Polytheism
Polytheism
As we pass from Gnosticism to polytheism, it is worth noting that a current authority on polytheism, Jordon Paper, observes: “The first Christian heresies, labeled Gnosticism, tended toward polytheism.” Effectively, we are dealing with variants of the same theme.
Polytheism is as old as the hills and “covers all of the cultures of the world.” It includes all the nonbiblical religions as far apart as Buddhism, Native American shamanism, and Chinese, Manchurian, Hawaiian, and ancient Greek and Roman religions, because, according to Paper, polytheism “fits the human mind and experience so comfortably.” It is “the human cultural norm … reflecting human nature,” whereas, says Paper, monotheism is “contrary” to human nature. This is certainly true. The polytheist goes within to meet the gods. The theist goes outside the self to meet the God of utter transcendence.
So, this ancient system is the direct opposite of biblical faith, as Paper recognizes: “Monotheism and polytheism are ideologically in opposition.
So, this ancient system is the direct opposite of biblical faith, as Paper recognizes: “Monotheism and polytheism are ideologically in opposition.” Obviously, the idea of one God versus many gods represents two clearly contradictory confessions, but the difference has to do not only with number, but with kind. The God of monotheism is the transcendent Other, the Creator beyond the creation; the gods of polytheism are immanent within creation, and “creation” and human beings share their divine nature. According to Paper, for the polytheist, the multiplicity of gods is an advantage – “the more the better … [for] one has nothing to lose by making offerings to every available deity.” This is especially true because the deities are not assumed to be omnipotent, nor are they always successful with regard to human requests. Some may lose their power altogether. This is doubtless why polytheism contains both unitary and multiple understandings of the divine. In Hinduism, which has 250 million gods, Shiva is often understood as the supreme god. Moreover, in spite of this multitude of deities present in the various Hindu traditions, they all share an essential commonality of the Great Spirit. Thus, many gods and one Great Spirit can be found side by side. And while this Great Spirit can sometimes be called “the Creator,” polytheistic traditions tend not to have creation myths because polytheism is not interested in the creation event.
Before we go on:
- Polytheism is a major feature of religions found all over the world. Why is this the case?
- What do polytheist see as an advantage of this system? What are some disadvantages?