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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame '''Polytheism''' is the belief in or worship of multiple deities, called gods and/or goddesses. These ar...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Polytheism.jpg|right|frame]]
'''Polytheism''' is the [[belief]] in or [[worship]] of multiple [[deities]], called gods and/or goddesses. These are usually assembled into a [[pantheon]], along with their own [[mythologies]] and [[rituals]]. Many religions, both historical and contemporary, have a belief in polytheism, such as Shinto, Ancient Greek Polytheism, Roman Polytheism, Germanic Polytheism, Slavic polytheism,Chinese folk religion, Neopagan faiths and Anglo-Saxon [[paganism]].
Polytheists do not always [[worship]] all the gods equally, but can be ''monolatrists'', specialising in the worship of one particular [[deity]]. Other polytheists can be ''kathenotheists'', worshiping [[different]] deities at different times.
Polytheism (belief in one or more gods), is a type of [[theism]] but contrasts with [[monotheism]] (belief in a singular god), which is the dominant belief in the world today. In certain religions, such as Wicca, the various deities are seen as emanations of a greater Godhead.
==Etymology==
The [[English]] [[language]] word "polytheism" is attested from the 17th century, loaned from French polythéisme, which had been in use since 1580. In post-classical [[Latin]], the term is polytheismus. The [[word]] is attested later than atheism but earlier than theism.
It [[ultimate]]ly derives from the [[Greek]] adjective πολυθεός (from πολύς "many" and θεός "god"), in the [[meaning]] "of or belonging to many gods" found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeschylus Aeschylus] (Suppliant Women 424), or "believing in many gods" in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procopius Procopius] (Historia Arcana 13).
==Gods and divinity==
The deities of polytheistic religions are [[agents]] in [[mythology]], where they are portrayed as [[complex]] personages of greater or lesser [[status]], with [[individual]] skills, needs, [[desires]] and histories. These gods are often seen as similar to [[humans]] (anthropomorphic) in their [[personality]] traits, but with additional individual [[powers]], abilities, [[knowledge]] or [[perceptions]].
Polytheism cannot be cleanly separated from the animist beliefs prevalent in most folk religions. The gods of polytheism are in many cases the highest order of a [[continuum]] of [[supernatural]] [[beings]] or [[spirits]], which may include ancestors, demons, wights and others. In some cases these spirits are divided into [[celestial]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chthonic chthonic] classes, and belief in the [[existence]] of all these beings does not imply that all are worshipped.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism]
[[Category: Religion]]
'''Polytheism''' is the [[belief]] in or [[worship]] of multiple [[deities]], called gods and/or goddesses. These are usually assembled into a [[pantheon]], along with their own [[mythologies]] and [[rituals]]. Many religions, both historical and contemporary, have a belief in polytheism, such as Shinto, Ancient Greek Polytheism, Roman Polytheism, Germanic Polytheism, Slavic polytheism,Chinese folk religion, Neopagan faiths and Anglo-Saxon [[paganism]].
Polytheists do not always [[worship]] all the gods equally, but can be ''monolatrists'', specialising in the worship of one particular [[deity]]. Other polytheists can be ''kathenotheists'', worshiping [[different]] deities at different times.
Polytheism (belief in one or more gods), is a type of [[theism]] but contrasts with [[monotheism]] (belief in a singular god), which is the dominant belief in the world today. In certain religions, such as Wicca, the various deities are seen as emanations of a greater Godhead.
==Etymology==
The [[English]] [[language]] word "polytheism" is attested from the 17th century, loaned from French polythéisme, which had been in use since 1580. In post-classical [[Latin]], the term is polytheismus. The [[word]] is attested later than atheism but earlier than theism.
It [[ultimate]]ly derives from the [[Greek]] adjective πολυθεός (from πολύς "many" and θεός "god"), in the [[meaning]] "of or belonging to many gods" found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeschylus Aeschylus] (Suppliant Women 424), or "believing in many gods" in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procopius Procopius] (Historia Arcana 13).
==Gods and divinity==
The deities of polytheistic religions are [[agents]] in [[mythology]], where they are portrayed as [[complex]] personages of greater or lesser [[status]], with [[individual]] skills, needs, [[desires]] and histories. These gods are often seen as similar to [[humans]] (anthropomorphic) in their [[personality]] traits, but with additional individual [[powers]], abilities, [[knowledge]] or [[perceptions]].
Polytheism cannot be cleanly separated from the animist beliefs prevalent in most folk religions. The gods of polytheism are in many cases the highest order of a [[continuum]] of [[supernatural]] [[beings]] or [[spirits]], which may include ancestors, demons, wights and others. In some cases these spirits are divided into [[celestial]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chthonic chthonic] classes, and belief in the [[existence]] of all these beings does not imply that all are worshipped.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism]
[[Category: Religion]]