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Post by TheModernSouthernPolytheist on Jan 29, 2015 20:21:46 GMT -6
My understanding is that henotheism is the belief in multiple gods while setting one above the others or choosing only one to worship. Monolatry is the practice itself of worshiping only one god -- whether coming from a henotheistic or monotheistic viewpoint. But my understanding could easily be wrong. ^^^ This has always been the definition of henotheism that I've known, too. Ive actually heard the two used simultaneously. For example, this sentence: While most Christians are monotheists, Christianity is a henotheistic monaltry as evidenced through the first commandment, "though shalt have no other gods before me." Note: not making any judgements about any religious tradition here, it's just the easiest and most common example I've seen.
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Post by Allec on Jan 29, 2015 22:34:55 GMT -6
hmmmm...So, if I'm understanding correctly, henotheism is a belief whereas monolatry is a practice?
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Post by saintfelicity on Jan 30, 2015 6:30:17 GMT -6
That makes a lot of sense! That's the understanding I'm getting, Allec.
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Post by TheModernSouthernPolytheist on Jan 30, 2015 11:09:35 GMT -6
hmmmm...So, if I'm understanding correctly, henotheism is a belief whereas monolatry is a practice? Basically, yeah. Henotheism also, in some ways, incorporates the idea that only one god should be worshipped at a time, but that's down at the nitty gritty of it. And it doesn't necessarily mean that the practitioner thinks that should apply to others, though it can, but definitely applies to themselves.
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Post by Allec on Jan 30, 2015 11:58:27 GMT -6
I edited the original list. How does it look, in regards to Henotheism and Monolatry?
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Post by satsekhem on Jan 31, 2015 10:17:00 GMT -6
My understanding is that henotheism is the belief in multiple gods while setting one above the others or choosing only one to worship. Monolatry is the practice itself of worshiping only one god -- whether coming from a henotheistic or monotheistic viewpoint. But my understanding could easily be wrong. This link may help to explain the difference between henotheism and monolatry.
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Post by Allec on Jan 31, 2015 11:53:27 GMT -6
Ooh! I'll have to look through that Sat.
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Post by devo on Jan 31, 2015 12:01:04 GMT -6
The problem with these words is that they have largely been swapped out and watered down, and so the definitions are really not solid for either henotheism or monolatry. It's really frustrating. But that's why I break the words down into what the roots are, because it helps me to see it easier.
It's my understanding that monolatry is more like an "add on pack" to another theism. So you could be henotheistic or polytheistic, while simultaneously being monolatrous, too. And for Kemetics, it's a nightmare because we are simultaneously all three at once (heno, poly, monolatry).
-Devo
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Post by Intaier on Feb 25, 2015 10:29:16 GMT -6
"belief that there are multiple deities, but they are all manifestations of one supreme deity" - IIRC, this would be summodeism
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Post by Allec on Feb 25, 2015 23:19:15 GMT -6
I never heard of summodeism. Can you elaborate?
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Post by Intaier on Feb 26, 2015 9:54:35 GMT -6
[reference] Edward F. Wente defined henotheism thus:
...a writer, speaker, or devotee selects a god as his or her own single almighty deity, without, however, denying the existence of other gods and goddesses, any of whom might be seen by someone else as the principle deity.
Wente differentiates this henotheism from monotheism in the context of Egyptian religion by pointing out that the ancient Egyptians did not impose upon others the existence of a single, universal god - at least, not until the reign of Akhenaten.
Wente also differentiates henotheism from summodeism, which he defined as the worship of a supreme deity who sits at the head of a pantheon of other deities who exist solely or primarily as manifestations of this high god. Thus, in a summodeistic system, the existence of multiple gods only occurs because a single, high god is able to transform itself into many different gods.
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Post by Allec on Feb 26, 2015 18:11:01 GMT -6
That's fascinating! I never heard of it before now, but I'm glad I have a term to go with that definition. *updates first post*
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Post by TheModernSouthernPolytheist on Mar 3, 2015 11:12:20 GMT -6
I've never heard of summodeism before, either! Thanks for that!
And Allec, looks good! I always have trouble making simple statements like that cause NUANCE, haha. I'm just a rambler, lol.
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Chev
Junior Member
Struggling to learn and grow.
Posts: 97
Pronouns: She/Her
Religion: Oh, ain't that the question
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Post by Chev on Mar 3, 2015 18:30:24 GMT -6
Hm. Is there only soft and hard polytheism? Or is there a middle ground where some deities could be a different aspect of themselves? No offense intended, but as an example, Jupiter and Zeus are commonly portrayed to be aspects due to invasions, but one could also see Odin within them as well, and the same goes for other deities, but not all of them?
And is animism an 'all or nothing' kind of approach? I like to think that all things have a spirit, but it's hard for me to see things like rocks and stones (such as boulders) have one, though some gems may have a spirit of sorts, but it grows as it is worked with or interacted with. (Now I feel like... I dunno, some sort of -ist for it.)
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Post by Allec on Mar 3, 2015 19:34:55 GMT -6
No problems! I think I understand what you mean, and I think there is definitely some in-between like you described. I don't know what type of hard-or-soft polytheist to call that though... Plasma Polytheism? Maybe Softish Polytheism?
As for animism, that tends to encompass thinking ALL things have spirits to A LOT of things have spirits. I know what you mean about rocks, only I don't have issues with rocks but large spans of land. I can't feel any sort of energy from a field, but I can from a tree or rock. (Super Woo in that last sentence haha.)
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