re: #117 Nyet

On the other hand, deciding whether Gods of different religions are the same God in a “for real” metaphysical sense is strictly a province of the individual believer. If a Baptist group decides that Allah and YHWH are different Gods, then it is true (for them). If a Muslim group decides the opposite, then it is also true (for them). If a Krishnaite believes that Gods of all world religions are just manifestations of Krishna, then it is true, and if a religious Jew rejects such a view, it is also true.

I would agree with this if we were talking about three randomly selected religions, or something like the Interpretatione Graecae—trying to form identities between the gods of different peoples.

This isn’t like that at all, however. This is supposed to be a “historical” record, invented by the Old Testament Hebrews, showing the creation and development of the world under the command of their (borrowed Arab) God. Christianity accepted this narrative in its entirety, as did Islam, since Abraham, Moses, and Jesus are all accepted as prophets. Therefore it’s all the same god from start to finish. Adding more prophets (including Joseph Smith) doesn’t change the earlier parts of the story.