Polytheism
Tim Sussmann
Background
Although it is impossible to know for sure, it is assumed that religion has always been a part of human life on earth. Polytheism has been and still is being practiced all over the world today through the religions of Hinduism, Shintoism, Chinese folk religion, Animism, Thelema, Wicca, Druidry, and Taoism.[1] Due to the fact that it has been polytheism has powerful effects on humanity.
Polytheism’s origins date back to Animism, where the belief in spirits permeating everything in nature was of main concern to the believers. For the Animist spirits in trees, stones, oceans, solar systems, the sun, etc. Everything connected to the natural functioning of the world had a spirit. Once people faded away from strictly hunting and turned to a more domesticated lifestyle, religion seemed to become a more consistent endeavor to understand. People would send sacrifices to the gods they wanted to appease. These basic religions worshipped many higher powers and were the basis for more formal polytheistic religions down the historical timeline. Many of the early forms of this style of religion were tribe-based; every tribe would have different names for the same deities and not even realize they were praying to the same being. [2]
Most of the religions associated with polytheism tend to keep to themselves and do not force their beliefs on anyone. They are open to everyone’s viewpoints and are curious about and compassionate to all. The belief in many gods or spirits has had a great effect on many societies throughout human existence.
Turning Point
One could argue that there is no specific turning point in humanity associated with polytheism; however, the concept of polytheism itself is a turning point. To address religion and how it came about and changed the course of humanity one must look at the Neanderthals. From 100,000 to 25,000 years ago lived a race of humans called Neanderthals. These humans lived their lives hunting and gathering; this type of lifestyle consumes time, leaving little for what one would now consider normal reflection time. It seems, through the evidence gathered, that the Neanderthals’ belief system was very basic. They would bury their dead with weapons and tools; this is important because it proves that these people believed in some sort of afterlife. If they did not they would have just left the body to rot on the earth.[3]2
Polytheism progressed as humanity has from Neanderthals to present day believers in the divine. This track of human existence has remained the foundation for the course of direction for much of humanity. This track has evolved over the past 100000 years, and has affected the way humans go about their lives, Polytheistic believers have certain traits just as monotheistic believers do. One prominent traits is the ability to accept any and all religion for what it is; a quest for truth. Monotheism, on the other hand, seems to stand up for its particular religion as the truth. Polytheism seems to have an open realistic mind when it comes to belief in higher powers; anyone is open to whatever view s/he wishes as long as the quest for truth is there.
Worship is enacted in many forms and it is here that lifestyles of humans are found, which can help identify the importance of polytheism. Sacrifice, totems, magic, taboo, and Animism all play a major role in the lifestyle of early religion. People thought that these actions would appease their gods in certain ways. Sacrifice was used as a way to pay thanks to the gods or to ask for something such as rain, good crops, or sun. In later religions, such as the Native American religions, many rituals took place to communicate with the gods, with an outcome of finding the path they were supposed to live their lives. All of these actions created a certain religious life for these people.
Effect
It seems that most religions including African, Greek, Roman, and North American religions believed in one creator, god, which then left the land for rule by lower gods. [4]This may have been the foundational thinking for monotheism. Their curiosity to understand where humans came from brought them to this belief, which also brought humans to other beliefs down the line. Without this belief system in place humans would not be on the track they are on now. [5]
[1] Wikipedia, polytheism. Top of page
[2] Hopfe, lewis, , religions of the world- 3rd edition
[3] Hopfe, lewis, , religions of the world- 3rd edition
[4] Moore, History of religions, Vol 1- Pg 149
[5] Docker, John, “In praise of Polytheism”
Tim Sussmann
Background
Although it is impossible to know for sure, it is assumed that religion has always been a part of human life on earth. Polytheism has been and still is being practiced all over the world today through the religions of Hinduism, Shintoism, Chinese folk religion, Animism, Thelema, Wicca, Druidry, and Taoism.[1] Due to the fact that it has been polytheism has powerful effects on humanity.
Polytheism’s origins date back to Animism, where the belief in spirits permeating everything in nature was of main concern to the believers. For the Animist spirits in trees, stones, oceans, solar systems, the sun, etc. Everything connected to the natural functioning of the world had a spirit. Once people faded away from strictly hunting and turned to a more domesticated lifestyle, religion seemed to become a more consistent endeavor to understand. People would send sacrifices to the gods they wanted to appease. These basic religions worshipped many higher powers and were the basis for more formal polytheistic religions down the historical timeline. Many of the early forms of this style of religion were tribe-based; every tribe would have different names for the same deities and not even realize they were praying to the same being. [2]
Most of the religions associated with polytheism tend to keep to themselves and do not force their beliefs on anyone. They are open to everyone’s viewpoints and are curious about and compassionate to all. The belief in many gods or spirits has had a great effect on many societies throughout human existence.
Turning Point
One could argue that there is no specific turning point in humanity associated with polytheism; however, the concept of polytheism itself is a turning point. To address religion and how it came about and changed the course of humanity one must look at the Neanderthals. From 100,000 to 25,000 years ago lived a race of humans called Neanderthals. These humans lived their lives hunting and gathering; this type of lifestyle consumes time, leaving little for what one would now consider normal reflection time. It seems, through the evidence gathered, that the Neanderthals’ belief system was very basic. They would bury their dead with weapons and tools; this is important because it proves that these people believed in some sort of afterlife. If they did not they would have just left the body to rot on the earth.[3]2
Polytheism progressed as humanity has from Neanderthals to present day believers in the divine. This track of human existence has remained the foundation for the course of direction for much of humanity. This track has evolved over the past 100000 years, and has affected the way humans go about their lives, Polytheistic believers have certain traits just as monotheistic believers do. One prominent traits is the ability to accept any and all religion for what it is; a quest for truth. Monotheism, on the other hand, seems to stand up for its particular religion as the truth. Polytheism seems to have an open realistic mind when it comes to belief in higher powers; anyone is open to whatever view s/he wishes as long as the quest for truth is there.
Worship is enacted in many forms and it is here that lifestyles of humans are found, which can help identify the importance of polytheism. Sacrifice, totems, magic, taboo, and Animism all play a major role in the lifestyle of early religion. People thought that these actions would appease their gods in certain ways. Sacrifice was used as a way to pay thanks to the gods or to ask for something such as rain, good crops, or sun. In later religions, such as the Native American religions, many rituals took place to communicate with the gods, with an outcome of finding the path they were supposed to live their lives. All of these actions created a certain religious life for these people.
Effect
It seems that most religions including African, Greek, Roman, and North American religions believed in one creator, god, which then left the land for rule by lower gods. [4]This may have been the foundational thinking for monotheism. Their curiosity to understand where humans came from brought them to this belief, which also brought humans to other beliefs down the line. Without this belief system in place humans would not be on the track they are on now. [5]
[1] Wikipedia, polytheism. Top of page
[2] Hopfe, lewis, , religions of the world- 3rd edition
[3] Hopfe, lewis, , religions of the world- 3rd edition
[4] Moore, History of religions, Vol 1- Pg 149
[5] Docker, John, “In praise of Polytheism”