polytheism (slightly patriarchal)

in #religion7 years ago

Most of us have been searching for the meaning of polytheism and also to understand what and how it came about. The worship or belief in multiple deities which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals is called polytheism.

The different gods and goddesses in polytheism usually is represented with the forces of nature or ancestral principles, and can be considered either as autonomous or as aspects or emanations of a creator deity or transcendental absolute principle (monistic theologies), which manifests immanently in nature (panentheistic and pantheistic theologies).

Apart from Ancient Egyptian and Hindu deities which is believed not to have a physical form, others believe the gods and goddesses have a physical form.

Polytheism was the typical form of religion during the Bronze Age and Iron Age up to the Axial Age and the modification of Abrahamic religions, in which monotheism was later enforced. These historical religions were properly documented, especially ancient Greek religion and ancient Roman religion, this was after the decline of Greco-Roman polytheism in tribal religions such as Germanic paganism or Slavic paganism.
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Summary of Polytheism

Type: polytheism (slightly patriarchal)
Direction: outwards
Focus: leader worship

Ruling Deities: The God of Crossroads and Fate and the Goddess of Joy
Important Deities: the Goddess of Diplomacy, the Goddess of Valour, the Goddess of Law, the God of the Underworld

Divine Interaction: through signs and messengers

Involves: a dietary code
Afterlife: is spread throughout several planes and cannot be reached while alive
Supernatural: mischievious spirits, demons (tricksters)

Worship: solemn individual meditation at home
Holidays: fairly often
Holidays Celebrate: historical events, great priests, prophets, heroes
Major Holiday(s): last several days

Clergy: both genders
Function: spiritual advisors, healers of the sick, leaders in ritual, military leaders
Lifestyle: above average
Family: large (children encouraged)
Chosen: hereditary (somehow related to other clergy)
Distinguished By: a special dietary code Cultural Aspects

Symbol: has radial symmetry and a representation of a deity
Holy Color: teal

Passed Down: via many holy books
Creation Myth Type: emergence
Mortals' Origin: stars
Major Myth/Symbol(s): the exile, the ascension

Deadly Sins: self-injury, irresponsibility and thoughtlessness
High Virtues: kindness, abstinence and honesty

Associated Artform: chanting

Coming of Age: 10 years old
Coming of Age Rite: involves an ordeal

Marriage: involves two people of either gender
Marriage Rites: end in several days of seclusion

Death Rites: include sending some of the deceased's possesions with them

Major Taboo: eye contact

Prevalence: believed by many
Outsiders: are considered misguided

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