Meaning of polytheism (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Polytheism:

Polytheism is the belief in various gods. There is not only one type of relationship between the gods in polytheistic religions. Some examples of these relationships are:

• the belief of a creator god symbol of devotion above all other gods and deities as a phase of one's religion (Hinduism). the belief of various gods, in which each god is an aspect of the supreme god, supreme deity and / or to be supreme. the belief that some lofty goals, states of consciousness and / or sources of salvation are superior to gods. the belief that some gods dominate over others but there is no total supremacy, like Zeus to the Greeks. it is also believed in demonic, phantasmagorical forces and malevolent supernatural beings.

Monotheism vs Polytheism

Both polytheism and monotheism derive from the religious doctrine of theism that believes in the existence of a god who created the universe.

Monotheism, on the other hand, is the belief in the existence of a single god and is represented by the current Judaic, Christian and Islamic religions.

The polytheism, however, is the belief in the existence of various gods and is represented by almost all religions past and present, except the three monotheistic religions already mentioned. Some of the best known polytheistic religions with their most important gods are:

• Egyptian with Ra and Nut Greek-Roman with Zeus or Jupiter Scandinavian with Odin, Thor and Freyr Celta with Cernunnos and water deities Sumeria with Enki and Enlil Assyria with Ashtur and Ishtar Hindu with Shiva and Vishnu China with Guanyin and bodhisattvas Japonesa with Kanon

You can deepen with Religion

Axiological Polytheism

Axiological polytheism is a derogatory expression used by the German Max Weber to refer to subjectivity in the hierarchy of moral values ​​according to his own interests, hunches and / or faith.

You may also be interested in:

• Paganism, axiological