How Is Polytheism Superior To Monotheism?

[Sunstone]

In what ways, if any, is polytheism superior to monotheism?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism makes deity more accessible and understandable than monotheism. Is this true? If so why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism better prevents or forestalls fanaticism than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism is more inclusive than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism better reflects the diversity found in nature and the universe than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

Which do you think is superior: polytheism or monotheism? Why?

 

[Mike182]

i don't know if i'd say polytheism is superior, but polytheism easily waltzes around the philosophical problem of evil, one many atheists use against monotheism.

other than that, any faith you can find in two or three, or twenty Gods can be found in just one, many polytheists only worship one, but appreciate the existence of others (so, it can be almost monotheism, in that you only want one, but accept others, if that makes sense?)


the only other thing possible worth note is that polytheists are more open to accepting other religions, because monotheistic religions typically have a "one and only God, no others" kind of theme, but obviously many monotheistic religion have other moral guide-lines on how to treat people with respect and love, so this does not necessarily have to be a deficit of monotheism.

 

[Shrimpy]

In what ways, if any, is polytheism superior to monotheism?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism makes deity more accessible and understandable than monotheism. Is this true? If so why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism better prevents or forestalls fanaticism than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism is more inclusive than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

It is sometimes argued that polytheism better reflects the diversity found in nature and the universe than monotheism. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why not?

Which do you think is superior: polytheism or monotheism? Why?

I don't think either are superior, to be honest. I think it doesn't matter how you view your God(s) but there are advantages to both. As I am a hard polytheist, I personally believe that all gods are separate distinct beings, as opposed to facets of the One or All...but I honestly don't think that the Gods care about how they are seen by us, I'm pretty sure that if they did, they'd make it clear. =)

To argue the position of polytheism (since that is what I am) I shall explain how it was that I started to see the world first with the eyes if a soft polytheist and then ads a hard polytheist. All I can do is explain how it was for me. I was raised Catholic, in Northern Ireland EEK! and despite going to Catholic schools and mass every Sunday I never really felt that close to the Christian God, I wanted and wished for any proof He was there and that He cared, and I got none. Then my mum was killed in the troubles and I moved away, after a long period of crying and being angry at the JCI god for "doing that to me"... I looked up at the night time sky, and I saw an iris around the moon of greens and brown. I started to look up other religions. I found Wicca, the watered down book version of course, but what do you expect of a 13 year old. I started to read, and suddenly in a moment of clarity it came to me. There HAD to be a female to go with the male, there just had to be. From that my ideas developed and carried on, to lead to what I am now, wiccanesque in some practices trying to follow the Norse gods.

I don't know if polytheism avoids fanaticism, it wasn't true back in the "good old days", people were still killed and their gods wiped out, or amalgamated, and I'm not sure which is a worse fate for a god... But in modern times, most pagans I have met are either henotheistic and as such don't believe that their Gods are the only ones, and those who aren't generally believe in tolerance (that your belief is yours, I might think it's incorrect but you have every right to it).

What do you mean by inclusive? How do you mean that polytheism might be more inclusive?

I generally think polytheism is more realistic, because it fits better with MY world view, there is soo much diversity here so why not in the worlds of the Gods? But I understand that others may not see it that way. It just seems counter-intuitive to me that someone who had only ever had one type of stimulation would create a huge variety of things, why would they feel the need to, if they didn't know it could be any different? KWIM?

I hope that answers the questions... )(

 

[OneStraw Revolutionary]

If I had to toss my hat into one ring or the other, I'd throw it to the one that covers more bases. One god can sure emphasize some things while leaving a whole bunch either barely-noted or left out completely. Having more than one god means more aspects of our day-to-day existence are covered.

Accessibility of either monotheistic or polytheistic religions really depends upon the culture now, doesn't it? During ages when heathens are persecuted or killed, the accessibility level drops a bit compared to times like the present, where I live, when multiple faiths, monotheistic or not, can be practiced.

Understandability belongs to the individual, as their circumstances and experiences allow.

Fanatics abound in many religions, but I think that in modern times, polytheists have less of a basis to get all high and mighty. The temple to which I belong was birthed from the Celtic Reconstruction movement of the last couple decades, and though it teaches stories and folk tales about the deities, one must remember that these stories were in fact recorded by the "enemies" of the religion, oh so long ago. Whereas the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths have their holy book and an unbroken lineage, and thus can more easily claim that their stories and folk tales are actually words of god and not to be contended.

As for inclusiveness, that too depends on the religion. There are polytheists that teach only a select group of initiates, and there are monotheists who go around the globe to include as many people in their faith as they can.

Polytheism does seem to reflect nature and the universe better than monotheism, because many gods are better equipped to deal with many aspects of the world(s) around us. One god seems to just sum everything up, and leaves big holes in its explanations.

Well, my hat's off to polytheism.

 

[niceguy]

Polyteistic religions usually have a leader of the panteon, someone that are the creator of all the other gods, directly or in directly (like being a grand parent). Compare this to, say the Roman Chatolic Church. The RCC have God on top, but there are also saints and angels, some of who fulfil much of the same function as the "lesser" gods in a polyteist panteon. So when a Chatolic sends a prayer to Mary, the mother of Christ, what is the real difference from polyteist sending prayers to one of the lesser gods under the panteon leader? More, one polyteistic religions are Hinduism but aren't all the hindu gods just aspects of the master god Brahman? My point is that the difference between moneteism and polyteism are sometimes blurry...

 

[Shrimpy]

Polyteistic religions usually have a leader of the panteon, someone that are the creator of all the other gods, directly or in directly (like being a grand parent). Compare this to, say the Roman Chatolic Church. The RCC have God on top, but there are also saints and angels, some of who fulfil much of the same function as the "lesser" gods in a polyteist panteon. So when a Chatolic sends a prayer to Mary, the mother of Christ, what is the real difference from polyteist sending prayers to one of the lesser gods under the panteon leader? More, one polyteistic religions are Hinduism but aren't all the hindu gods just aspects of the master god Brahman? My point is that the difference between moneteism and polyteism are sometimes blurry...

From what I have seen of poytheist mythology and UPG, the "father god" doesn't need to OK a response to a prayer. Whereas praying to Mary, is only done, so she will pray for you to get God to hear your prayer. I think it works differently... but good comparison.