Henotheism
Henotheism is a religious belief system that acknowledges the existence of multiple gods while focusing worship on a single deity. In this framework, adherents typically center their devotion on a chief god, who embodies the essence of all other gods, leading to a personal and exclusive relationship with that deity. This practice is sometimes referred to as a "monotheism of mind," as it emphasizes the worship of one god without denying the existence of others. The term "henotheism" was coined by the 19th-century scholar Max Müller to describe the Vedic religion of India, which recognizes a variety of deities without a rigid hierarchy. Similar concepts can be found in ancient Egyptian religion, among various African traditions, and in early Hebrew beliefs, where Yahweh served as the primary deity while other gods were acknowledged. Importantly, henotheism is not classified as an evolutionary stage of religion, but rather as a distinct pattern of belief present across different faiths. This perspective highlights the diversity and complexity of religious expressions around the world, reflecting various cultural understandings of the divine.
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Henotheism
Related civilizations: Afrasan, Egypt, early Hebrew, India.
Date: coined c. 1880 to describe some religious systems dating back to 8000 b.c.e. or earlier
Locale: Africa, Middle East, India
Henotheism
Henotheism (heh-noh-THEE-i-zuhm) is a religious system that accepts the existence of many gods but worships only one. Often worshipers concentrate their attention on a chief god who is regarded as representing all the others. In a henotheistic system, the believer devotes all attention to one god, who becomes the only god for that person. It is sometimes described as a monotheism of mind and belief. However, it differs from true monotheism, which denies the existence of other gods rather than merely refraining from worshiping them.
The term was originated by Max Müller (1823-1900) to describe the Vedic religion of India, which recognized a multitude of deities but lacked a fixed hierarchy of deities such as that of the Greeks and Romans. It was also found in Egypt, among the Afrasans, and in early stages of Hebrew religion, in which Yahweh was the patron deity of the Children of Israel and was jealous of their attention to other nations’ gods, rather than being regarded as the only deity in existence. However, henotheism is not considered to be a stage in evolution of religion or a particular religion but rather a particular pattern of belief within a number of religions.
Bibliography
Ephirim-Donkor, Anthony. African Spirituality: On Becoming Ancestors. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 1997.
Lawson, E. Thomas. Religions of Africa: Traditions in Transformation. San Diego: Harper & Row, 1984.