POLYTHEISM: ORIGIN AND HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The polytheism or polytheistic religion is a doctrine followed by those who believe in more than one god. This is its basic concept: the existence of more than one god or deity to whom different rites or types of worship are owed and who explain phenomena that, otherwise, would not have any explanation.

Today the world is still home to many polytheistic religions and their millions of followers. These are not limited to a single continent but are spread throughout the length and breadth of the world.

The Greek gods represent an example of polytheism. Source: wikipedia.org

It was in Ancient Greece that this term was first coined. Etymologically speaking, the word "polytheism" can be decomposed into three words of Greek origin. The first of these phrases is the prefix poly, which refers to "many"; then there is the noun theos, which is synonymous with "gods or deities"; and finally, the suffix ism stands out, which indicates "doctrine".

Origin and history

Since its inception, the history of humanity has been linked to the worship of various phenomena of nature or imaginary entities to whom tributes of all kinds were paid (including human sacrifices).

These ceremonies were intended to seek the sympathy of these figures or, in the worst case, "appease their anger" to improve the living conditions of the affected inhabitants.

That is why there are records preserved in cave paintings that suggest the cult of the human species to the sun, the moon, the stars, fire and all those natural forces that escaped their control and understanding. However, this is not yet considered polytheism.

The clearest examples of polytheism come from cultures with a certain degree of advancement, with a defined and organized political and social differentiation.

In this range can be identified the ancient Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic and more recently, the pre-Columbian Inca, Mayan and Aztec cultures in the American continent.

Origin according to the current of "animism"

Those who support this version maintain that animism explained that all things in the universe, animated or not, had a soul of their own.

The next notable element of this current indicates that mysticism or "primitive magic" could come to control the world. The final stage is monotheism but, according to the followers of this current, between primitive magic and monotheism arose polytheism.

For these authors polytheism is nothing more than an evolution of magical thinking in its tendency to become simpler, easier to understand and follow.

Background

It is known that at the beginning of human history all the pre-Hispanic Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic and American peoples were polytheists.

It was common within these advanced and organized cultures to have a hierarchy among the gods they worshiped. Also belonging to a different social group were those "chosen" who could communicate with these superior beings, to make their will known to the rest of their followers.

The custom was for this structure of gods to inhabit or be represented within a pyramidal or pantheon concept, where the apex was occupied by the main god and from that point the rest of the gods arose.

Most authors agree that the polytheistic religion arose between the Indian and Asian continents; As a consequence of discoveries, conquests and later wars, it expanded to other territories, either because it was adopted as its own or because it was imposed.

Contrary to what you might think, these types of religions remain alive and with a respectable number of followers within our planet. This makes them the longest existing current or type of religion.

Polytheistic religions today

Chinese traditional religion

It stands out for reconciling different doctrines such as Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. In these the cult of ancestors and natural gods such as the sun and the moon is common and recurrent.

Hinduism

It is the most widespread religion on the Indian continent. It professes a syncretism since various doctrines converge in this current. Its most important gods are Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Krishna, Rama, and Hanuman.

Japanese Shintoism

It is the native religion of Japan. In this tribute is paid to the ancestors but much more importance is given to the connection of man with nature; this is carried out by the kamis or gods of nature. The main one is Ame-no-minaka-nushi-no-kami.

The Santeria

It is a religious belief born from the confluence of European and African elements. In this current, the Catholic heritage merges with the Yoruba.

It was introduced into the American continent by African slaves, and although its influence in America is extremely important, the European continent is excluded from its presence.

In this religion the gods reach a more human plane but separate themselves from individuals by being treated as "saints." Among them are Babalu Aye, Elegua, Obatala, Shango and Ogun, among others.

characteristics

Hindus can be polytheists, pantheists, monotheists, agnostics, atheists, or humanists.

The main characteristic that polytheism shares with all the religions of the planet, whatever it may be, is the recognition of a higher power; where it differs from other religions is the way it represents this higher power.

Forms of representation

The most basic and ancient forms of representation attribute reality and higher power to spirits, ghosts, demons or ancestors.

Then more defined gods appeared, with a better characterization of their superior attributes and, therefore, far beyond human reach when compared with the forces of nature, with ghosts or demons. These gods are also related to each other and are attributed control over specific aspects of human life.

Distance from mortal man

Another characteristic that these religions share with the monotheist is the superhuman conception of those who are worshiped. In polytheism it is about divine figures who do not share the same physical plane as the human beings who pay tribute to them.

The omnipotence and immortality of gods or idols is also representative of polytheistic religions. Their gods, jealous and in certain cases hurt or resentful, impose punishments that must be suffered by the followers of that religion and that, if not properly cared for, could devastate life as its disciples know it.

Morphisms in polytheism

Another characteristic that is observed in ancient polytheistic religions is the representation of their pseudo-human gods from the fusion of man with stars, groups of these or celestial bodies, or from the mixture of man with wild animals.

Examples

This type of religion has emerged throughout the generations, in different cultures and at different historical moments.

Ancient Egypt

At this time, a group of theiomorphic gods and deities (a combination of man and wild animals) had control over the forces of the universe and dictated the destinies of entire peoples. The sun, the moon, life and death were brought "to life" incarnated in Ra, Amun, Horus, Isis and Osiris, among many others.

Greek empire

In this context, anthropomorphic gods appeared who can pass from the divine plane to the earthly plane at will, but remain unattainable by mortals.

They inhabit a place close to man and have needs similar to this; however, human beings are not worthy of comparing themselves to Zeus, Hermes, Ares or Poseidon; all these are the gods who controlled daily life and the smallest details of existence.

Roman empire

In this scenario we find gods that seem to be created with skills and ways of handling much more akin to human beings.

Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto were among the cosmomorphic gods (humanization of stars or celestial elements); Minerva, Venus, Diana and Bacchus also stood out. They all had complicated levels of relationships that, in one way or another, influenced the decline of the Empire.

Prehispanic america

The cultures of this continent, which came to have a relevant degree of social and cultural advancement, cannot be ignored. They were the Aztec, the Inca and the Mayan, just to name a few. Its monuments were erected to worship the sun, the moon, the stars, the rain, its many gods and its shamans.

From these cultures we know well the stories of human sacrifices to the gods to obtain their blessings on crops and livestock; it is estimated that they could have become true bloodshed framed in public rituals.

Their shamans or sorcerers had the ability to come into contact with the higher plane that all polytheistic religion professes as true after consuming various psychotropic products, which were specially prepared for the occasion.

In this way, they made known to the people around the altar the designs for the settlers and their decisions in the important matters of the community.

References

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2. "Polytheism" in Wikipedia. Retrieved on March 24, 2019 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org
3. "Polytheistic Religion" in Religions. Retrieved on March 24, 2019 from Religions: religiones.net
4. "The advantage of having many gods" in Diario El País. Retrieved on March 24, 2019 from Diario El País: elpais.com
5. "Polytheism" in Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on March 24, 2019 from Encyclopedia Britannica: britannica.com
6. "Polytheism" in Polytheism. Retrieved on March 24, 2019 from Polytheism: polytheism.net