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Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated mythology and rituals. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. A pantheon (from Greek Πάνθειον - pantheion, literally "a temple of all gods " neut The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions

Contents

Etymology

English polytheism is attested from the 17th century, loaned from French polythéisme (since 1580). In post-classical Latin, the term is polytheismus. The word is attested later than atheism but earlier than theism. Atheism Theism, in its most inclusive usage is the belief in at least one Deity.

It ultimately derives from the Greek adjective πολυθεός (from πολύς "many" and θεός "god"), in the meaning "of or belonging to many gods" found in Aeschylus (Suppliant Women 424), in the meaning "believing in many gods" in Procopius (Historia Arcana 11). Aeschylus (ˈɛskɨləs or /ˈiːskɨləs/ Greek: Ασχύλος, Aischylos, 525 BC/524 BC 456 BC/455 BC was an ancient Greek Playwright Procopius of Caesarea ( Προκόπιος ο Καισαρεύς, c

Gods and divinity

Main articles: deity, god (male deity), and goddess

The deities of polytheistic religions are agents in mythology, where they are portrayed as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, needs, desires and histories. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always God, as a male Deity, contrasts with female deities or " goddesses " A goddess is a Female Deity. Many Cultures have goddesses Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities These gods are often seen as similar to humans (anthropomorphic) in their personality traits, but with additional individual powers, abilities, knowledge or perceptions. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects

Polytheism cannot be cleanly separated from the animist beliefs prevalent in most ethnic religions. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized Civil religions with an organized Clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are The gods of polytheism are in many cases the highest order of a continuum of supernatural beings or spirits, which may include ancestors, demons, wights and others. An ancestor is a Parent or ( recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i Wight: from Old English word wiht, is a Middle English word used to describe a Creature or a living being In some cases these spirits are divided into celestial or chthonic classes, and belief in the existence of all these beings does not imply that all are worshipped. Chthonic (from Greek χθόνιος khthonios "of the earth" from khthōn "earth" pertaining to the Earth; earthy subterranean

Variations

Further information: Theology, Pantheon (gods), Euhemerism, Interpretatio graeca, Demigod, and Apotheosis

Polytheists believe that gods are distinct and separate beings. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective A pantheon (from Greek Πάνθειον - pantheion, literally "a temple of all gods " neut Euhemerus (Εὐήμερος (working late fourth century BC was a Greek mythographer at the court of Cassander, the king of Macedon. Interpretatio graeca is a Latin term for the common tendency of Ancient Greek writers to equate foreign divinities to members of their own pantheon The term " demigod " meaning "half-god" is used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human They may believe in a unifying principle such as the "One" of the Platonists. The Greek gods provide an example. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance The ancient Greeks believed that their gods were independent deities who weren't aspects of a great deity and did stand on their own.

Soft polytheism is a variety of polytheism in which adherents believe in many gods or goddesses but consider them to be manifestations or "aspects" of a single god (or god and goddess) rather than completely distinct entities. Soft polytheism may include varieties of monolatry, henotheism or polytheist mythologies coupled with forms of pantheism or panentheism. Monolatrism or monolatry ( Greek: μόνος ( monos) = single and λατρεία ( latreia) = Worship) is the recognition of the existence Henotheism ( Greek heis theos "one god" is a term coined by Max Müller, to mean devotion to a Single god while accepting Pantheism ( Greek: πάν ( 'pan') = all and θεός ( 'theos') = God it literally means " God is All Panentheism (from Greek (pân "all" (en "in" and (Theós "God" "all-in-God" is a belief system

"Soft polytheists" regard their multiplicity of gods as being manifestations of either common entities, or representing different aspects or facets of a single personal god, the latter also sometimes known as "inclusive monotheists", as are many modern neopagan groups. The expression Personal God, refers to the belief that God is - and can be related to as - a Person.

Ancient Egyptian religion in its later phase (New Kingdom) espoused soft polytheism in the form of triads or triple gods or goddesses. Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Egypt from the predynastic period until the adoption of Christianity The New Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in Ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and They believed that certain gods were aspects of a greater god. Amon was an aspect of Ra and was usually known as Amon-Ra. Ra (pronounced Rah and sometimes as Rê, is an Ancient Egyptian sun god. The presence of triple gods such as Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, or "the Trinity", shows that even though their gods may have distinct personalities and traits, they are considered to be aspects of another deity. In Egyptian mythology, Ptah (also spelt Peteh) was the deification of the primordial mound in the Ennead Cosmogony, which was more literally For the places in Azerbaijan see Şəkər. "Sokar" redirects here Osiris ( Greek language, also Usiris; the Egyptian language name is variously transliterated Asar, Aser, Ausar, Ausir SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных In Hinduism, the Smartha tradition can also be seen as a form of soft polytheism. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu

"Hard polytheism" is most prevalent in mythology, where the gods appear as independent agents who can be, and often are, in conflict with one another. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" An example of hard polytheism is Euhemerism, the postulate that all gods are in fact historical humans. Euhemerus (Εὐήμερος (working late fourth century BC was a Greek mythographer at the court of Cassander, the king of Macedon. In this sense, hard polytheism from a monotheist perspective becomes indistinguishable from atheism. For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Atheism An example of gods in mutual conflict can be seen in Plato's Euthyphro (6e), a foundational text for the emergence of Neoplatonist and Christian monotheism, wherein Socrates criticizes a definition of piety because of the possibility that the gods might disagree among themselves on whether to approve of a particular action. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece Euthyphro is one of Plato 's early dialogues dated to after 399 BCE. Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth In spiritual terminology piety is a Virtue. While different people may understand its meaning differently it is generally used to refer either to religious devotion

The emergence of "soft polytheism" in antiquity was a result of theological speculation: Monism emerges in early Hinduism, leading to the notion of Brahman existing alongside a continued vigorous polytheist tradition. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Monism is the metaphysical and Theological view that all is one that all reality is subsumed under the most fundamental category of being or existence This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Soft polytheism can also be detected in the tendency to identify gods as aspects of one another, e. g. in the interpretatio graeca of non-Greek gods, or the triads in Ancient Egyptian religion, which postulated that certain gods were aspects of a greater god. Interpretatio graeca is a Latin term for the common tendency of Ancient Greek writers to equate foreign divinities to members of their own pantheon Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Egypt from the predynastic period until the adoption of Christianity

The terms "soft" vs. "hard" polytheism are often used to describe theological positions in Neopaganism. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical Soft polytheism is prevalent in New Age and syncretic currents of Neopaganism, as are psychological interpretations of deities as archetypes of the human psyche. New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Psychologism is a generic type of position in Philosophy according to which Psychology plays a central role in grounding or explaining some other non-psychological An archetype ( pronounced: /ˈɑːkɪtaɪp/ (Brit or /ˈɑrkɪtaɪp/ (Amer English occultist Dion Fortune was a major populiser of soft polytheism. The English people (from the adjective in Englisc) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to England who predominantly speak English The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine hidden secret referring to "knowledge of the hidden" Violet Mary Firth Evans, born Violet Mary Firth ( December 6 1890 - 1946 and better known as Dion Fortune, was a British In her novel, The Sea Priestess, she wrote, "All gods are one God, and all goddesses are one Goddess, and there is one Initiator. " This phrase proved so popular among some Neopagans (notably, Wiccans) to the extent that it is often thought to be ancient, traditional lore, rather than the product of a recent work of fiction. Fortune's soft polytheist compromise between monotheism and polytheism has been described as "pantheism" (Greek: πάν ( 'pan' ) = all and θεός ( 'theos' ) = God). However, "pantheism" has a longer history of usage to refer to a view of an all-encompassing immanent divine. Pantheism ( Greek: πάν ( 'pan') = all and θεός ( 'theos') = God it literally means " God is All

Types of deities

Further information: List of deities

Types of deities often found in polytheism

In comparative religion

Monotheism may be contrasted with polytheism in that the former a belief in the existence of only one god. This list of deities is an index to Polytheistic deities of the different religions cultures and mythologies of the world listed by type and by region The Sky has important religious significance Most Polytheistic religions have a Deity whose portfolio includes or is even limited Chthonic (from Greek χθόνιος khthonios "of the earth" from khthōn "earth" pertaining to the Earth; earthy subterranean A mother goddess is a Goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother who serves as a general Fertility deity the bountiful embodiment of the Earth. A creator deity is a Deity in a Creation myth responsible for the creation of the World (or Universe) In Mythology, and in the study of Folklore and Religion, a trickster is a God, Goddess, spirit, man woman or anthropomorphic The category life-death-rebirth deity also known as a "dying-and-rising" or "Resurrection" Deity is a convenient means of classifying the many divinities A culture hero is a Mythological Hero specific to some group ( cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, etc For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Polytheism and monotheism, being -theisms, may not be contrasted with -isms. The latter incorporate principles that do not necessarily reflect any relationship to theos "(of) god(s). " For example, monism is the term for any system with exactly one primal/primordial unity from which all other entities derive. Monism is the metaphysical and Theological view that all is one that all reality is subsumed under the most fundamental category of being or existence The confusion of 'monism' with 'monotheism' in popular understanding is due to the fact that Abrahamic religions are both monotheistic and monist.

Mythology and religion

Main article: Mythology and religion

In the Classical era, Sallustius (4th century CE) categorised mythology into five types:

  1. Theological
  2. Physical
  3. Psychological
  4. Material
  5. Mixed

The theological are those myths which use no bodily form but contemplate the very essence of the gods: e. Religion and mythology differ but have overlapping aspects Both terms refer to systems of concepts that are of high importance to a certain community making statements concerning the Sallustius or Sallust (Σαλούστιος was a 4th-century writer and friend of the Emperor Julian. g. , Kronos swallowing his children. Since divinity is intellectual, and all intellect returns into itself, this myth expresses in allegory the essence of divinity.

Myths may be regarded physically when they express the activities of gods in the world: e. g. , people before now have regarded Kronos as time, and calling the divisions of time his sons say that the sons are swallowed by the father.

The psychological way is to regard (myths as allegories of) the activities of the soul itself and or the soul's acts of thought.

The material is to regard material objects to actually be gods, for example: to call the earth Gaia, ocean Okeanos, or heat Typhon.

The mixed kind of myth may be seen in many instances: for example they say that in a banquet of the gods, Eris threw down a golden apple; the goddesses contended for it, and were sent by Zeus to Paris to be judged. Eris ( Greek Ἔρις, "Strife" is the Greek Goddess of strife her name being translated into Latin as Discordia The golden apple is an element that appears in some countries' legends or Fairy tales. Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology See List of King Priam's children Paris ( Greek:; also known as Alexander or Alexandros, c (See also the Judgement of Paris. The Judgement of Paris is a story from Greek mythology, which was one of the events that led up to the Trojan War and (in slightly later versions of the story to ) Paris saw Aphrodite to be beautiful and gave her the apple. Here the banquet signifies the hypercosmic powers of the gods; that is why they are all together. The golden apple is the world, which being formed out of opposites, is naturally said to be 'thrown by Eris '(or Discord). The different gods bestow different gifts upon the world, and are thus said to 'contend for the apple'. And the soul which lives according to sense - for that is what Paris is - not seeing the other powers in the world but only beauty, declares that the apple belongs to Aphrodite.

Historical polytheism

Well-known historical polytheistic pantheons include the Sumerian gods and the Egyptian gods, and the classical attested pantheon which includes the Ancient Greek religion, and Roman Religion. Mesopotamian mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian Akkadian Assyrian and Babylonian mythologies from the land between the Tigris Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Egypt from the predynastic period until the adoption of Christianity Greek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices. Ancient Roman religion encompasses the collection of Beliefs and Rituals practised in Ancient Rome in the form of Cult practices Post classical polytheistic religions include Norse Æsir and Vanir, the Yoruba Orisha, the Aztec gods, and many others. Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland The Yoruba religion is the religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people both in Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic) The Aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology which contained the many gods (over 100 and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs Today, most historical polytheistic religions are pejoratively referred to as "mythology", though the stories cultures tell about their gods should be distinguished from their worship or religious practice. For instance deities portrayed in conflict in mythology would still be worshipped sometimes in the same temple side by side, illustrating the distinction in the devotees mind between the myth and the reality. It is speculated that there was once a Proto-Indo-European religion, from which the religions of the various Indo-European peoples derive, and that this religion was an essentially naturalist numenistic religion. The existence of similarities among the deities and religious practices of the Indo-European (IE peoples allows glimpses of a common Proto-Indo-European An example of a religious notion from this shared past is the concept of *dyēus, which is attested in several distinct religious systems. * Dyēus (also * Dyēus ph2ter) is the reconstructed chief deity of the Proto-Indo-European pantheon.

In many civilizations, pantheons tended to grow over time. Deities first worshipped as the patrons of cities or places came to be collected together as empires extended over larger territories. Conquests could lead to the subordination of the elder culture's pantheon to a newer one, as in the Greek Titanomachia, and possibly also the case of the Æsir and Vanir in the Norse mythos. Titanomachy (epic poem In Greek mythology, the Titanomachy, or War of the Titans (Τιτανομαχία was the ten-year series of battles fought between In Old Norse, áss (or ǫ́ss ás, plural æsir, feminine ásynja, feminine plural ásynjur) is the term denoting one of the principal Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the Æsir. Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland Cultural exchange could lead to "the same" deity being renowned in two places under different names, as with the Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans, and also to the introduction of elements of a "foreign" religion into a local cult, as with Egyptian Osiris worship brought to ancient Greece. Osiris ( Greek language, also Usiris; the Egyptian language name is variously transliterated Asar, Aser, Ausar, Ausir The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca

Most ancient belief systems held that gods influenced human lives. However, the Greek philosopher Epicurus held that the gods were living, incorruptible, blissful beings who did not trouble themselves with the affairs of mortals, but who could be perceived by the mind, especially during sleep. Epicurus believed that these gods were material, human-like, and that they inhabited the empty spaces between worlds.

Hellenistic religion may still be regarded as polytheistic, but with strong monistic components, and monotheism finally emerges out of Hellenistic traditions in Late Antiquity in the form of Neoplatonism and Christian theology. Hellenistic religion comprises any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of the peoples who lived under the influence of ancient Greek culture during the Hellenistic Late Antiquity (c 300-600 is a Periodization used by historians to describe the transitional centuries from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by Christian Theology is discourse concerning Christian faith Christian theologians use biblical Exegesis, rational analysis and argument

Bronze Age to Classical Antiquity
Late Antiquity to High Middle Ages

Polytheism in world religions

Hinduism

See also: Hindu views on monotheism

The system prevalent in Hinduism is defined by the soft polytheistic Smartha philosophy and sect; this theory allows for the veneration of numberless deities, on the understanding that all of them are but manifestation of one impersonal divine power. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Classical antiquity (also the classical era or classical period) is a broad term for a long period of cultural History centered on the Mediterranean The Religions of the Ancient Near East were mostly Polytheistic, with some early examples of emerging Henotheism ( Atenism, early Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Egypt from the predynastic period until the adoption of Christianity Ancient Semitic religion spans the Polytheistic religions of the Semitic speaking peoples of the Ancient Near East. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details Greek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices. Ancient Roman religion encompasses the collection of Beliefs and Rituals practised in Ancient Rome in the form of Cult practices Celtic polytheism refers to the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Celts, prior to the Christianization of the Celtic-speaking lands Late Antiquity (c 300-600 is a Periodization used by historians to describe the transitional centuries from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299 Germanic paganism refers to the religious beliefs of the Germanic peoples preceding Christianization. Slavic mythology is the Mythological aspect of the Religion that was practised by the ancient Slavs. Finnish paganism was the indigenous pagan Religion in present-day Finland and Karelia prior to Christianization. Overview In the very first book of the Rig Veda, 116446 states ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadantya Truth is One but sages call upon God Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu That ultimate power is termed Brahman (not to be confused with Brahma) or Atman, and is believed to have no specific form, name or attribute. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Because the ultimate power is impersonal, the system is monistic. Smarta theologians are influenced by the Advaita philosophy expounded by Sankara. Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the By contrast, a Vaishnavite considers Vishnu as the only true god worthy of worship, and worship of other forms as subordinate or simply incorrect. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shaivite worshippers's position is usually similar to Vaishnavism. Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. They worship Shiva alone as the supreme. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva

Buddhism and Shinto

See also God in Buddhism, Devas vs. Gods, and Nontheism in Buddhism

In Buddhism, there are higher beings commonly designed (or designated) as gods, Devas. Since the time of the Buddha the refutation of the existence of a creator has been seen as a key point in distinguishing Buddhist from non-Buddhist views A deva (देव Sanskrit and Pāli) in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful Nontheism is a term that covers a range of both religious and nonreligious attitudes characterized by the absence of&mdashor the rejection of&mdash Theism or any belief in a Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A deva (देव Sanskrit and Pāli) in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful However, Buddhism, at its core, does not teach the notion of praying nor worship to the Devas or any god(s).

Devas, in general, are beings who have had more positive karma in their past lives than humans. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Their lifespan eventually ends. When their lives end, they will be reborn as devas or as other beings. When they accumulate negative karma, they are reborn as either human or any of the other lower beings. Humans and other beings could also be reborn as a deva in their next rebirth, if they accumulate many positive karma, however it is not recommended. Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्मन karman, Pāli: कमा Kamma) means "action" or "doing" whatever

Buddhism flourished in different countries, and some of those countries have polytheistic folk religions. Folk religion consists of Beliefs Superstitions and Rituals transmitted from generation to generation in a specific Culture. Buddhism syncretizes easily with other religions because of its lack of a strict position on theism. Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Thus, Buddhism has mixed with the folk religions and emerged in polytheistic variants as well as nontheistic variants. For example, in Japan, Buddhism, mixed with Shinto, which worships kami, created a tradition which prays to the kami (plural beings; the same term exists for singular and plural). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Thus, there may be elements of worship of gods in some forms of later Buddhism.

Judaism

Judaism has categorically condemned polytheism since Biblical times. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Rabbinic views make a distinction between avodah zarah (idolatry) and shittuf (lit. "association"), defined as any doctrine that recognizes one supreme god, but ascribes power, albeit secondary, to a created being (the term refers to one who does not deny the monotheistic and exclusionary aspect of God, but "associates" something else with him). Judaism prohibits shittuf for Jews as idolatry; it is a matter of dispute if it is prohibited for non-Jews. The Tosafist Rabbeinu Tam, in Bekhorot 2b and Sanhedrin 63b, implies that trinitarianism could be permitted to gentiles as a form of shittuf. Tosafists were Medieval Rabbis who created critical and explanatory Glosses on the Talmud. R Tam redirects here For the character in Firefly, see River Tam. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных This view was echoed by Rabbi Isaac ben Sheshet (Rivash, responsa 119) and apparently accepted by Rabbi Moses Isserles (Rema, Orah Hayyim 156:1. Isaac ben Sheshet Perfet (1326 &ndash 1408 ( Hebrew: יצחק בן ששת) was a Spanish Talmudic authority also know by his acronym Rivash Moses Isserles is commonly known as "the Rema" ( Hebrew: רמ"א ) Nevertheless, many rabbinic sources disagree and prohibit shittuf to gentiles as well. There are no rabbinic source that allow Jews to worship through any form of shittuf. The punishment for polytheism was death. There is also a theoretical death penalty for polytheistic worship in the seven Noahide Laws (Talmud, tractate Sanhedrin 57a), and this is a factor in modern opposition to the notion of a Noahide legal system. The Seven Laws of Noah ( Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח Sheva mitzvot B'nei Noach) often referred to as the Noahide Laws, are a set of seven moral Jewish scholars respond by noting that Jews today no longer carry out the death penalty, even within Jewish communities.

Christianity

Main articles: Idolatry in Christianity and Christianity and Paganism

Christianity is descended from Judaism and its theology shows the monotheism of late-biblical and post-biblical Judaism. An idol is a material object representing a Deity, to which religious worship is directed This article gives overview about the relations between Christians and Pagans. However, it has evolved a doctrine of Trinity in post-Nicene Christianity, which is explicitly monotheistic, but denounced as polytheism in Islam, Judaism and Unitarianism. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Veneration of Saints in folk Christianity, in particular the concept of patron saints "responsible" for a certain aspect of life or society, may in some cases become indistinguishable from polytheism, and indeed in many cases seamlessly continues pre-Christian traditions. In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Folk Christianity is composed of Christian ideas and practices outside the approval or authority of a religious establishment &mdash Roman Catholic Protestant or other The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members [1]. Some Critics of Christianity have also criticized the concept of the Trinity as soft polytheism. Most Christians reject this stating firmly that there is only one god and this one god has three aspects. Also, some denominations of Christianity attack Mormonism for being polytheistic[2][3]

The ten commandments state "I am the lord your god thou shall not have any gods before me". Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that according to Judeo-Christian tradition were authored by God and given [4] Also Protestants during the reformation such as Martin Luther criticized Catholicism and its veneration of many saints as being polytheistic and Idolatrous. Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God.

In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said, "Where there are three deities, they are divine. The Gospel According to Thomas ( Coptic: ⲡⲉ̅ⲩ̅ⲁ̅ⲅⲅ̅ⲉⲗ̅ⲓⲟⲛ̅ ⲡⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲧⲁ ⲑ̅ⲱ̅ⲙⲁⲥ also known as The Gospel Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Where there are two or one, I am with that one. "(30)[5]

Islam

Islam, an Abrahamic religion, is also staunchly monotheistic. According to the Qur'an, shirk (polytheism) is the greatest of sins. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Shirk (شرك is the Islamic concept of the Sin of Polytheism specifically but in a more general way refers to worshipping other than Allah The concept of the Trinity is also believed by Muslims to be a form of polytheism. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных

Folk religion

Main article: Folk religion
Further information: Saint, Angel, Folk Catholicism, and Pre-Christian Alpine traditions

The emphasis on monotheism during Christianization of Europe resulted in a re-casting of most gods of European traditions into either Saints or diminutive creatures of folklore such as fairies, wights, sidhe etc. Folk religion consists of Beliefs Superstitions and Rituals transmitted from generation to generation in a specific Culture. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition Folk Christianity is composed of Christian ideas and practices outside the approval or authority of a religious establishment &mdash Roman Catholic Protestant or other The central and eastern Alps of Europe are rich in traditions dating back to Pre-Christian ( pagan) times with surviving elements amalgamated from Germanic The historical phenomenon of Christianization (or Christianisation &mdash see spelling differences) the conversion of individuals to Christianity A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively wee folk, good folk, people of peace, fair Wight: from Old English word wiht, is a Middle English word used to describe a Creature or a living being

Explicit polytheism in contemporary folk religion is found in African traditional religion as well as African diasporic religions. See also Religion in Africa African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African Afro-American religions (also African diasporic religions) are a number of related Religions that developed in the Americas among African In Eurasia, the Kalash are one of very few instances of surviving polytheism. The Kalash ( Nuristani: Kasivo) or Kalasha, are an ethnic group of the Hindu Kush mountain range residing in the Chitral district There are also a large number of polytheist folk traditions subsumed in contemporary Hinduism, although Hinduism is doctrinally dominated by monist or monotheist theology (Bhakti, Advaita). Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Historical Vedic polytheist ritualism survives as a very minor current in Hinduism, known as Shrauta. Śrauta ( Devanagari sa श्रौत traditions are conservative Ritualistic traditions of Historical Vedic religion in Hinduism, based on

New religions movements

New religious movements advocating polytheism are usually summarized under "Neopaganism", although that term also extends to purely monist or pantheist philosophies. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical Among Neopagan movements, explicit polytheism is most explicit in polytheistic reconstructionism, which has the stated aim of reviving historical forms of polytheism. This is a list of Neopagan movements and organizations Neopaganism is a wide ranging group including old Occult groups those that follow an eclectic/ New Age Polytheistic reconstructionism, or simply Reconstructionism, is an approach to Neopaganism first emerging in the late 1960s to early 1970s and gatherig momentum

References

  1. ^ "Polytheism and Christian Belief" by Michael C. Rea _The Journal of Theological Studies_ 2006 57(1):133-148
  2. ^ Catholic Answers The Gods of the Mormon Church
  3. ^ The Mormon God: Just One of the Guys
  4. ^ The Ten Commandments
  5. ^ The text of the Gospel of Thomas from the Scholars Version translation published in The Complete Gospels

Blain, Jenny (2004) An Understanding of Polytheism. Quotation used here with the author's permission.

Further reading

See also

External links

monochrom is an international Art - Technology - Philosophy group founded in 1993.

Dictionary

polytheism

-noun

  1. The belief of the existence of many gods.
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