortals: "I said, 'You are 'gods'; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler."

Stories like this may provide clues as to how religion evolved in

Israel. One theory among scholars is that multiple gods may have been worshipped early in Israel's history and that over time the Israelis adopted a single god.