Results for: Polytheism

Answered

What is Polytheism?

The belief on many gods (Hence - POLY [many] THEISM [god]). A classic example of this would be the Romans, who had a god for virtually everything - from War to Drinking to Lov… (MORE)

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

What is an example of polytheism?

An ancient example would be the Roman pagan religion, in which many gods were worshipped. A more modern example would be Hinduism, in which thousands of gods are worshipped. P… (MORE)

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

How did polytheism begin?

Polytheism began thousands of years ago, and it is not knownexactly when or how. Early people used many gods to explain thingsthat happened in nature. Answer: Based upon a …massive worldwide study of the most ancientinscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. WilhelmSchmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee)concluded that the original belief was monotheistic1. It was asimple belief in the Creator (Sky-Father) with no imagery of anykind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry,but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher, justas (for example) Proto-Indo European has left indelible markswithin the later languages. Other traditions also are traceableworldwide, such as the religious significance of the number seven,and the immortality of the soul. The process by which the awareness of One God gave way to a beliefin many gods, has been described by Scandinavian researchers2 as splitting ("Gottespaltung"): the people gradually viewed God'sattributes of truth, righteousness, fertility etc., as separatefrom Him, and afterwards personified and worshiped the attributesthemselves, until God was largely forgotten. Maimonides3 describes a comparable process (which probably happenedalongside the aforementioned one), as follows: A couple of centuries after the Creation, mankind made a greatmistake: They said that since God had created the stars and spheresand placed them on high, accordingly it is fitting for people topraise and glorify them and to treat them with honor. Theyperceived this to be the will of God, that people should magnifyand honor the stars. They began to praise and glorify them withwords, and prostrate themselves before them, because by doing so,they would - according to their false conception - be indirectlyhonoring God too. Notes: 1) Albright, "From the Stone Age," p.170; and J.A. Wilson,"The Culture of Ancient Egypt," p.129. Also Baron, "A Social and Religious History," vol. I, p.44 and 311. Also James Meek, "Hebrew Origins," p.188, quoting Langdon, Lagrangeand John Ross. Also Martin Nilsson, Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaften, 2nd ed.,p.61, 141, 220 and 394. 2) G. W. Anderson, in "The Old Testament and Modern Study," p.287. Also Friedrich Baethgen, in Beitraege zur SemitischenReligionsgeschichte, p.288. Also Pallotino, "The Etruscans," p. 158 and 167. 3) Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim ch.1). (MORE)

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

Is polytheism good?

Everyone on Earth has a different point of view on religion than anyone else, so it is impossible to say if polytheism is good or not. Christians, Jews and Muslims generally b… (MORE)

Answered

In History

What is a symbol for Polytheism?

Depends on your belief system. Polytheism is just the term for the belief of many gods, not a specific religion.

Answered

In Synonyms and Antonyms

What is an antonym of polytheism?

Monotheism. Being polytheistic means having or believing in many gods. Monotheistic means having or believing in only one god. (Often the one true God.)

Answered

In Technology

Is polytheism a technology?

No, because it deals with gods, meaning it is religious. Polytheism means "worship of many gods."

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

What are monotheism and polytheism?

Monotheism is the belief of one god. Polytheism is the belief of one or more gods.

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

What is polythism and monotheism?

Polytheism is the belief in more than one god. Monotheism is the belief in only one God.

Answered

In Religion & Spirituality

What did polytheism do?

Polytheism is the belief in many gods. Those gods may be dominatedby an overlord or by a small group of powerful gods all withdistinctive functions. Polytheism has existed ove…r a long period ofhuman history and has been ever changing as cultures appeared andreceded. Polytheism is alive and well and many of the modernworld's religions are polytheistic in nature. They include Hinduism(polytheistic elements), Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism,Shintoism, contemporary tribal religions in Africa, Polynesia andthe Americas. Polytheistic beliefs can be found in Eastern Europe.The followers are free to live and worship according to their ownviews, do not live in perpetual hope of salvation, are more focusedon their daily life and are not concerned with concepts of absolutetruth and strict moral rules. Polytheistic religions are for themost part extremely benign. Most religions of the world have been polytheistic in contrast withthe monotheistic religions such as Islam, Christianity and Judaismthat worship a single ruler of the universe. Polytheism waswidespread in the ancient world. It predated monotheism bymillennia, developing as early as the Neolithic Period, anddeveloped from ancient beliefs in vaguely defined spirits and othersupernatural forces that were believed to control earthly events.Many ancient beliefs involving animism, ancestor worship, andspiritual connections with other objects found in the natural worldeventually culminated in a culture's belief system. These evolvedinto a "family" of gods and goddesses with human characteristicsand supernatural powers who ruled over human destiny. The gods werethought to be responsible for and in control of every event. Theancient gods of Egypt, Roman and Greek cultures, Aztecs andScandinavia still fascinate today. Deities were a part of daily life and could be found in everyaspect of living. Particular deities would be chosen as the patronsof cities. Temples and other special places such as grottos andsprings were dedicated to various gods. Small offerings would bemade daily in the home for special blessings since the gods werebelieved to influence daily life in all respects. Festivals andcelebrations were centered around major deities and their specialplaces. Female deities were always included in the varioushierarchies. Typically, in the ancient world, the number of gods in a culturewould expand as a culture expanded. Polytheistic culturesassimilated new gods as they conquered other cultures. When onegroup conquered another, their deities were absorbed into theexisting pantheon and often given high status depending on theirparticular power. Sometimes, old gods passed into oblivion. It wasa defining feature in contrast with more modern monotheistic beliefsystems whereby they actively seek to convert others to their ownway of thinking. Answer: We've all heard (for example) of the Greek mythology and Romanmythology. What not everyone is aware of is that idolatry tended toenable cruel, licentious and excessive behavior, since the capriceswhich were narrated concerning the idols were adopted as an excuseto imitate those types of behavior. (MORE)