PolytheismPolytheismA BELIEF IN MANY DEITIESA BELIEF IN MANY DEITIES

Polytheism is…Polytheism is…

……the belief in many deitiesthe belief in many deities

•A deity is a supernatural being of A deity is a supernatural being of significant powersignificant power

•““Polytheism” is from the Greek:Polytheism” is from the Greek: poly = manypoly = many theo = deitiestheo = deities

Many scholars believe that Many scholars believe that polytheism evolved from animistic polytheism evolved from animistic beliefsbeliefs

•Animism was the Animism was the belief in many spiritual belief in many spiritual forces, some friendly forces, some friendly and some hostileand some hostile•Over time, these Over time, these spirits were seen to spirits were seen to have more complicated have more complicated and individual and individual personalitiespersonalities

These These deities, or deities, or “gods,” “gods,” have have individual individual skills, skills, needs, needs, desires, and desires, and historieshistories

They often have They often have humanlike humanlike personalities, but personalities, but with additional with additional powers or powers or abilitiesabilities

It was easy for It was easy for humans to humans to understand these understand these personalitiespersonalities

The deities would argue, fight, The deities would argue, fight, have children, play games– all have children, play games– all the things that humans dothe things that humans do

Complex mythologies evolved as Complex mythologies evolved as humans imagined the deities humans imagined the deities interacting with each otherinteracting with each other

These myths and legends could These myths and legends could be used to explain natural be used to explain natural phenomena such as the seasons phenomena such as the seasons or the creation of the worldor the creation of the world

Polytheistic ReligionsPolytheistic Religions Many ancient societies had Many ancient societies had

polytheistic religions:polytheistic religions:• Classical Greece and RomeClassical Greece and Rome• Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt• VikingsVikings• AztecsAztecs• Ancient India (Hinduism)Ancient India (Hinduism)

HinduismHinduism Hinduism is a modern religion founded Hinduism is a modern religion founded

thousands of years ago in Indiathousands of years ago in India It is still practiced today, and is a form It is still practiced today, and is a form

of polytheismof polytheism

Percentages of Hindus today by country

HinduismHinduism

1. Most Hindus believe that there is 1. Most Hindus believe that there is one divine power called one divine power called BrahmanBrahman

2. Brahman is then divided into 2. Brahman is then divided into numerous deitiesnumerous deities

Hinduism compared to other Hinduism compared to other religions…religions…

Doesn’t have a single founder, date (est. 3500 Doesn’t have a single founder, date (est. 3500 B.C.E.)B.C.E.)

Vedas is the holy book (“Book of Knowledge”)Vedas is the holy book (“Book of Knowledge”) Doesn’t have a concept of a prophetDoesn’t have a concept of a prophet DOES have a trinity of deitiesDOES have a trinity of deities

Hindu Hindu DeitiesDeities

BrahmaBrahma: God as : God as Creator of World, Creator of World, supreme deitysupreme deity

- Is represented in the Is represented in the form of other gods…form of other gods…

- Part of Hindu TrinityPart of Hindu Trinity

Hindu DeitiesHindu Deities

VishnuVishnu: God : God as preserver as preserver of the world, of the world, protector of protector of creationcreation

*part of Hindu *part of Hindu TrinityTrinity

Hindu DeitiesHindu Deities

ShivaShiva: God as : God as DestroyerDestroyer

-responsible for -responsible for change (ex: change (ex: death) death)

*part of Hindu *part of Hindu TrinityTrinity

Hindu DeitiesHindu Deities

GaneshaGanesha: The : The Remover of Remover of Obstacles, Obstacles, God of God of IntelligenceIntelligence

-son of Shiva -son of Shiva and his wifeand his wife

Hindu DeitiesHindu Deities

IndraIndra: God of : God of War and War and Weather, Weather, ruler of the ruler of the heavens and heavens and other godsother gods

Hindu Practices/BeliefsHindu Practices/BeliefsDifferent sects (groups) within Different sects (groups) within Hinduism worship different deities Hinduism worship different deities through:through:• PrayerPrayer• KarmaKarma• NirvanaNirvana• ReincarnationReincarnation• meditationmeditation• Building shrines Building shrines • SacrificesSacrifices• PilgrimagesPilgrimages

(holy journeys)(holy journeys)

Video QuestionsVideo Questions1.1. What event do Hindus prepare for in What event do Hindus prepare for in

September?September?  

2.2. According to the myth, how did Ganesh According to the myth, how did Ganesh acquire the head of an elephant?acquire the head of an elephant?    

3.3. How does the boy in the video explain how How does the boy in the video explain how worshipping many gods is the same thing worshipping many gods is the same thing as worshipping one God?as worshipping one God?  

4.  4.  What do Hindus believe will occur after What do Hindus believe will occur after death?death?  

5. What does the immersion the clay idol of 5. What does the immersion the clay idol of

Ganesh in the sea represent?Ganesh in the sea represent?