polytheism
Worship of many
Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods, as opposed to monotheism's single deity.
Ancient Greek, Roman, Hindu, and Norse religions are polytheistic, each with pantheons of gods governing different domains—war, love, harvest, the sea.
Polytheism was the norm in the ancient world.
Traditional untrue narratives
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- epicsLong heroic narratives
- sagasExtended heroic narratives
lore · cosmogony · creation stories · theogony · heroic tales · oral tradition · Ramayana · Iliad
Non-monotheistic religious practice
- animismSpirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- totemismBelief linking clans to symbols
- faithTrust without proof
worship · divinity · sacred · spirituality · doctrine · creed · devotion · piety
Worshipped supernatural beings
- divinitiesGods and goddesses
- goddessesDivine feminine beings
- immortalsBeings that cannot perish
- idolsObjects of fervent admiration
Olympians · Titans · Asgardians · demigods · avatars · orisha · kami · celestials
Ceremonial repeated practices
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
- sacrificesThings willingly given up
- offeringsThings presented or given
- libationsRitual drink offerings
temples · shrines · altars · priests · priestesses · oracles · festivals · processions
Ancient Indian spiritual tradition
Sacred Greek mountain
- AsgardNorse divine realm
- HeliopolisAncient sun-worship center
- ValhallaHall for fallen warriors
- celestial realmHeavenly sphere above earth
myths
Traditional untrue narratives
sagas · lore · cosmogony · creation stories · theogony · heroic tales · oral tradition · Ramayana · Iliad · Metamorphoses
paganism
Non-monotheistic religious practice
- animismSpirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- totemismBelief linking clans to symbols
faith · worship · divinity · sacred · spirituality · doctrine · creed · devotion · piety · idolatry
deities
Worshipped supernatural beings
- divinitiesGods and goddesses
- goddessesDivine feminine beings
- immortalsBeings that cannot perish
idols · Olympians · Titans · Asgardians · demigods · avatars · orisha · kami · celestials · supernatural
rituals
Ceremonial repeated practices
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
- sacrificesThings willingly given up
- offeringsThings presented or given
libations · temples · shrines · altars · priests · priestesses · oracles · festivals · processions · invocations
Hinduism
Ancient Indian spiritual tradition
- ShintoJapanese animistic tradition
- YorubaNigerian people and language
- HellenismGreek cultural influence
Wicca · Vodou · Santeria · Greek religion
Olympus
Sacred Greek mountain
- AsgardNorse divine realm
- HeliopolisAncient sun-worship center
- ValhallaHall for fallen warriors
celestial realm · underworld · triads · cosmic order · heavenly court
- ancient religionsGreek religion, Zoroastrianism, paganism, mystery cults, Norse paganism
- Baltic paganismMara, thunder god, sun goddess, earth goddess, world tree
- Doctrinespredestination, original sin, justification, sanctification, incarnation
- belieffaith, belief, belief systems, creed, dogma
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- religionsChristianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism
polytheismmonotheism
Belief in one god
atheism · nontheism · agnosticism · secular humanism · materialism
polytheismmonotheism
Belief in one god
monism · Christianity · Islam · Judaism · Sikhism