polytheist
/'pɔliθi:ist/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who believes in or worships more than one god. Polytheism is the religious belief system characterized by this belief in multiple deities, which often have distinct domains, personalities, and mythologies.
Usage
The word "polytheist" is used to identify a person based on their religious belief system. It is a formal or academic term, often used in discussions of comparative religion, history, or anthropology. - It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a polytheist, many polytheists). - The corresponding belief system is "polytheism," and the adjective form is "polytheistic."
Examples
- Ancient Greeks and Romans were typically polytheists, worshipping gods like Zeus and Jupiter.
- She studied the rituals of polytheists in the ancient Near East.
- As a polytheist, he finds spiritual meaning in a pantheon of nature deities.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural/Historical Context: The term is often applied to adherents of historical religions (e.g., Norse, Egyptian, Mesopotamian) and many contemporary Indigenous and Pagan traditions.
- Contrast with Other Terms: A polytheist is distinct from a monotheist (believer in one god) and an atheist (believer in no gods).
Variants and Related Words
- Polytheism (n): The belief in or worship of more than one god.
- Polytheistic (adj): Relating to or characterized by polytheism.
Synonyms
- Heathen (archaic, often pejorative): A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not Christian, Jewish, or Muslim); historically used for polytheists.
- Pagan (n): A person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions; often encompasses polytheistic beliefs.
Antonyms
- Monotheist (n): A person who believes in only one god.
- Atheist (n): A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of any god or gods.
Noun
- one who believes in a plurality of gods