Definition

1. Noun:
   • Belief in or worship of multiple deities: Polytheism is a religious system characterized by the belief in and veneration of more than one god or goddess. It stands in contrast to monotheism, which is the belief in a single deity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ancient Greek religion is a classic example of polytheism, with gods like Zeus, Hera, and Athena.
  • The scholar wrote a thesis comparing the polytheism of ancient Egypt with modern monotheistic faiths.
  • Some indigenous traditions practice forms of polytheism, honoring spirits of nature, ancestors, and various gods.

Advanced Usage

• "Soft polytheism": A perspective within some modern pagan traditions where multiple gods are seen as aspects or manifestations of a single divine source or principle.

  • Her spiritual practice incorporates soft polytheism, viewing different goddesses as faces of a single Great Goddess.

• "Hard polytheism": The belief that the gods are distinct, separate, and independent divine beings.

  • He adheres to hard polytheism, believing each deity in the Norse pantheon has a unique and autonomous existence.

Variants and Related Words

• Polytheist (noun): A person who believes in or worships multiple gods.

  • As a polytheist, she makes offerings to several different deities.

• Polytheistic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by polytheism.

  • Hinduism is often described as a polytheistic religion due to its vast pantheon.

Synonyms

• Multitheism: Belief in many gods (a less common synonym).
• Idolatry: The worship of idols, which in some contexts can imply polytheistic worship, though it carries a negative connotation in Abrahamic traditions.

Antonyms

• Monotheism: The doctrine or belief that there is only one God.
• Atheism: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.
• Henotheism: The worship of a single god while accepting the existence of other gods.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Pantheon: The collective term for all the gods of a particular polytheistic religion or mythology.

  • The Roman pantheon included gods adapted from Greek mythology.

• Animism: The belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence, which can sometimes overlap with or exist alongside polytheistic beliefs.

  • Some forms of polytheism are deeply intertwined with animistic beliefs about nature spirits.

Noun

1. belief in multiple Gods