Polytheism is from the Greek [polus] meaning many and [theos] meaning God It is the belief in more than one God In this system each deity is distinguished by special purposes These gods are particularly synonymous with religion in coutries such as India or Greece For example in India, Indra is the storm god and Agni the fire god Or in Greece Zeus was god over weather and sky, and Venus the god of love [back]
the belief in many gods, each of whom pervade and control a given aspect or natural phenomenon of the universe See also Monism, Monotheism and Pantheism
the belief in a plurality of gods (equal or differing in rank) is prevalent throughout the world, as is pantheism This view clearly contradicts the biblical teaching that there is only one deity and that He is unique in power and position In polytheism in general, the adherent can never know if he has pleased the right god We might call this the Alka-Seltzer view of God Like a medicine that covers all the bases, polytheism, by encouraging placating all the gods to obtain favor, assuages the conscience--at least it attempts to!
the belief that there is more than one god monotheism. Belief in many gods. Though Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic (see monotheism), most other religions throughout history have been polytheistic. The numerous gods may be dominated by a supreme god or by a small group of powerful gods. The gods originated as abstractions of the forces of nature such as the sky or the sea and of human and social functions such as love, war, marriage, or the arts. In many religions the sky god is powerful and all-knowing (e.g., Dievs), and the earth goddess is maternal and associated with fertility. Gods of death and the underworld (e.g., Osiris and Hel) are also important. In addition to many gods, polytheistic religions generally also include malevolent or benevolent spiritual forces or powers. See also god and goddess
This forceful imposition of monotheism and impossibly high moral standards on the slow evolutionary process of multitheism in which people were still learning to live with their gods created guilt, anxiety and fear of the new god.
Of or pertaining to polytheism; characterized by polytheism; professing or advocating polytheism; as, polytheistic worship; a polytheistic author, or nation
() From French polythéisme (ca. 1580), English from the early 17th century, a learned formation from poly- (πολύς (polús, “many”)) and -theism (θεός (theós, “god”)).