are humans psychologically predisposed to polytheism

[MoonWater]

This is just a though that has been bouncing around in my head. I know a large majority of the world tends to follow the monotheistic abrahamic religions but when you look at all the religions of the world and throughout history just about every one has more than one god. Even many of those that do have more than one god believe that their god has many "faces" or "aspects" (like the trinity in Christianity). In fact I think Islam may be the only religion, at least that I can think of, that has strict monotheism without any influence of polytheism. Zorastrianism and Judaism may fit in with that regard as well. But even then we have hosts of angels at the beck and call of such a God who could basically be labelled as "demi-gods" and that "God" still has an opponent who is more commonly known as Satan and whether or not he is a "god" or at least a god like being or a demi-god is really up for debate. I know my thoughts may sound a bit disjointed but I have to run off to class and I wanted to get them down before I could forget. But anyway I just wanted to hear people's thoughts on this. Do we seem to be psychologically predisposed to polytheism?

 

[Halcyon]

I think in ancient cultures, although there were many gods that were venerated, in general each household had a god or goddess that was their own "main god". So, I think people are more drawn to the idea of a single personal god, one that watches over them, but can cope well with that god being part of a larger pantheon. I think it's called henotheism.
I'm not sure that there were many ancient cultures where the people worshipped multiple gods equally, as neo-pagans do today.

 

[Pagan Spiritualist]

I think we were disposed to worship multiple Gods, because there was so much we couldn't explain. Lightning, winds, clouds, natural disasters, and so on.The logical conclusions were that something or someone were behind these things.

Hail TANNUS!!!!
Bring us good weather oh great lord of thunder.

 

[Dunemeister]

Humans are predisposed to idolatry, which basically means that we tend to worship the creature rather than the creator.

 

[Random]

Do we seem to be psychologically predisposed to polytheism?

Good question. I don't know, but if we are, isn't that the same thing as saying that we as humans seem to be psychologically predisposed to fiction, fantasy and making stuff up?

 

[DallasApple]

Yep...its the battle between good and evil...Most have it..

Love

Dallas

 

[MoonWater]

Good question. I don't know, but if we are, isn't that the same thing as saying that we as humans seem to be psychologically predisposed to fiction, fantasy and making stuff up?

I guess that would depend on one's perspective of religion and gods. I certainly wouldn't equate being predisposed to polytheism to being predisposed to "making stuff up". But then I wouldn't say it's wrong to make such a correlation either as I'm pretty agnostic on the subject of whether or not gods exist. Whether or not the two are the same objectively would really depend on whether or not gods exist in the first place.

 

[MoonWater]

Yep...its the battle between good and evil...Most have it..

Love

Dallas

What are you equating to "good" and to "evil" in this regard and what do most people have?

 

[Random]

I guess that would depend on one's perspective of religion and gods. I certainly wouldn't equate being predisposed to polytheism to being predisposed to "making stuff up". But then I wouldn't say it's wrong to make such a correlation either as I'm pretty agnostic on the subject of whether or not gods exist. Whether or not the two are the same objectively would really depend on whether or not gods exist in the first place.

Exactly, but how would one know objectively whether gods exist or not?

 

[MoonWater]

Humans are predisposed to idolatry, which basically means that we tend to worship the creature rather than the creator.

I thought idolatry was worshiping statues and believing that the statue was a god itself rather than a representation of said god. I've never heard of it having anything to do with worshiping nature or the animals and plants therein.

 

[MoonWater]

Exactly, but how would one know objectively whether gods exist or not?

I don't know, Which is exactly why I am agnostic on the subject

 

[Random]

I don't know, Which is exactly why I am agnostic on the subject

Well sure.

I would probably agree that we are psychologically predisposed towards greater religious and spiritual happiness given the flexibility of polytheism, and that polytheistic societies were probably less inclined to flit between the extremes of mindless conformity to or complete rejection of, religion.

 

[MoonWater]

Well sure.

I would probably agree that we are psychologically predisposed towards greater religious and spiritual happiness given the flexibility of polytheism, and that polytheistic societies were probably less inclined to flit between the extremes of mindless conformity to or complete rejection of, religion.

That's certainly true. In fact I know that, at least with shintoism and hinduism and the roman pantheon, it was a common practice for them to accept the gods of other tribes and cultures into their own pantheons. Heck for the Romans it was so extensive that I believe they had temples dedicated to "the nameless" or whatever you want to call it, to honor those gods "that were not yet known"(I hear they even had a god of door handles... or was it door stoppers?) I'm sure many other religions adopted other gods as well. Even Christianity took in the gods of many pagan faiths. Sure they were demoted to the status of angels and saints but it's the same basic idea.

 

[LuisDantas]

I think that there is such a predisposition, but there are also powerful other tendencies at work.

Polytheism is in large part a consequence of a desire to "give a name" to external influences on our lives. Naming things is an initial and needed stage in the process of attempting to understand and acquire some degree over them. So we have gods associated to things of practical value such as fire, the sun and the moon, emotions, stereotypical behaviors and society roles.

That, however, is one of a number of possible mindsets, most of which alternate to some degree in any one person, although personality and maturity tend to aim such alternance towards a few "typical" ones. In very general terms, most people tend to eventually tire of attempting to negotiate with many gods and attempt to somehow appeal to a "higher" power in somewhat more ambitious terms. Many of those eventually decide that there must be an "enemy" of their alliance with God (that incidentally is the literal meaning of "Satan": enemy) or, perhaps, that God is an illusion, therefore adopting dualistic theism or atheism. But it is a very idealized and simplified trajectory, which by no means happens with everyone.

 

[Random]

That's certainly true. In fact I know that, at least with shintoism and hinduism and the roman pantheon, it was a common practice for them to accept the gods of other tribes and cultures into their own pantheons. Heck for the Romans it was so extensive that I believe they had temples dedicated to "the nameless" or whatever you want to call it, to honor those gods "that were not yet known"(I hear they even had a god of door handles... or was it door stoppers?) I'm sure many other religions adopted other gods as well. Even Christianity took in the gods of many pagan faiths. Sure they were demoted to the status of angels and saints but it's the same basic idea.

It certainly is. Nice posts MoonWater, thanks.

 

[MoonWater]

It certainly is. Nice posts MoonWater, thanks.

Thanks

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

>Are humans psychologically disposed to polytheism?

I would say, definitely not!

The more so given that most of the world's established and ongling religions are monotheistic!

Best regards,

Bruce

 

[Dunemeister]

I thought idolatry was worshiping statues and believing that the statue was a god itself rather than a representation of said god. I've never heard of it having anything to do with worshiping nature or the animals and plants therein.

Well, there you have it. Glad I could help.

 

[Dunemeister]

Even Christianity took in the gods of many pagan faiths. Sure they were demoted to the status of angels and saints but it's the same basic idea.

Sad but true.

 

[Azakel]

Greetings!

>Are humans psychologically disposed to polytheism?

I would say, definitely not!

The more so given that most of the world's established and ongling religions are monotheistic!

Best regards,

Bruce

Only in the modern day. If you look at the Religions of old they were Polytheist and they where the established and ongling religions. Now day Monotheist are the large one, but if you look we Polytheist are still here and are never going to leave.