The prophet Jeremiah said that idols are worthless things and those who worship idols become worthless themselves:
Thus says the LORD: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves? (Jeremiah 2:5).
Goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols; for their images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion (Jeremiah 10:14-15).
So, now I come back to my friend’s question: “Is it possible to believe in false gods?” As I said above, the answer is obvious: Of course it is.
The idolatrous practices of the people of ancient Israel is a vivid reminder that people can worship false gods, but those who worship those worthless things become worthless themselves. As Yahweh spoke through the prophet Jeremiah: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves” (Jeremiah 2:5 NIV). If anyone wants to worship a god, why worship false gods? People should worship the true and living God, and serve only him (Deuteronomy 10:20).