Polytheism

Polytheism (from the Greek polutheos, “many gods”) denotes a theological system involving a belief in, and worship of, multiple divinities. The term was first popularized in the writings of 18th century European ethnographers as they sought to identify and label the religious beliefs of “primitive” peoples they studied and contrast them to JudeōChristian monotheism, or the belief in a solitary divinity. Over time, polytheism has been used to refer to various belief systems in which multiple beings are worshipped or propitiated. These may include gods, goddesses, semi-divine beings, good or evil spirits, or the spirits of departed ancestors. Depending upon the tradition, there may be an established and recognized hierarchy of worshipped beings or they may be seen to act independently. They may work in conjunction with one another or occasionally at cross-purposes. There are several significant characteristics typically found in polytheistic traditions, including:

• Each divinity or spirit being is typically believed to have a specific function (such as healing, protection in travel, etc.), to control a particular realm (material or nonmaterial), or to possess a specific power or range of powers. The latter can include forces of nature—such as rain, thunder, a celestial body, the seasons—or it may involve dominion over characteristics of human personality, like love, devotion, compassion, jealousy, revenge, and so forth.
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• Each being is generally believed to either possess or adopt a specific human or animal form, aspect of nature, or a combination thereof, as his or her primary vehicle for the purpose of communicating with humans. Thus, a particular animal or natural phenomenon may be viewed as the manifestation of a particular deity, or even as an ancestor spirit. An eagle may signal the presence of a guardian spirit, or an erupting volcano may be seen as the manifestation of an angry goddess. As a result, reverence toward, and worship of, nonanthropomorphic forms, including animals, plant life, objects in nature, and natural forces, are commonplace.
• Singular devotion to one specific divinity is not necessary. Thus, simultaneous propitiation of several deities is common and accepted. In some cases, it is seen as practical and necessary, since different spirits control different realms or powers.

In one manner or another, polytheism is found as a feature of most indigenous religious cultures throughout the world. Of the variety of theistic views that have been grouped into this category, some have also been identified with their own specific terminology. These include henotheism, kathenotheism, and monolatrism.

Polytheism is rooted in a desire to perceive, contact, and influence unseen powers and forces that affect human existence. It can be found among the earliest religious cultures of the world, in both the East and the West. Various ancient mythological records and tales reveal beliefs in spirit beings that were propitiated, worshipped, and/or feared. These divinities often existed at the center of the cosmological worldviews of the cultures in which they were found. Prayers, rituals, and offerings to them were seen as fundamental to the maintenance of the known world of the believers. Catastrophes were often viewed as the results of angered spirits. Thus, regular appeasement of such divinities has also been integral in many cultures.

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