monolatry
Noun: The religious practice of worshipping a single deity while acknowledging the possible existence of other gods. It is distinct from monotheism, which asserts the belief in only one god.
Monolatry is a specialized theological and anthropological term used to describe a specific type of religious system. It is most commonly applied in academic discussions about the history of religions, particularly when analyzing ancient belief systems, such as certain phases of early Israelite religion.
- Scholars argue that the ancient Israelites practiced monolatry, dedicating their worship to Yahweh while not explicitly denying the existence of other regional deities.
- The concept of monolatry helps explain religious texts that command exclusive loyalty to one god without philosophically negating the reality of others.
- In his thesis, he explored the shift from polytheism to monolatry in the region's historical record.
- Theological Context: In theological studies, is often contrasted with (the worship of one primary god among many, which may be temporary or situational) and (the exclusive belief in one god). The distinctions between these terms are subjects of scholarly debate.
- Cultural Anthropology: Anthropologists may use the term to classify and compare the belief structures of various cultures, noting where exclusive worship is given to a patron deity within a broader pantheon.
- Monolatrist (noun): A person who practices or adheres to monolatry.
- Monolatrous (adjective): Characterized by or relating to monolatry. (e.g., a tradition).
- Exclusive worship (in this specific theological sense)
The core meaning of monolatry is the exclusive worship of one god without the accompanying exclusive belief that only that one god exists. This differentiates it clearly from: - Polytheism: The worship of or belief in multiple gods. - Monotheism: The belief in and worship of only one god. - Atheism: The disbelief in any gods. - Henotheism: While closely related and sometimes used interchangeably, henotheism can imply the elevation of one god among many for a particular purpose or time, whereas monolatry emphasizes a consistent, exclusive devotional practice.
- the worship of a single god but without claiming that it is the only god