One of the oldest forms of relationship to reality is the religious consciousness.It is always consistent with the urgent needs of the human spirit.Any need, including the spiritual, demands satisfaction.
types of representations of the gods
There are several types of human representations of the gods:
- polytheism - the belief in polytheism;
- pantheism - the belief in one God, identified with nature and the world as a whole;
- deism - belief in God the creator, exists outside of human history;
- monotheism (theism) - the belief in one God as the highest personal and moral force, the Creator, who is responsible for their creation.
definition of polytheism
Polytheism is a religious doctrine based on the belief in multiple gods.The word is of Greek origin and literally translates as polytheism.Polytheists believe that there are many gods, each of which has its own character, their habits and preferences.Each god (goddess) has its own sphere of influence.Gods can enter into a relationship with each other.
Background of polytheism
No phenomenon in a society does not arise by itself.For the occurrence of polytheism also had their premises:
- diverse phenomena of nature and life of the people.People tend to equate it was different natural phenomena to individual deities.They believed that the whole world can not manage a single God.
- re divine idea of reincarnation.This idea is characteristic of early Hinduism.And if you consider it proper, the deification of each of the subsequent incarnations leads to the existence of many gods.
- hierarchy of social order.Mankind thought that if society can clearly be seen in the hierarchy of the organization, the structure (the family, the tribe, the state), and then in the other world there should be gods many, each of which takes its place in the pantheon of divine and has certain responsibilities.
Polytheism in the myths of ancient cultures
To understand what polytheism, enough to turn to the myths of ancient Greece.For example, Poseidon was the god of the sea and all water element, the earth goddess Gaia was, and the god of war and destruction - Ares.The head of the Greek pantheon of divine was Zeus - the most powerful of all.Supporters of polytheism may worship different gods in different ways, they can commemorate any particular chosen god.It is noteworthy that polytheism in worship their tribal gods does not preclude recognition of the divine beings of other nations.
determine what polytheism is possible and the myths of ancient Rome.It is noteworthy that the ancient Romans, like the Greeks worshiped the gods, is responsible for the same natural phenomena.They differ only in the names of the gods, their appearance and preferences.The Old Church Slavonic religions also worship different gods there, which was identified with the sun, the moon, the thunder.
Polytheism as a starting point the following religions
Most scientists believe that polytheism - it is the oldest form of religious beliefs of the people, which is typical of the Bronze and Iron Ages and up to modern times.This type of religion was characteristic of antiquity, it was clearly demonstrated in the ancient Greek and Roman polytheism.The belief in many gods existed among Slavic and Germanic tribes.
Polytheism gradually fell into disrepair, but its principles can be seen in modern religions, such as Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism and others.Moreover, in recent years, in Europe, a growing number of supporters novoyazychestva also based on the belief in many gods.In place of the ancient polytheism came new types of religious beliefs such as pantheism, atheism and monotheism.
What is monotheism?
Monotheism - a religious doctrine about one-one God or deity.Translated from the Greek word "monotheism" literally means "monotheism."By the religion based on the belief in one God include Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.The most ancient religion, based on the principles of monotheism, which has reached our days is Zoroastrianism.
Although it is believed that monotheism was the very first religion on Earth that eventually distorted and turned into polytheism, historical evidence and archaeological finds suggest otherwise.The earliest modern religion of this direction is Judaism, which initially had the character of polytheism, but in the VII century BC, moved to a new level.
Monotheism first emerged as a cult preferences of any deity over others.And only then there is a tendency to take a variety of different incarnation of the deity of God, and after that there was a religion that is based on the belief in one-one God.
Monotheism and Polytheism: eternal opposition
opposes Polytheism monotheism - belief in one God.It is also the enemy of atheism, which denies the existence of any gods and deities.Until now, the origin and the relationship between polytheism and monotheism is the subject of dispute among anthropologists and historians of religions.However, most scientists and researchers still are inclined to think that at first there was polytheism, which then evolved into monotheism.The Bible is polytheism - it is a betrayal of the one God, and he is identified with paganism.
It would be wrong to assume that polytheism nowadays completely degenerated.Of course, modern polytheists do not have much, and their beliefs have gained not so bright form, as in antiquity, but polytheism - it is the kind of religion that never run its course and will always find supporters.
