Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Henotheismus, from [[Greek]] hen-, heis one + theos god  

Henotheismus, from [[Greek]] hen-, heis one + theos god  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1860]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1860]

==Definition==

==Definition==

* the [[worship]] of one [[god]] without denying the [[existence]] of other gods  

* the [[worship]] of one [[god]] without denying the [[existence]] of other gods  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Henotheism''' ([[Greek]] ἓν θεός hen theos "one god") is a term coined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_M%C3%BCller Max Müller], to mean [[worshipping]] a single god while accepting the [[existence]] or possible existence of other [[deities]]. Müller made the term central to his [[criticism]] of Western [[theological]] and [[religious]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptionalism exceptionalism] ([[relative]] to Eastern [[religions]]), [[focusing]] on a [[cultural]] [[dogma]] which held "[[monotheism]]" to be both fundamentally well-defined and inherently superior to differing conceptions of [[God]].

'''Henotheism''' ([[Greek]] ἓν θεός hen theos "one god") is a term coined by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_M%C3%BCller Max Müller], to mean [[worshipping]] a single god while accepting the [[existence]] or possible existence of other [[deities]]. Müller made the term central to his [[criticism]] of Western [[theological]] and [[religious]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptionalism exceptionalism] ([[relative]] to Eastern [[religions]]), [[focusing]] on a [[cultural]] [[dogma]] which held "[[monotheism]]" to be both fundamentally well-defined and inherently superior to differing conceptions of [[God]].

Variations on the term have been "inclusive [[monotheism]]" and "monarchical [[polytheism]]", designed to differentiate differing [[forms]] of the [[phenomenon]]. Related terms are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolatrism monolatrism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathenotheism kathenotheism], which are typically [[understood]] as sub-types of henotheism. The latter term is an extension of "henotheism", from καθ' ἕνα θεόν (kath' hena theon) —"one god at a time". Henotheism is similar but less exclusive than monolatry because a monolator [[worships]] only one god (denying that other gods are [[worthy]] of worship), while the henotheist may worship any within the [[pantheon]], depending on circumstances, although he usually will worship only one throughout his life (barring some sort of [[conversion]]). In some [[belief]] systems, the [[choice]] of the [[supreme]] [[deity]] within a henotheistic framework may be determined by [[cultural]], geographical, historical or [[political]] reasons.

Variations on the term have been "inclusive [[monotheism]]" and "monarchical [[polytheism]]", designed to differentiate differing [[forms]] of the [[phenomenon]]. Related terms are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolatrism monolatrism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathenotheism kathenotheism], which are typically [[understood]] as sub-types of henotheism. The latter term is an extension of "henotheism", from καθ' ἕνα θεόν (kath' hena theon) —"one god at a time". Henotheism is similar but less exclusive than monolatry because a monolator [[worships]] only one god (denying that other gods are [[worthy]] of worship), while the henotheist may worship any within the [[pantheon]], depending on circumstances, although he usually will worship only one throughout his life (barring some sort of [[conversion]]). In some [[belief]] systems, the [[choice]] of the [[supreme]] [[deity]] within a henotheistic framework may be determined by [[cultural]], geographical, historical or [[political]] reasons.

Here "a [[God]]" may refer to one [[personality]] (among others) of the [[supreme]] [[God]], and also the God may be said to have the [[power]] of assuming many [[personalities]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_M%C3%BCller Max Müller] encountered these subtleties in the [[Upanishads]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rig_Veda Rig Veda], and posited the idea of henotheism as a way of explaining them. However, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivekananda Vivekananda], who visited Max Müller, found the term wanting and preferred to just use the original [[Sanskrit]] word, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedanta Vedanta].

Here "a [[God]]" may refer to one [[personality]] (among others) of the [[supreme]] [[God]], and also the God may be said to have the [[power]] of assuming many [[personalities]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_M%C3%BCller Max Müller] encountered these subtleties in the [[Upanishads]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rig_Veda Rig Veda], and posited the idea of henotheism as a way of explaining them. However, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivekananda Vivekananda], who visited Max Müller, found the term wanting and preferred to just use the original [[Sanskrit]] word, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedanta Vedanta].

Henotheism is based on the [[belief]] that a [[god]] may take any [[form]] at any time and still have the same [[essential]] [[nature]]. The central [[idea]] is that one name for a god may be used in a circumstance where a particular aspect of this god is being [[represented]] or [[worshiped]] while a different name may be given to or used to describe or worship a different aspect of the god in a different circumstance. This example does not imply the superiority of one over another, but simply that a god can exist in many forms at once and offering [[worship]] or praise using different [[names]] does not have to imply [[polytheism]]. Henotheism is sometimes considered a sophisticated version of [[monotheism]] in that it allows the [[worshiper]] to believe in essentially one [[Supreme Being]] and still [[appreciate]] and not limit the [[names]], [[expressions]], or [[manifestations]] used to describe it.

Henotheism is based on the [[belief]] that a [[god]] may take any [[form]] at any time and still have the same [[essential]] [[nature]]. The central [[idea]] is that one name for a god may be used in a circumstance where a particular aspect of this god is being [[represented]] or [[worshiped]] while a different name may be given to or used to describe or worship a different aspect of the god in a different circumstance. This example does not imply the superiority of one over another, but simply that a god can exist in many forms at once and offering [[worship]] or praise using different [[names]] does not have to imply [[polytheism]]. Henotheism is sometimes considered a sophisticated version of [[monotheism]] in that it allows the [[worshiper]] to believe in essentially one [[Supreme Being]] and still [[appreciate]] and not limit the [[names]], [[expressions]], or [[manifestations]] used to describe it.

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]