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:This article is about deities or gods from a non-montheistic perspective. See God for information about the monotheistic entity.A postulated supernatural entity, a deity (from Latin, deus, "god"), or a god, is usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, held in high regard, or respected by humans. Traditionally, most gods have been assumed to possess intellects, desires, and emotions much like the human beings who believe in them. Such natural phenomena as lightning, floods, storms, and other "acts of God" are attributed to them, and they are often thought to be the authorities or controllers behind every aspect of human life (such as birth or the afterlife). Some deities are asserted to be the directors of time and fate itself, and to be responsible for the existence of the Earth or the universe.
In the English language, the common noun "god" is equivalent to "deity", while " God" (capitialized) is the name of the unique deity of monotheism.
1 Non-monotheistic conceptions of God(s)
1.1 Buddhism
Main article: Buddhism
In Buddhism sentient beings in God realm are referred to as gods. They, however, are not normally worshipped. They are said to have total control of their realm of Samsara and do not engage in disputes with beings apart from Asuras (Titans) when latter ones create a provocation.
1.2 Polytheism
Polytheism is a belief in a multitude of gods, not necessarily all possessed of equal power. Different forms of polytheism state different numbers of gods, ranging from the dozens to the thousands. It is likely that the best known polythistic belief is Roman mythology.
Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit every existing thing, including plants, minerals, animals and, including all the elements, air, water, earth, and fire. The first form of worship probably expressed animist ideas. The anthropologist E. B. TylorSir Edward Burnett Tylor ( October 2nd, 1832 January 2nd, 1917), the English anthropologist, was born at Camberwell, London, the son of Joseph Tylor and Harriet Skipper. Alfred Tylor, the geologist, was an elder brother. His parents were members of the So argued that religion originally took an animist form.
DualismThe term dualism is the state of being dual, or having a twofold division. Dualism doctrine consists of two basic opposing elements. Generally it consists of any system which is founded on a double principle. The term dualism has several uses: Theological, sometimes also called ManichaeismManichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. Though its organized form is mostly extinct today, a revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manichaeism . However, most of the writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost. Some scholar (although, strictly speaking, Manichaeism is but one dualistic religion), holds that there is both a perfectly good God and an opposing evil deity of equal potency. It is the belief that there are only two fundamental things or substances or constituents of things in the world at large or in the human soul. An example would be that both good and evil simultaneously exist and that one cannot survive without the other. That they balance each other even though they are independent of each other. An ancient form of ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra ( Zoroaster) in Persia between 1400 and 1200 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimate as late as 600 BC). Its alternative name, Mazdaism comes fr which was known to the ancient Greeks was dualist in nature
MonolatrismMonolatrism forms a type of henotheism. Its adherents believe that many gods do exist, but these gods can exert their power only on those who worship them. Thus, a monolatrist may believe in the reality of both the Egyptian gods and the god described in t forms a type of henotheism. Its adherents believe that many gods do exist, but these gods can exert their power only on those who worship them. Thus, a monolatrist may believe in the reality of both the Egyptian gods and the god described in the BibleThe Bible (From Greek βιβλια biblia meaning "books", which in turn is derived from βυβλος byblos meaning "papyrus", from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus), but sees him or herself as a member of only one of these religions. The gods that he/she worships affects their life; the other gods do not.
Henotheism is the worship of one god as supreme, yet also the acceptance that other gods exist. It is a variation of polytheism. In this view the other gods are ancillary and don't have the same level of "god-ness". Some forms of Greek and Roman classical polytheism may fall into this category. The gods of Norse mythology, who are subsidiary to Odin may be considered an example of henotheism. Some pagans of the Roman Empire were henotheistic, as are some modern-day Neopagans. Some sects of Hinduism possibly fall under this, but are more appropriately termed monist deists.
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