A Wisdom Archive on Polytheistic

POLYTHEISTIC: the belief of honoring the Divine through various God and Goddess forms or aspects.

 
(See also: POLYTHEISTIC, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » polytheistic dictionary

polytheism: Belief in or worship of many Gods.
See: monotheism, Polytheistic, monotheistic, polytheism.

(See also: Polytheism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » polytheistic dictionary

Satan - Syncreto-Paganism. In Neopagan religions that have assimilated aspects of Abrahamic mythology into their own pantheons, Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub are often seen as distinct and separate beings who perform necessary cosmic functions. In Stregheria, the Lucifer/Satan connection is upheld just as in Christian mythology. The Streghe see Lucifer (the name "Satan" is never used in Stregheria) as a kind and philanthropic deity who chose to disobey the tyrant-god of the Christians by appearing in the f ...

Read more here: » Satan: Encyclopedia II - Satan - Among polytheists

What is the Hindu definition of God -monotheistic or polytheistic?
There is much confusion about this, not among Hindus but among those on the outside looking in.
 
Hinduism is both a monotheistic and a henotheistic religion. Hindus believe in one supreme God who created the universe and who is worshipped as Light, Love and Consciousness. Hindus were never polytheistic, but were always henotheistic. Henotheism is defined by Webster's as "the belief in or worship of one God without denying the existence of others."
 

Read more here: » Hinduism: What is the Hindu definition of God -monotheistic or polytheistic?

Hinduism and Polytheism
According to the tenets of Hinduism, God is one as well as many. He is to be found every where and in every thing. He is there in the sky, in the rivers, in the plants and trees and even in a particle of dust. He is an enigma, because He is in many things at a time and is many things at a time. He is visible as well as invisible. He is here and He is there. He is above and He is below. He is with forms and also without form. He speaks and He speaks not. He is the self and also the not'self. To say that this is God and this is not is perhaps much more sacrilegious, if there is anything like sacrilegious in the world of God, than seeing God in images and idols and worshipping Him.
 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Polytheism: Why do Hindus worship so many gods and goddesses?

Hinduism, Soul and God
There are several theories in Hinduism to explain this and no one knows for sure which one is correct. Besides it is all very confusing, as confusing perhaps as the theory of relativity by Einstein. According to one approach the whole universe is one self same reality. There is no distinction or duality between God and the soul except in our perception. God and the soul are one and the same. There is nothing like a soul separating itself from God and then entering the body as a separate entity. The soul has never been separated from God and would never be. The same Supreme Self acts as individual souls without undergoing any change or division. This is the Advaita or non dualistic school of philosophy. 
 

Read more here: » Hinduism, Soul and God: Are the souls different from God?

Nine Questions About Hinduism
Prepared for the July 4th, 1990 meeting of the youth of the Hindu Temple of greater Chicago, by Gurudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
 
1) What is the Hindu definition of God-monotheistic or polytheistic?
2) Could you describe the process of reincarnation?
3) What is karma?
4) Why do Hindus regard the cow as sacred?
5) Are Hindus idol worshippers?
6) Is there a rule about Hindus eating meat?
7) Why do Hindu women wear the dot on the forehead?
8) Is the memorization of slokas and mantras essential to being a good Hindu?
9) How can we use scriptures and the Bhagavad Gita or religious books as a practical guide to growing up in the United States?
 

Read more here: » Hinduism: Nine Questions About Hinduism

In ancient religions of Greeks and Romans (Ancient Greek religion, Roman religion), ceremonial prayer was highly formulaic and ritualized. The Iguvine Tables contain a supplication that can be translated, "If anything was said improperly, if anything was done improperly, let it be as if it were done correctly." The formalism and formulaic nature of these prayers led them to be written down in language that may have only been partially understood by the writer, and our texts of these prayers may in fact be garbled. Prayers in Etruscan ...

Read more here: » Prayer: Encyclopedia II - Prayer - Historical polytheistic prayer

Although the pantheistic system allowed only a subordinate rank to the old polytheistic gods, and the actual religious belief of the people was probably but little affected by their existence, they continued to occupy an important place in the affections of the poet, and were still represented as exercising considerable influence on the destinies of man. The most prominent of them were regarded as the appointed Loka palas, or guardians of the world; and as such they were made to preside over the four cardinal and (according to some a ...

Read more here: » Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - Hindu deities - Polytheistic gods

Polytheistic divine magic requests the favors of gods or godesses. It is based off of the concept of polytheism. Please help expand this section. ...

Read more here: » Divine magic: Encyclopedia II - Divine magic - Polytheistic Divine Magic