polytheism

polytheism
The belief in, or worship of, many gods. It is not easy to count gods, and so not always obvious whether an apparently polytheistic religion, such as Hinduism, is really so, or whether the different apparent objects of worship are to be thought of as manifestations of the one God.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • Polytheism — • The belief in, and consequent worship of, many gods. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Polytheism     Polytheism     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Polytheism — Pol y*the*ism, n. [Poly + Gr. ? cf. F. polyth[ e]isme.] The doctrine of, or belief in, a plurality of gods. [1913 Webster] In the Old Testament, the gradual development of polytheism from the primitive monotheism may be learned. Shaff Herzog.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • polytheism — (n.) 1610s, from Fr. polythéisme (16c.), formed from Gk. polytheos of many gods, from polys many (see POLY (Cf. poly )) + theos god (see THEA (Cf. Thea)). Polytheist first attested 1610s …   Etymology dictionary

  • polytheism — ► NOUN ▪ the belief in or worship of more than one god. DERIVATIVES polytheist noun polytheistic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek polutheos of many gods …   English terms dictionary

  • polytheism — [päl′i thē iz΄əm, päl΄i thē′iz΄əm] n. [Fr polythéisme < Gr polytheos, of many gods < poly , many (see POLY ) + theos, god: see THEO ] belief in or worship of many gods, or more than one god: opposed to MONOTHEISM polytheist [päl′i thēist]… …   English World dictionary

  • Polytheism — Egyptians Gods …   Wikipedia

  • polytheism — polytheist, n. polytheistic, polytheistical, adj. polytheistically, adv. /pol ee thee iz euhm, pol ee thee iz euhm/, n. the doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods. [1605 15; POLY + THEISM; cf. F polythéisme] * * * Belief in… …   Universalium

  • Polytheism — the view that there is one or more gods or goddesses.[13] More specifically, it may also mean the belief in God, a god, or gods, who is/are actively involved in maintaining the Universe. A theist can also take the position that he does not have… …   Mini philosophy glossary

  • polytheism —    This term (from the Greek polys, meaning many, and theos, meaning God ) refers to belief in and worship of several different gods, who are often envisioned as having different functions in the world. Polytheism is contrasted withmonotheism,… …   Glossary of theological terms

  • polytheism — noun Etymology: French polytheisme, from Late Greek polytheos polytheistic, from Greek, of many gods, from poly + theos god Date: 1613 belief in or worship of more than one god • polytheist adjective or noun • polytheistic also polytheistical… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • polytheism — noun /pɒliˈθiˈĭzˈəm The belief of the existence of many gods …   Wiktionary

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